Is organic certification with Skal mandatory?

Yes, if you grow, process, trade or import organic products. Without a certificate or registration with Skal Biocontrole (Skal’s organic control body), you may not call those products organic. The obligation comes from the EU Organic Production Regulation 2018/848 , which applies in all EU countries.

Whether you are covered depends on what you do. A farmer is covered differently from a shop that only sells pre-packed products. You can read which role comes with which obligation on who must be certified?. The registration process is set out in the step-by-step guide.

The word organic is legally protected. So the question is not only about the quality of the product. It is about whether you may call it organic.

What does the law say about organic certification?

Skal states that certification is mandatory for almost all businesses that produce, process, import, trade or store organic agricultural products or foodstuffs. A business that only stores products is also covered.

The regulation requires an approved control body to inspect your business. At Skal, you then receive a Skal certificate. Some points of sale only need to register.

Example: Kaasboerderij De Groene Weide (fictional) makes organic cheese from its own cows. The farm keeps cattle, processes the milk and sells the cheese to shops. The business therefore falls under the obligation for livestock farming and for processing. Without a certificate, it may not call the cheese organic.

When does the obligation not apply?

There are exceptions, mainly for points of sale. Skal applies them in different situations. The overview is below.

Situation	Certificate needed?	What you must still do
Shop that only sells pre-packed organic products	No	Nothing is required
Shop that sells loose organic products directly to consumers	No, provided you register	Register with Skal and come under supervision
Shop that bakes bread	Yes	Certification
Shop that cuts organic meat in the shop	Yes	Certification
Hospitality (restaurants and catering)	Not required under Dutch rules	Ask Skal if you process organic products yourself

The registration exception does not apply to the sale of animal feed. Skal states this explicitly. If you are unsure about your own situation, use the Skal certification checker or call Skal.

A shop that sells loose organic products and does not register falls outside the exception. Skal actively supervises these shops.

What happens if you do not comply?

Skal sends a notice to businesses that sell organic products without a certificate. Such a business then has to have itself inspected, or stop using the organic label. Skal publishes figures on this.

In 2023, Skal reported 221 businesses. Of these, 120 stopped their organic activities or their incorrect organic claims. 55 businesses applied for a certificate. Five cases were passed to the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority). You can find this on the Skal supervision page .

In 2024, Skal also checks whether businesses that have ended their certificate have really stopped working organically. If such a business carries on anyway, Skal treats this as misleading consumers. Skal then passes those cases on to the NVWA.

Is organic certification mandatory for an online shop?

That depends on what you sell and how you package it. Ask Skal whether registration or certification fits your online shop. Skal has an online shop checker for this.

Fictional example: online shop Zaadhuis Lente (fictional) sells organic seeds from other suppliers in their original packaging. Ask Skal whether registration is enough for that, and what changes if the business packs the seeds itself.

Frequently asked questions

Can I call my products organic without a certificate?

No. The word organic is legally protected. A business that is not covered by the obligation must also follow the rules.

Is registering the same as being certified?

No. With registration, you notify Skal and come under supervision, but you do not receive a Skal certificate. A certificate requires an admission inspection and periodic inspections. To find out which applies to you, ask Skal via the registration page .

Does a restaurant or caterer also need to be certified?

Under Dutch rules, hospitality and catering generally do not fall under the notification or certification obligation. If you use organic products yourself in a recipe, it is wise to check with Skal. This helps you avoid using the organic label incorrectly.