• Arla Foods Amba leads the organic segment in Denmark with a value share of 10.1% in 2023, followed by Thise Mejeri Amba with a value share of 7.4% and Midsona AB with a share of 5.4%. 
• Denmark ranks 8th globally in terms of market size, with a value of US$283.4 mn in 2023, being the fourth-largest consumer market in Western Europe for Organic Packaged Food and the biggest among countries in Scandinavia.

• Organic products in Denmark represent roughly 2.7% of global demand and 7.6% of the market in the Western Europe region, recording a per capita expenditure of US$284.4 in 2023, which ranks the country first globally. Denmark is one of the most mature markets in terms of Organic Packaged Food consumption, which would explain its high market value and low growth for the forecast period.
• The Danish market for Organic Packaged Food and Beverages products is projected to increase with a value CAGR of 1.4% for the forecast period 2023-2028 in 2023 constant prices with fixed USD exchange rates, reaching a value of US$1,803.3 mn by 2028.

• The Organic Packaged Food and Beverages category in Denmark registered a value increase of 1.7% in 2023 in current prices to record a market size of US$1,680.9 million. 
• During the historic period of 2019-2023, the Organic Packaged Food category registered a CAGR of 4.2% in current prices. For the forecast period from 2023 to 2028, the growth is expected to reach a projected CAGR of 1.5% in constant prices.
• Organic Beverages grew historically at 8.1% current CAGR, with the category expected to grow at a 0.4% constant CAGR over the forecast period.
• Growth in Organic Packaged Food was primarily driven by Organic Dairy Products and Alternatives, which recorded a 5.6% current CAGR during the historic period. The category is expected to continue growing by a constant CAGR of 1.7% over the forecast period.
• Within Organic Beverages, Organic Hot Drinks drove historic growth with a CAGR of 10.0% but is now projected to record a negative constant CAGR of 0.7% over the forecast period.

• Growing concerns about the impact of processed and ultra-processed food on health in Denmark are encouraging consumers to pay more attention to the labels of cooking ingredients and meals products. This is, in turn, prompting manufacturers to develop products with lower levels of constituents such as sugar, salt and fat. According to Euromonitor International's Voice of the Consumer Survey from January-February 2024, 39% of consumers in Denmark look for products that contain healthy ingredients in their food and beverages and 31% claimed they actively monitor what they eat to manage their weight.
• Organic is one of the most import health and wellness claims in Denmark, as organic products are increasingly aligning with consumers’ ethical concerns around social and environmental sustainability and are seen as less harmful to both human health and the environment than standard alternatives. Danish consumers display a notable fondness for organic products, with Euromonitor International’s Health and Nutrition Survey 2023 finding that 23.1% of respondents look for 100% organic products.

• Arla Foods Amba is leading the Organic Packaged Food category with a market share of 11.4% in 2023, although private label brands across Denmark had a bigger market share of 16.1% in the same year. Arla Foods is the largest producer of dairy products in Scandinavia, with most of its products being produced by organic farming, including non-GMOs, no hormones, no pesticides and organic cow diets.
• Luigi Lavazza SpA continued to lead Organic Beverages in 2023 with a 15.7% share. However, the company has lost 1.0 p.p. of market share since 2019, mainly due to the increase in private label products entering the market, which have increased their market share by 4.0 p.p. over the same period.

• High prices for products with health and wellness claims and comparatively weak consumer awareness may limit the development of such products, as Danish consumers will seek more budget-friendly alternatives. As a result, the private label segment may have a key role to play in providing healthier options for Danes at more affordable prices. These players are increasing investment in a wider range of alternatives integrating healthy, organic and sustainable choices presented in recyclable packaging.
• Across the forecast period, sales of Organic Snacks are set to grow, with retail sales projected to rise at a 2.6% constant value CAGR to reach US$254.8 million in 2028, the highest percentage growth of all categories. With organic brands becoming even more expensive due to the high cost of raw materials, there is significant room for the further development of organic snacks in the private label segment. Across the forecast period, Organic Confectionery will be the leading category in the Organic Snacks landscape, reaching sales of US$93.9 million, supported by a forecasted constant CAGR of 2.2%.

