The European Parliament's Agriculture Committee's recommended changes to the EU's organic production rules focus on reducing fraud, rather than on changes to animal welfare standards. Their mid-October votes on changes more closely align with the organic community's comments than the initial proposal. In addition to supporting annual inspections, the committee's votes supported improved supervision of organic implementation to increase accountability across the supply chain. Group certification also garnered support from the committee.

The committee also agreed to scrap plans to eliminate farms that produce both organic and non-organic products, provided that the farms take steps to keep the operations clearly separated. The committee did leave in a contentious clause that, after 2020 and if deemed necessary, the Commission may propose maximum thresholds for prohibited substances that would result in decertification. This clause is staunchly opposed by IFOAM EU. In addition, the committee left in the requirement that all imported organic products must comply with EU organic regulations, phasing out third country agreements over the next five years. Final wording on any changes must still be negotiated with the European Council.