Great Britain will give organic farmers an extra year of breathing space. The Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025 were made on 21 October and laid before Parliament on 22 October, coming into force on 1 January 2026. The instrument extends narrow, time‑limited allowances on pullet sourcing and protein feed, and tightens expectations around gellan gum sourcing in organic processing, according to legislation.gov.uk.

For laying flocks, non‑organically reared pullets of up to 18 weeks may still be brought into organic systems where certified birds are genuinely unavailable, but only until 31 December 2026 and subject to certification conditions. This revises Article 42(b) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 and applies across England, Wales and Scotland with the consent of Scottish and Welsh Ministers.

Feed rules also shift in a targeted way. If farmers cannot source enough certified protein for piglets up to 35 kilograms and for poultry up to 30 weeks old, rations may include up to 5% non‑organic protein during the 2026 calendar year. The allowance acknowledges ongoing supply constraints while keeping a clear ceiling and a hard stop at year‑end.

On the processing side, brands using E418 high‑acyl gellan gum - common in plant‑based yoghurts, cultured drinks and ready‑to‑drink beverages - should prioritise material derived from organic production. The text now states that gellan gum should be organic unless sufficient organic quantities are unavailable, nudging supply chains toward certified fermentation inputs as capacity builds.

This is not a weakening of standards; it is a stabiliser for a sector dealing with pullet bottlenecks and protein scarcity. Industry bodies including the Soil Association and Organic Farmers & Growers have flagged through 2024–2025 that certified pullet numbers have lagged demand and that organic protein ingredients remain tight for youngstock diets with strict amino‑acid requirements. Government has opted for a time‑bound fix rather than permanent rule changes.

For farm businesses, the focus is practical. Confirm availability with multiple suppliers early, lock in pullet orders months ahead, and record evidence that certified birds or protein feed were unobtainable at the time of purchase. Keep invoices, supplier attestations and ration formulations ready for your certification body, and update your organic management plan to show how you will return to full compliance before the 31 December 2026 sunset.

Feed formulators can use 2026 to widen UK‑grown options. Faba beans, peas and lupins are promising building blocks; enzyme packages and balanced cereal–pulse mixes are improving performance, as shown by work from AHDB and university partners. The 5% non‑organic allowance is a buffer for young animals - not a new baseline - so trial work should aim to phase it out before the deadline.

Processors should audit stabilisers now. If your organic line relies on gellan gum, ask suppliers to evidence origin, certified capacity and lead times, and set clear thresholds for switching fully to organic gellan as soon as volumes allow. Many buyers are moving contracts to fermentation manufacturers capable of supplying certified inputs to avoid reformulation later in 2026.

The statutory instrument - S.I. 2025/1111, signed by Defra Minister of State Angela Eagle - amends retained EU law 889/2008, which still underpins organic rules in Great Britain. It does not extend to Northern Ireland, which follows EU organics, so supply teams trading across the Irish Sea should segregate product and paperwork to avoid compliance snags.

Used well, this extra year can build resilience: contracts that back domestic protein crops, breeder investment to scale organically reared pullets, and transparent shopper communications to maintain trust. If the sector fixes the bottlenecks through 2026, there will be less need for emergency allowances in 2027.