• Sugar is becoming an increasingly central concern for health-conscious consumers in Denmark, with a growing amount of publicity about the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption on health and increasing public awareness of rising levels of obesity, with this issue more present in hot and soft drinks. This is more important among children, as not only do Danish parents prefer to offer their children healthier options, but childhood obesity is becoming an ever more pressing concern.
• Denmark is looking to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks to children under 15 years old, with a focus on social media influencers. This is due to a broader effort to combat childhood obesity, with the proposal involving amending existing laws on marketing to ban ads of this type. Violations would be punishable by a fine, with a consumer watch group responsible for monitoring and assessing whether an influencer is unlawfully marketing to children, as well as the government planning to define which foods count as “unhealthy” and how to tell if content targets children.
• While there was no significant new legislation affecting health and wellness products introduced in the last year, Denmark is planning to implement a new carbon dioxide tax by 2027 that will influence prices for many industries, especially in the dairy segment. This will align with the new EU green law, with the organic segment likely to suffer as a result, as Danes are known for seeking value for money and, thus, prices play a major role when it comes to purchasing decisions. This is also key as the challenging economic situation is still prevailing going into the forecast period and is also expected to dampen demand for organic products even before the introduction of a carbon dioxide tax.

Economy: 

• Denmark's economy is projected to continue growing in 2025, with real GDP expected to grow by 3.0%. This performance is primarily attributed to a large positive contribution from net exports, an improvement in the labour market due to an influx of foreign labour and a strong recovery in the housing market.
• Real GDP growth is anticipated to continue growing, reaching 1.8% in 2026 and averaging around 1.7% annually through 2028.
• Inflation closed 2024 at 1.4% and is expected to increase slightly to 1.9% in 2025.

 Population demographics: 

• Denmark's population reached 6.0 million in 2024 and is projected to grow by 0.4% to 6.0 million in 2025. The country is currently experiencing an aging trend, as the percentage of the population aged 65+ years old has increased from 19.9% in 2020 to 20.7% in 2024 and its population aged 14 or under decreased from 16.4% in 2020 to 15.7% in 2024. 
• The median age in Denmark was recorded at 42.2 years in 2024, an increase of 0.1 years from 2020. 

Income & expenditure: 

• The savings ratio in Denmark reached 1.9% of disposable income in 2024, continuing a steady upward trend in recent years. The country currently has the third lowest savings ratio in all of Western Europe but is expected to post continued growth in the following years.
• Consumer expenditure per capita grew by 2.0% in 2024 in current USD terms. In constant USD, it is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.2% through 2028. This growth is likely driven by increased spending on education, although housing is projected to remain the largest consumer spending category.
• Disposable income per capita was US$31,990 in 2024. It is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.4% through 2028, outpacing the projected average for Western Europe.

¹ Health and Wellness Definition: Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

The above definition and more can be referenced from the definitions table at the end of the report

² Economic and Demographic Data has been updated to reflect final 2024 estimates, therefore using 2024 as the base year for exchange rates and prices. 

³ Historic current prices and forecast constant 2024 prices.

Top 5 Cities By Population

Top 5 Grocery Retailers By Sales

Top 5 Export Commodities To Denmark

Note : Total organics is the sum of all exports to a country within a year   

Authorized Government Agency(s):

European Union (EU) Member States retain the authority to determine additional requirements for production within their country. They can also determine exceptions due to catastrophic circumstances, but cannot restrict access to products in compliance with EU regulations. In addition, the EC delegates most authority for the administration of organic programs to the Member States.

Agency Contact Information
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark
The Danish Agricultural Agency
Customers & Production
Phone: +45 33 95 80 00
e-mail: jordbrugskontrol@lbst.dk
Organic farming
Danish Agriculture and Food Council
The Danish Agricultural Agency administers and controls the rules for organic agricultural production and the associated supply companies.

Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
Organic inspection
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, including the local control units, administers and controls the rules on organic aquaculture as well as the rules on the processing and distribution of organic food

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

The European Union has an Equivalency Agreement with the United States.

