Industry Guide
Compliance for Food & Agriculture
Food and agricultural businesses operate under a dense framework covering food safety fundamentals, deforestation traceability, organic standards, and agricultural support conditionality – with pesticide, animal welfare, and nutrient rules adding further operational obligations.
Key Regulations
General Food Law Regulation
Establishes the foundational principles of EU food safety law – including risk analysis, the precautionary principle, and end-to-end traceability from farm to fork. Requires all food and feed business operators to register with competent authorities, maintain traceability records, and withdraw or recall unsafe products from the market.
→ Learn moreEUDR – EU Deforestation Regulation
Soy, palm oil, cattle, cocoa, coffee, wood, and rubber placed on the EU market must be traced to deforestation-free land using geolocation data. Food and feed operators must conduct due diligence and submit statements to the information system before placing covered commodities and derived products on the market.
→ Learn moreOrganic Production and Labelling Regulation
Sets comprehensive EU standards for organic agricultural production – covering crops, livestock, aquaculture, and processed food – including prohibitions on synthetic pesticides and GMOs, mandatory conversion periods, and strict controls on the use of the EU organic logo and labelling claims.
→ Learn moreCommon Agricultural Policy (CAP) Regulation
Governs EU agricultural support payments through the 2023–2027 Strategic Plan framework, linking direct payments to mandatory environmental conditionality requirements under Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) standards, and incentivising eco-schemes and agri-environment commitments.
→ Learn moreWhat Also Applies to Your Business
Sector-specific obligations that are often overlooked
Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD)
Requires member states to implement National Action Plans to reduce pesticide risks and use, mandates training and certification for professional pesticide users and advisers, requires integrated pest management adoption, and restricts pesticide use in sensitive areas including public spaces and groundwater protection zones.
→ Learn moreFarm to Fork Strategy (Regulatory Outputs)
The Farm to Fork Strategy is the EU's overarching food system policy framework, setting aspirational targets for pesticide reduction, organic farming expansion, and nutrient loss reduction. The strategy itself is not directly binding, but drives specific legislative outputs – including food labelling reform, the Sustainable Food Systems Framework, and CAP conditionality – that create concrete obligations for operators.
→ Learn moreNitrates Directive
Requires member states to designate Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and implement mandatory action programmes limiting the application of nitrogen-containing fertilisers and manure on agricultural land, with the aim of reducing nitrate pollution of water bodies from agricultural runoff.
→ Learn moreFeed Hygiene Regulation
Sets hygiene requirements for feed business operators across primary production, processing, and distribution of animal feed – requiring establishment registration or approval, implementation of HACCP-based procedures, and compliance with microbiological and contaminant standards to ensure feed safety throughout the supply chain.
→ Learn moreWe track 161+ laws relevant to Food & Agriculture – across EU-wide directives and national legislation. Explore the full registry →
How Sustainova Helps
Vicky AI
Get answers now
Ask Vicky anything about Food & Agriculture compliance. Instant, sourced answers – no setup required.
Example questions
What traceability recordkeeping does the General Food Law require and within what timeframe must we trace a product one step back and one step forward in the supply chain?
Which commodities in our supply chain trigger EUDR due diligence obligations and what geolocation and deforestation-free evidence must we submit before placing products on the market?
What GAEC conditionality standards must our farm operations meet to remain eligible for CAP direct payments under the 2023–2027 Strategic Plan?
ComplyOne
Manage it ongoing
Track obligations, assign tasks, maintain audit trail – built for Food & Agriculture specifics.
Example workflows
Maps General Food Law, EUDR, Organic Regulation, and CAP obligations to your commodity types and supply chain position – with penalty exposure
Assigns EUDR due diligence submissions, GAEC conditionality checks, and organic certification renewals to procurement and farm teams with tracked deadlines
Flags EUDR guidance updates, CAP strategic plan amendments, and Nitrates Directive programme changes automatically
See how it works for Food & Agriculture
We'll walk you through exactly how Vicky and ComplyOne apply to your regulatory landscape.