Fruit and vegetable POs face four overlapping regimes — IgeraAgro indexes them all
From EU CMO rules to Spain's national OPFH decree and mandatory food traceability, IgeraAgro turns scattered regulatory text into instant, source-cited answers for producer organizations and their technical teams.
The regulatory stack behind every fruit and vegetable OPFH
Producer organizations in the fruit and vegetable sector operate under a layered framework of EU regulations and Spanish transposition rules. IgeraAgro indexes each source and answers with the exact article behind every claim.
Reg. (EU) 1308/2013
The CMO regulation establishing the OPFH (Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organizations) regime as part of the single Common Market Organization for agricultural products.
Reg. Delegated (EU) 2017/891
Develops the detailed rules for OPFH recognition criteria and the design, approval and execution of operational programmes.
RD 532/2017
Spain's national decree governing how OPFH are recognized, structured and monitored, transposing the EU framework into domestic administrative practice.
10% outside-PO threshold
Under Reg. (EU) 2017/891, an OPFH member may market up to 10% of their production (by volume or value) outside the organization, provided a documented control and traceability system is in place.
Frequently asked questions about fruit and vegetable regulation
What is an OPFH and what regulation creates the regime?
An OPFH (Organización de Productores de Frutas y Hortalizas) is a producer organization recognized under the fruit and vegetable regime of Reg. (EU) 1308/2013, the CMO regulation. Its detailed operating rules, including recognition criteria, are developed in Reg. Delegated (EU) 2017/891. In Spain, RD 532/2017 governs how these organizations are recognized and supervised at national level. IgeraAgro cross-references all three texts so producers and technical staff see exactly which rule applies to a given question.
Can a member of an OPFH sell part of their production independently?
Yes. Reg. (EU) 2017/891 allows a member to market up to 10% of their production, measured in volume or value, outside the producer organization. This flexibility is conditional on the OPFH maintaining a system of control with a documented trail so that the outside sales can be verified. IgeraAgro flags this threshold and the underlying control requirement whenever a query touches on marketing outside the PO.
What are the requirements to get an OPFH recognized in Spain?
RD 532/2017 sets out the national procedure for recognition, building on the criteria established in Reg. Delegated (EU) 2017/891. Recognition requirements generally include a minimum value of marketed production (VPC) and a minimum number of members, among other organizational conditions, though the exact thresholds should be confirmed against the current in-force text rather than assumed. IgeraAgro points to the specific article of RD 532/2017 or the delegated regulation relevant to each recognition question.
What is an operational programme and is it still funded under the new CAP?
An operational programme is the multi-annual investment and action plan that a recognized OPFH implements, co-financed through EU funds, to improve production, marketing, quality or environmental performance. These programmes continue to exist under the PEPAC framework as the sectoral intervention dedicated to fruit and vegetables. IgeraAgro helps OPFH technical teams track which measures within their operational programme map to which regulatory basis.
What does 'one step forward, one step back' traceability mean for the fruit and vegetable supply chain?
This is the traceability principle established in Reg. (EC) 178/2002, the general food law regulation, in force since 1 January 2005 under its Article 18. It requires every food business operator, including those handling fresh fruit and vegetables, to be able to identify who supplied a product and to whom it was subsequently supplied. Reg. (EC) 178/2002 also created the EFSA as the body responsible for scientific risk assessment underpinning EU food law. IgeraAgro cites Article 18 directly whenever a traceability question arises.
Which authority is responsible for food safety risk assessment affecting fruit and vegetable rules?
Reg. (EC) 178/2002 created the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which provides the scientific risk assessments that inform food safety legislation across the EU, including rules that affect fresh produce. This same regulation lays down the general principles of EU food law, including the mandatory traceability obligation under Article 18. IgeraAgro links questions about food safety standards back to this founding regulation so users understand the source of the underlying scientific and legal basis.
Do operational programmes still receive EU co-financing after the CAP reform?
Yes. Operational programmes for OPFH continue as a dedicated sectoral intervention for fruit and vegetables within the PEPAC (the Spanish national CAP strategic plan framework), maintaining continuity with the co-financing structure that existed under Reg. (EU) 1308/2013. IgeraAgro tracks how each measure of the prior framework carries forward into the PEPAC intervention so OPFH teams do not lose continuity when planning multi-annual investments.
Stop searching four regulations for one answer
Reg. 1308/2013, Reg. Delegated 2017/891, RD 532/2017 and Reg. 178/2002 all bear on a single OPFH decision. IgeraAgro reads them together and answers your team's question with the exact article cited, so your OPFH stays compliant without a legal department.
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