Organic certification for a farm in Republika Srpska: steps, timing and costs

This article explains how a farm in Republika Srpska obtains organic certification. It concerns farmers, processors and traders who want to sell products as organic or as in-conversion products.

Note on the source: the Law on Organic Production was published in the Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske (Official Gazette), no. 62/25. The rules below are taken from the draft law that the Government sent to the National Assembly in May 2025. The adopted text may differ, so check it in the Gazette or with the Ministry before deciding. Position on 2026-10-06.

In short

• The Law on Organic Production (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske no. 62/25) replaces the earlier 2013 law (no. 12/13). Until new rulebooks are adopted, existing ones apply where they do not conflict with the new law.
• Before selling anything as organic you need: a notification to the Ministry for entry in the Register of Organic Producers, a contract with a control organisation, and a certificate.
• The conversion period starts once the producer notifies the Ministry and submits the contract with a control organisation. For plant products it is at least two years before sowing or planting, and for perennial crops (other than fodder) at least three years before the first harvest.
• Control is carried out at least once a year by a single control organisation. The price is set by each organisation in its quote, not by law.

Who it applies to

• Farms, entrepreneurs and companies that produce, process, store, import or export organic products.
• Traders selling pre-packed organic products directly to the final consumer, who do not process, store (other than at the point of sale) or import them, are exempt from notification and certification.

What to do

1. Choose a control organisation. A producer cannot hold certificates from more than one. The Lista ovlašćenih kontrolnih organizacija (List of Authorised Control Organisations) is set by ministerial decision published in the Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske (latest in no. 36/26), so check it with the Ministry before signing.
2. Send an application for control and certification. Example: Organic Control System (branch PJ OCS Laktaši) offers application forms and, after a consultation, sends a quote and a contract.
3. Sign the contract with the control organisation. You then agree further steps, forms and the inspection date with the organisation.
4. Notify the Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management) for entry in the Register of Organic Producers and submit the contract with the control organisation. The conversion period runs from then.
5. Keep records of all activities and allow inspection. Inspections cover documents, visits to plots and premises, and may include sampling and laboratory analysis.
6. After the inspection the organisation reviews the report and decides on the certificate. Non-conformities must be fixed, otherwise the certificate can be refused.
7. Until conversion ends, products may not be sold as organic. In-conversion products may be marketed as such only in cases the law lists (for example a single-ingredient plant product after at least 12 months of conversion before harvest).

Deadlines and amounts

• Conversion: at least 2 years before sowing or planting (meadows and perennial fodder: 2 years before use as organic feed), at least 3 years before the first harvest for perennial crops. An earlier period can be recognised retroactively only in cases the law lists, for example if you prove the plots were not treated with non-permitted products for at least three years. Shortening and extension of conversion are set by the minister's rulebook.
• Time to certificate: the law sets no fixed period; ask the control organisation.
• Costs: there is no legally set price. The producer pays the control organisation the fee in its quote, and organisations must publish this information on their website. Sampling and lab analysis, extra inspections and re-checks may be charged separately. Ask several organisations for quotes.
• Subsidies: check the conditions, deadlines and amounts for the organic production subsidy in the current rulebook on incentives or with the Agencija za agrarna plaćanja (Agency for Agrarian Payments). A current certificate from an authorised control organisation is usually required.

Where to go

• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska: notification, Register of Organic Producers, List of Authorised Control Organisations.
• Organic Control System, PJ OCS RS Laktaši, Krnete bb, Laktaši: control and certification, application forms. Check current contact details with the Ministry.
• Agencija za agrarna plaćanja Republike Srpske: subsidies.

Laws and sources

• Law on Organic Production (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske no. 62/25), gazette register for 2025
• Information on the control and certification programme, Organic Control System, version of 14 November 2019 (prepared under the earlier law), published on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
• Decision on the List of Authorised Control Organisations for official controls and other official activities in organic production for 2026 (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske no. 36/26)
• Law on Organic Production (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske no. 62/25), Official Gazette e-register, status: active. The Government sent the draft law to the National Assembly of Republika Srpska on 30 May 2025; the draft text can be requested from the National Assembly or the Ministry.