Organic production in Republika Srpska: the new law and control

This article is for farmers, processors and caterers in Republika Srpska who produce or sell products as "organic" (the legal term is "organski"), or plan to.

In short

• The Law on Organic Production was published in the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska ("Službeni glasnik RS") no. 62/25 on 18 July 2025. The previous law was published in no. 12/13.
• According to the draft law set by the Government of Republika Srpska, it covers crop and livestock production, aquaculture, wild plant and mushroom collection, and food processing, including wine and animal feed.
• Selling a product as "organski" requires control and certification.
• According to the draft law (Art. 11), the conversion period lasts at least two years before sowing or planting, two years for meadows and perennial forage, and three years before the first harvest for permanent crops.
• The law enters into force on the eighth day after publication (Art. 59 of the draft), which is 26 July 2025 if that provision was not changed. Until new rulebooks are adopted, labelling is governed by the Pravilnik o obilježavanju organskih proizvoda (Rulebook on labelling organic products, Službeni glasnik RS 93/20).

Who it applies to

Those who produce, process or place on the market products under the name "organski": family farms and processors, and, according to the draft law, importers.

What to do

1. Before selling anything as "organski", contact a control organisation and ask for its offer and conditions for control and certification.
2. The conversion period starts once you notify the Ministry and submit your contract with a control organisation (Art. 11 of the draft). For livestock and special cases, ask the control organisation how long it lasts and how products from that period may be labelled.
3. Keep production records in the form the control organisation requires.
4. Use the "organski" mark only once you hold a certificate. Check the form of the mark in the Rulebook on labelling organic products (Službeni glasnik RS 93/20), which applies until the minister adopts a new one.

Where to go

• Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srpske (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management): the current list of authorised control organisations and questions on implementing rules.
• Only authorised control organisations may carry out control and certification. The Ministry set the list for 2026 in the Rješenje o Listi ovlašćenih kontrolnih organizacija za obavljanje poslova kontrole i certifikacije u organskoj proizvodnji (decision on the list of authorised control organisations), Službeni glasnik RS 6/26.

Note on implementing rules

Rulebooks adopted under law 12/13 include the Rulebook on organic crop and livestock methods and the conversion period (Službeni glasnik RS 57/15) and the Rulebook on labelling organic products (Službeni glasnik RS 93/20). According to the draft law (Art. 57), rulebooks adopted under the previous law continue to apply until the minister adopts new ones, unless they conflict with the new law. The minister has two years from the law's entry into force to adopt the new rulebooks, including those on the conversion period and on labelling. Confirm the final wording of this transitional provision with the Ministry.

Laws and sources

• Notice on Službeni glasnik RS no. 62/25 (Law on Organic Production, 18 July 2025)
• Zakon o organskoj proizvodnji, National Assembly of Republika Srpska
• Prijedlog zakona o organskoj proizvodnji (Draft Law on Organic Production), Government of Republika Srpska, April 2025
• Draft Law on Organic Production, Chamber of Commerce of RS