FAQ

What inputs can be included in FiBL Input Lists?

Inputs are materials which may be used in agriculture or food processing, they are set up by the Annexes to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165. Each registered input must be assigned to one of the following main categories:

Fertilisers, composts, soils and technical materials
Plant protection products, beneficial organisms and related products
Plant fortifiers
Cleaning, disinfecting, hygiene and care products
Products for controlling pests and parasites in animal husbandry
Feed and related products such as fertilizers, soil conditioners, plant protection products, cleaning agents and disinfectants products for the control of animal parasites, feed materials, feed additives, food additives and food processing aids.

Please note that not all categories may be available in a specific national list. Refer to the page of the intended country, which is available at the National List section.

Some producer associations or label organizations further restrict the use of inputs for their members by setting more stringent criteria. In addition, some categories of inputs (e.g. plant protection products) are also subject to national legislation and their registration is mandatory.

How do I include products for listing in FiBL Input Lists?

Step 1: Select the National List to which the input is intended.

Step 2: Access the webpage of the selected list and follow the instructions in the 'Submit products' section.

Who produces FiBL Input Lists?

FiBL Input Lists for organic production are published by FiBL Switzerland and FiBL Projekte GmbH.

What is the process for evaluating submitted products?

The evaluation is carried out by FiBL experts using scientifically based test criteria. They examine the entire product formulation: in addition to the active ingredients, co-formulants and additives are also checked for undesirable substances.

A prerequisite for product listing in the input list is that the products not only comply with EU organic legislation and general European and national legal requirements, but also with the current Basic Admission Criteria.

Would a listing in one of the FiBL Input Lists be sufficient for whole Europe?

Due to different national regulations and interpretations, there is no EU-wide recognition. An application is necessary for each country individually. However, FiBL can offer a simplified process once a product has been listed in one of the lists. For example, if a company submits a dossier for the Netherlands, the same dossier can be used for another country. FiBL will only request country-specific information and will not ask for details of the full product composition again.

How can I advertise products that are listed in the FiBL Input Lists?

As a general rule, the use of the FiBL logo as the EU organic logo and the logos of private label organisations must not be used on the product packaging and label, in advertisement materials or on websites.

If a product is listed in one of the FiBL Input Lists, it can be advertised using the specific phrases shown in the 'SUBMIT PRODUCTS' section of the relevant list.

The European Input List does not exist anymore?

The European Input List was a political directory created by FiBL and partners, where products allowed in organic farming under the different national lists were all included. Even though the product search for the European Input List is no longer available, the common assessment criteria of the European Input List remain.

The actual Basic Admission Criteria continues to be developed by FiBL and its partners, taking into account the European context.

Admission criteria

The Basic Admission Criteria for the European Input List are public and can be viewed here.