EU Revises Regulation (EU) 2021/1165, the List of Permitted Substances for Use in Organic Production

On May 26, 2025, the European Union (EU) published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/973, which amends and corrects Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 regarding the list of products and substances authorized for use in organic production.

This new regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication date.

Key Revisions

1. Revisions to Annex I: Active substances contained in plant protection products authorized for use in organic production

• The conditions of use for "Magnesium hydrogen metasilicate silicate mineral (Talc E 553b)" and "Pheromones and other semiochemicals" have been revised. For Pheromones, the requirement for use "only in traps and dispensers" has been deleted, and its substance number updated.

• The Regulation newly authorizes the following substances as low-risk active substances:

  - Lavandulyl senecioate

  - Potassium hydrogen carbonate

  - Straight chain lepidopteran pheromones (acetates)

  - Sheep fat (for use as a repellent by smell)

  - Quartz sand

  - Silicon dioxide

• The following active substances are deleted from the list: Potassium hydrogen carbonate; Quartz sand; Repellents by smell of animal or plant origin/sheep fat.

2. Revisions to Annex II: Authorized fertilizers, soil conditioners, and nutrients

• The names and/or conditions of use for "Products and by-products of plant origin" (clarifying their use beyond just fertilizers) and "Stone meal, sand of natural origin, clays and clay minerals" (with added products and conditions) have been revised.

• Five substances and their use conditions are newly added to the list:

  - Carbon dioxide

  - Calcium acetate

  - Calcium phosphate

  - Plant fibre mats

  - Calcium and magnesium gluconate

3. Revisions to Annex III: Authorized products and substances for use as feed or in feed production

• The Regulation newly authorizes the following substances:

  - Single cell proteins from Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus oryzae

  - Products from Bacillus subtilis rich in protein

  - Calcium stearate

  - Calcium propionate

  - Iron(II) fumarate

  - Ethanol

  - Papain

• The conditions of use for the following substances are revised:

  - Calcium chloride

  - Propylene glycol; [1,2-propanediol]; [propane-1,2-diol]

  - Lecithins

  - Iron dextran 10 %

4. Revisions to Annex V in Regulation (EU) 2021/1165: Authorized products and substances for use in the production of processed organic food and of yeast used as food or feed

• For improved clarity, the lists of food additives and processing aids within Part A of this Annex have been merged into a single list.

• Buffered vinegar is a newly authorized food additive.

• The conditions of use for the following substances in "Part A: Authorized food additives and processing aids" are revised.

• "Fermentation activators" have been added to "Part C: Authorized processing aids and other products for the production of yeast and yeast products," with specific limits.

• Regulatory references and/or specific use requirements for yeasts for wine production and lactic acid bacteria in "Part D: Authorized products and substances for the production and conservation of organic grapevine products of the wine sector" have been revised.

5. Revisions to Annex VI in Regulation (EU) 2021/1165: Products and substances authorized for use in organic production in third countries and in the outermost regions of the Union

Ethylene for flower induction in pineapples and non-GMO microorganisms (as plant protection products) are now authorized for use in organic production in third countries.

6. Other Revision

The Regulation introduces a new authorization pathway for the EU's Outermost Regions. This allows Member States to request specific authorizations for products and substances to be used in organic production within these regions, acknowledging their unique conditions. Approved substances for these regions will be listed in a dedicated section of Annex VI. (Currently, there are nine outermost regions of the EU: five French overseas departments, one French overseas community, two Portuguese autonomous regions, and one Spanish autonomous community. Read more here.)

For details, please refer to the full text of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/973 here.