Key data
| Regulation | Order APA/682/2026, of June 23, recognizing Interpam as an agri-food interprofessional organization |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 7, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 7, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Producers, processors and marketers of aromatic and medicinal plants in Spain |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Legal framework | EU Regulation 1308/2013 and Law 38/1994 |
| Year | 2026 |
The aromatic and medicinal plants sector in Spain now has official interprofessional representation. The Order APA/682/2026, of June 23, recognizes Interpam as an agri-food interprofessional organization and registers this entity in the official registry, granting it full legal capacity to act as an interlocutor before the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Union.
This recognition is not a minor formality: it means that the agreements Interpam negotiates can have effect on all sector operators, not just its members. That is, if an interprofessional agreement is extended with the legal requirements, it also binds those who are not part of the organization.
What does this regulation establish?
Order APA/682/2026 grants Interpam the formal status of agri-food interprofessional organization, a recognition that did not previously exist for this sector in Spain. The legal framework that supports it is twofold:
- EU Regulation 1308/2013: regulates the common organization of agricultural markets in the European Union and establishes the conditions under which interprofessional organizations can operate and extend their agreements.
- Law 38/1994: Spanish law regulating agri-food interprofessional organizations, which sets the requirements for recognition, operation and extension of rules.
With this recognition, Interpam acquires the following formal capacities:
- Negotiate commercial conditions between the links in the value chain (production, processing and marketing).
- Promote the sector before national and European administrations as an official interlocutor.
- Promote transparency in the value chain of the sector.
- Request the extension of interprofessional agreements to all sector operators, even non-members, meeting the legal requirements established.
- Act as a recognized interlocutor before the Ministry of Agriculture and the EU.
Registration in the official registry is the element that grants Interpam full legal capacity to exercise all these functions.
Economic and operational impact
The recognition of Interpam has direct practical consequences for companies in the sector, beyond the institutional level:
- Extension of agreements: The interprofessional agreements negotiated by Interpam can be extended to non-member operators. This means that a company that does not belong to Interpam could still be bound by certain agreements if the legal requirements for the extension of rules are met.
- Negotiated commercial conditions: The organization will be able to negotiate reference frameworks for prices, qualities, deadlines and other commercial conditions between producers, processors and marketers.
- Greater transparency: Improved transparency in the value chain can affect how commercial transactions in the sector are documented and justified.
- Access to financing and European programs: Formal recognition facilitates the sector's access to EU promotion and financing programs channeled through recognized interprofessional organizations.
- Regulatory dialogue: Companies in the sector will have an official channel to convey their positions to the Ministry and the European Commission through Interpam.
Who does it affect?
- Producers of aromatic and medicinal plants in Spain (farmers, agricultural cooperatives, family farms).
- Processors in the sector (companies that process, dry, extract or develop products derived from aromatic and medicinal plants).
- Marketers (distributors, exporters, wholesalers and retailers specialized in this type of products).
- Companies and operators in the sector that are not members of Interpam, since extended interprofessional agreements can affect them equally.
- Advisors, consultants and managers working with companies in this agri-food sector.
Practical example
Imagine a medicinal plant processing company—for example, an SME that dries and packages thyme and lavender for distribution—that is not a member of Interpam.
Until now, the agreements that the sector could negotiate did not have a legal umbrella to extend beyond the members of the organization. With the recognition of Interpam, if this organization negotiates an interprofessional agreement on, for example, quality standards or minimum contracting conditions between producers and processors, and requests its extension meeting the requirements of the Law 38/1994 and EU Regulation 1308/2013, that agreement could also apply to that processing SME, even though it is not part of Interpam.
The practical result: companies in the sector must be aware of the agreements that Interpam negotiates and requests to extend, because they can generate operational or commercial obligations regardless of their membership status.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your company operates in the affected sector: Review whether your activity includes production, processing or marketing of aromatic and medicinal plants. If so, this regulation directly affects you.
- Analyze your relationship with Interpam: Determine whether your company is already a member or operates outside the organization. In both cases, extended agreements can generate obligations for you.
- Monitor the interprofessional agreements that Interpam negotiates: From now on, any agreement that Interpam requests to extend can have effect on your company. Establish a monitoring system for publications from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Official State Gazette related to Interpam.
- Consider joining Interpam: Being part of the interprofessional organization allows you to participate in the negotiation of agreements, rather than receiving them as an external obligation. Consult the membership conditions directly with Interpam.
- Review contracts and commercial conditions: If interprofessional agreements affect prices, qualities or deadlines, it is advisable to review existing contracts with suppliers and customers to anticipate possible adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
What is Interpam and what does its official recognition imply?
Interpam is the Interprofessional Organization of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. Its recognition through Order APA/682/2026 grants it official status as an agri-food interprofessional organization, with full legal capacity to negotiate agreements, represent the sector before the Ministry and the EU, and request the extension of agreements to all sector operators, even non-members.
Can Interpam bind companies that are not members?
Yes, under certain conditions. Law 38/1994 and EU Regulation 1308/2013 allow interprofessional agreements to be extended to all sector operators, including non-members, provided that the legal requirements for the extension of rules are met. Therefore, operating outside Interpam does not automatically exempt you from compliance with its extended agreements.
When does this recognition come into force?
The recognition of Interpam as an agri-food interprofessional organization came into force on the same day of its publication in the Official State Gazette: July 7, 2026. There is no transition period: Interpam's legal capacity is effective from that date.
What legal framework regulates Interpam?
Interpam's recognition is supported by two regulations: EU Regulation 1308/2013, which regulates the common organization of agricultural markets in the EU, and Law 38/1994, which regulates agri-food interprofessional organizations in Spain. Both regulations establish the conditions for operation, recognition and extension of agreements.
What type of agreements can Interpam negotiate?
Interpam can negotiate agreements on commercial conditions between producers, processors and marketers; quality standards; sector promotion; improvement of transparency in the value chain; and any other aspect affecting coordination between the links in the aromatic and medicinal plants sector.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-14744