EN   EN 
 
 
 EUROPEAN  
COMMISSION   
Brussels, XXX   
[…](2022) XXX  draft  
 
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...  
of XXX  
amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as 
regards detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts for food 
and feed  
This draft has not been adopted or endorsed by the European Commission. Any 
views expressed are the preliminary views of the Commission services and may not 
in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the Commission.    
EN 1  EN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  
1. CONTEXT  OF THE  DELEGATED  ACT  
Since 1 January 2022, sea salt and other salts for food and feed are included in the scope of 
the Union rules on organic production and labelling of organic products. Pursuant to 
Regulation (EU) 2018/848, organic salts must be produced in accordance with t he principles 
and the general rules for organic production. Salt is not an agricultural product and may be 
obtained with different methods. It is necessary to detail the methods that may be used to 
produce organic sea salt and other organic salts for food and feed in accordance with 
Regulation (E U) 2018/848.  
2. CONSULTATIONS  PRIOR  TO THE  ADOPTION  OF THE  ACT  
The draft act was discussed thoroughly with Member States at the Group of Experts on 
Organic Production as well as with the main organisations represent ing the organic sector and 
salt producers, namely IFOAM, COPA -COGECA, Artisanal sea salt Europa, Salimar and 
EUSALT. DG AGRI cooperated closely with other DGs in the field of their specific expertise 
when drafting th ose rules. WTO partners were notified an d general public  consultation were 
carried out.  
3. LEGAL  ELEMENTS  OF THE  DELEGATED  ACT  
This act lays down detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts for 
food and feed.   
EN 2  EN COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...  
of XXX  
amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as 
regards detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts for food 
and feed  
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,  
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , 
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Coun cil 
Regul ation (EC) No 834/20071, and in particular Article s 21(1) and 30(7) , point (a),  thereof,  
Whereas:  
(1) Since 1 January 2022, sea salt and other salts for food and feed are included in the 
scope of the Union organic rules following the inclusion of th ose product s in Annex I 
to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 . Organic salts  that are intended to be produced, prepared, 
labelled, distributed and placed on the market  as food or feed , imported into or 
exported from the Union , must be obtained in accordance with the principles  and the 
general rules for organic production  laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 . 
(2) Salts may be obtained with different methods. In particular, some salts, such as sea salt  
and salt from natural brine or from salt lakes , are produced  following an operati on of 
processing i.e. drying ; while other salt s, such as rock salt s, are directly produced  
without processing , for example through  drilling and cutting. Given th is variety of 
methods, i t is necessary to provide detail ed production rules  with which there should 
be compliance in order to obtain organic sea salt and other organic salts for food and 
feed. In order to support and facilitate compliance with organic production rules, 
operators should take preventive measures at every stage of pr oduction , preparation 
and distribution  in accordance with Article 28(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 . 
(3) When a production unit of a holding is intended to  obtain  organic salt  for food and 
feed, the production unit should be subject to a conversion period duri ng which the 
unit is managed under organic production rules, but cannot produce organic products. 
Products should be allowed to be placed on the market as organic products only once 
the conversion period has elapsed. However, in accordance with Article 10( 3), point 
(b), of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, a previous period may be recognised as being part 
of the conversion period if the product is produced in a n area that, for a period of 6 
months  has not been treated with products and substances not authorised for use in 
organic production. The recognition of previous periods also applies to the production 
of organic salt if the area in which the salt is produced fulfils those conditions.  
(4) Salt is naturally present in nature either in solid form or dissolved in water; in order to 
ensure that organic salt correspond s to the true nature of the product, the processing 
methods that reconstitute the previous  solid form after artificial dissolution such a s 
recrystalli sation should be prohibited.  
                                                 
1 OJ L 150, 14.6.2018 , p. 1.    
EN 3  EN (5) Certain production  and preparation  methods used to produce organic salts should be 
prohibited in order to protect the environment, to minimise the use of non -renewable 
energy, and to contribute to a non -toxic envir onment.  
(6) Iodine and ingredients of agricultural origin , such as herbs, may be added to salt. Salt 
should be labelled as organic only where all the added ingredients of agricultural 
origin  are organic. Specific labelling rules should therefore be laid down f or organic 
salt. 
(7) Regulation (EU) 2018/848 should therefore be amended accordingly,  
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  
Article 1 
Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is amended as follows:  
(1) in Article 30, t he following paragraph  6a is inserted:  
 ‘6a For sea salt and other salts for food and feed , the terms referre d to in 
paragraph 1 may be used in the sale s description and in the list of ingredients, 
provided that:  
(a) the salt complies with the detailed production rules set out in Part 
VIII of Annex II and represent s more than 50% of the dry matter 
by weight ; 
(b) all of the ingredients  of agricultural origin that are added to the salt 
are organic .’ 
(2) Annex II is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.  
Article  2 
This Regulatio n shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union . 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.  
Done at Brussels,  
 For the Commission  
 The President  
 Ursula VON DER LEYEN