Erzeugerorganisation Anerkennung

Article 152 Producer organizations
Article 154 Recognition of producer organizations

Act to strengthen organizations and supply chains in the agricultural sector (Agricultural Organizations and Supply Chains Act - AgrarOLkG)

You can find out what a recognized producer organization means and how you can form one here.

Agricultural producer organizations are associations of farm owners. Producer organizations that pursue at least one of the following objectives can be recognized:

• bundle production and market it jointly in order to strengthen the market position of the members

• jointly procure feed, seed or agricultural equipment at lower cost, for example, in order to reduce production costs

• define common production and quality rules in order to reliably supply the market with high-quality products.

Producer organizations also improve the market position of agriculture. You can form producer organizations for many agricultural products, for example for grain, livestock, meat (beef, pork, poultry, fallow deer, domestic rabbits), milk and dairy products, eggs, wine or potatoes.

Producer organizations can join together to form associations of producer organizations. An association is possible for a specific product or a group of related products and must be recognized accordingly.

Recognized producer organizations and recognized associations of producer organizations can receive state aid under certain conditions. Support is granted, for example, for joint marketing, effective sales strategies for quality agricultural and food products or investments to improve processing and marketing.

• Applicable articles of association
• a list with first names and surnames, in the case of legal entities the names, of all members of the agricultural organization existing at the time of the application, including their respective addresses
• proof for each member of the agricultural organization that it meets the requirements of agricultural organization law for membership
• proof of legal form (extract from the register or certified copy of the articles of association of an association of persons)
• Further documents may be required in individual cases. Please find out which documents you need to submit before submitting your application.

An agricultural organization must

1. be a legal entity under private or public law or an association of persons under private law,
2. be able to trace its foundation back to an initiative of its founding members,
3. unless it is an interbranch organization, have its head office in a country in which it has
   1. has members and
   2. has an activity that is not merely insignificant in comparison with its overall activity,
4. have articles of association that contain provisions
   1. its name,
   2. its head office,
   3. the fulfillment of the requirements for recognition,
   4. the exercise of democratic control by the members over the agricultural organization as a whole and the decisions of the agricultural organization,
   5. membership fees,
   6. the proper performance of its tasks,
   7. the admission of new members and the termination of membership,
   8. on sanctions in the event of breaches of membership obligations and
   9. the establishment of branches

You can apply for recognition in writing or electronically.

Once you have submitted the application for recognition of a producer organization, the competent authority will check whether all requirements have been met.

If all requirements are met, you will receive a notification of recognition from the competent authority.

Once all the necessary documents have been submitted, the competent authority must decide on the application within 4 months.

There is no deadline. Applications for recognition can be submitted on an ongoing basis.

You should seek advice from expert institutions and individuals when forming producer organizations or associations of producer organizations.

In addition to trade associations and existing associations, the NRW Chambers of Agriculture can also provide advice.

The recognition of producer organizations and associations can be revoked if the requirements for recognition are no longer met or if legal regulations are violated.

Recognition is revoked by written notification.

• Objection (depends on the respective state law)
• Administrative court action

• Producer organization Recognition
• Agricultural producer organizations are associations of farm owners for a specific product or a group of related products.
• By jointly marketing their products, the farmers in the producer organization can pool their supply.
• Producer organizations can adapt their products to the requirements of the market through uniform production and quality rules.
• Competent authority: Depends on the respective state law