European organic avocado

European organic avocado is a product of contemporary European organic farming.

It is grown in accordance with the European Union’s regulatory framework for organic farming, using certified practices, and forms part of the system of official controls and certification described in the section on European organic production.

With its velvety texture and delicate flavour, avocado is used in salads, spreads, and hot or cold dishes.

Expresses the quality and authenticity of European organic production.

European organic avocado is grown under the European Union’s regulatory framework for organic farming. The certified practices it requires respect natural processes, promote biodiversity and contribute to the responsible management of natural resources.

The framework covers the whole chain, from cultivation in the orchard to the final product.

European organic production is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. See European organic production for the rules, the official controls and the principles they are based on.

European organic avocado is covered by the system of official controls and certification that applies to organic production in the European Union. The system verifies compliance with the standards of quality, safety and reliability in force across the Union.

Full traceability is a founding principle of European agri-food production: it makes it possible to follow the product at every stage, from cultivation to the final consumer.

European organic production is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. See European organic production for the rules, the official controls and the principles they are based on.

Marketing standards ensure that fruit and vegetables intended to be sold fresh to consumers may only be marketed when they are of sound, fair and marketable quality and the country of origin is indicated. Conformity with marketing standards is required at all stages of marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables, including import, export and retail sales, with exceptions in a few defined cases such as direct deliveries by producers, local markets, donation, and produce intended for processing.

There are eleven specific EU marketing standards, for apples, citrus fruit, kiwifruit, lettuces and curled-leaved and broad-leaved endives, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes, tomatoes and bananas. Avocado is not among them, and is therefore covered by the general standard or by a UNECE standard. UNECE has developed over 60 specific marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, and specific EU standards for individual products must be in line with the relevant UNECE standards.

Every EU country must set up a database of traders that market fresh fruit and vegetables covered by marketing standards. National authorities must ensure that checks are carried out selectively, based on risk analysis and with appropriate frequency, to verify compliance with the standards and the other statutory requirements for marketing fruit and vegetables. The risk analysis must be based on the information recorded in the trader’s database, and the criteria used to determine the risk of non-compliance for a batch must be laid down in advance.

Where a product is marketed as organic, those marketing-standard requirements apply in addition to the organic production, certification, packaging, storage and labelling rules, not instead of them.

Source: European Commission, Fruit and vegetables; Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013; Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2430.