Organic associations compared
EU organic, Bioland, Naturland and Demeter at a glance: EU organic is the legal minimum, the associations go further, and Demeter is the only one with compulsory work with the preparations.
What sets the organic labels apart?
"Organic" is not always the same. The various labels stand for rules of different strictness. Broadly, there are two levels: the legal minimum standard and the stricter association standards.
EU organic is the legal framework, set out in the EU organic regulation. Every product with the EU organic logo meets these minimum requirements: no chemical-synthetic pesticides or mineral nitrogen fertilisers, no genetic engineering, more species-appropriate animal husbandry. EU organic is the base on which everything else builds.
Farming associations such as Bioland, Naturland and Demeter set their own, stricter standards on top. Typical tightenings: converting the whole farm (not just individual fields), tighter fertiliser limits, more animal welfare, and shorter lists of permitted additives in processing.
The major associations
Bioland is the largest organic farming association in the German-speaking countries, with seven principles around circular farming, soil fertility and animal welfare. Naturland has a strong international focus and, besides agriculture, also covers topics such as forestry and fair production. Both go well beyond EU organic, but neither requires biodynamic farming.
Demeter is the association with the most far-reaching requirements, and also the oldest. What sets it apart from all the others is the compulsory biodynamic method.
Where Demeter stands out
Demeter is the only one of the major standards that makes the biodynamic preparations compulsory: horn manure 500 at least once a year on all land, horn silica 501 in a way suited to the crop, and the compost preparations in all farmyard manures. Added to this are the guiding image of the farm organism with compulsory livestock, the exclusion of hybrid cereal varieties, stricter nitrogen limits and the logic of the positive list: what is not expressly allowed is not permitted. The Demeter standard always sits on top of the EU organic regulation, as an addition, not a replacement (more under Demeter certification).
Context
Bioland and Naturland are recognised, strict associations that go well beyond EU organic in ecological terms; anyone who specifically wants to buy regional, association-certified produce is well served there. Anyone looking for biodynamically produced goods, on the other hand, recognises them by the Demeter mark, because only Demeter requires work with the preparations and the farm organism. Figures on members, land or turnover change constantly and are deliberately not given here; what matters is the difference in ambition, not a snapshot of statistics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between EU organic and Demeter?
EU organic is the legal minimum standard. Demeter meets it and adds stricter requirements, above all compulsory work with the preparations and the farm organism.
Is Demeter stricter than Bioland and Naturland?
With regard to the biodynamic method, yes: Demeter is the only one of the major associations with compulsory preparations and the farm organism as its guiding image. On other points (circular farming, animal welfare) the associations are similarly strict.
Which organic label is the strictest?
Among the major standards, Demeter has the most far-reaching requirements.