This 2022 consolidated version repeals and replaces previous organic regulations and contains the basic legislative act plus amendments and corrections that set the rules on organic production and labeling of organic products: EU 2018/848 (pdf in English) 

Key secondary acts not included in consolidated EU 2018/848 include: 

• Retroactive recognition for the purpose of conversion, the production of organic products and information to be provided by EU countries: EU 2020/464 (pdf in English)
• Conditions for authorization and lists of authorized products and substances for use in organic production: EU 2021/1165 (pdf in English)
• Supplemental rules on the official control, traceability and mass balance checks for operators and groups of operators: EU 2021/771 (pdf in English)

A full list of basic legislative act and secondary acts is available here. 

Danish Regulation No. 1316 of 19 November 2018
The Regulation No. 1316 of 19 November 2018 (Bekendtgørelse om økologisk jordbrugsproduk-tion m.v.) defines rules for the certification and inspection of organic farms and suppliers of organic feed, seeds, cereals, fertilizers and other non-food products. The regulation also defines rules for the rearing of pullets for egg production, rules for the rearing of parent animals for pullets for the production of eggs and poultry for meat production. It also covers rules for the administration of the computerized seed database in Denmark and rules for the use of the Ø-label on organic Non-food products

Date of Implementation: 1992

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

EU standards cover crop, livestock, processing, and certification of groups of operators. Farm and handling plans are required, as well as detailed record keeping and detailed livestock feed standards.  Specific standards are included for aquaculture, seaweed, yeast, bees, sprouted seeds, chicory heads, wine, mushrooms, and salt. Criteria for determining allowed materials include consistency with the objectives and principles of organic farming, and materials must be of plant, animal, microbial or mineral origin. Synthetic substances, however, may be used when they replicate the natural sources and when they are approved for organic production in the EU.

EU requires that imported organic products meet EU standards. Non-EU organic products must include country of origin labeling if they wish to use the EU organic logo. Use of the EU organic logo is not required for products from outside the EU. EU requires that imported products must be from countries that have been recognized by the EU (third-countries) and certified by recognized control bodies (certifiers); or countries with bilateral equivalency arrangements (Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, U.S.); or countries with equivalency agreements (Chile, Switzerland, UK).

List of third countries and the list of control authorities and control bodies recognized for the purpose of importing organic products into the EU: EU 2021/2325 (pdf in English)

Requirements have been established for importers, operators responsible for the consignments, first consignees and consignees for the import of organic and in-conversion products into the EU.

Documents and notification required EU 2021/2307 (pdf in English)

Beginning February 3, 2020, port of entry health authorities will only endorse a certificate of inspection if the certifier issued it prior to export. Certain sections of the certificates (boxes 13, 16, and 17) may be filled in with provisional information, since certifiers can not verify all of the data before the product is exported. The provisional information must be confirmed/updated within 10 days, and before the certificate can be endorsed at the port of entry.

Exports from the U.S. to EU must adhere to the EU procedures and require an EU Certificate of Inspection (COI). A USDA-accredited certifying agent must complete an electronic COI through the European Union's Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) before the product leaves the U.S. Certain edits to the COI may only be made within 10 days of issuing the original COI.

EU Trade in Organics

The EU requires organic certification for all those involved in production and handling, including importers. EU requires ALL processing operations to be certified, even if those products are below the 95% threshold for the "Organic" label.

EU delegates the authority for investigations, non compliance, mediation, and testing, as well as reporting, exclusion from organic sale, emergency treatments and appeals to the Member States in accordance with their respective control system plans.

The EU allows private sector standards for the product categories, such as cosmetics and textiles, which are not fully regulated by the EU.  In the EU certifiers (control bodies) can require additional organic crop, livestock and processing standards in association with the use of their certification seal.

The EU has unified the control systems that Member States and control bodies implement for investigations, non-compliance, mediation, testing, reporting, exclusion from organic sale, emergency treatments and appeals.  Required reports, records and certificates are submitted in electronic format through the use of the Organic Farming Information System.  

In addition to the EU organic regulations for certification and accreditation procedures, the requirements of EN 45011 and ISO Guide 65 for accreditation must be met. 

Requirements for recognition of control authorities and control bodies: EU 2021/1698 (pdf in English)

Use of Organic Farming Information System and templates for annual reports: EU 2021/1935 (pdf in English)

Record keeping and declaration requirements from operators and groups of operators EU 2021/2119 (pdf in English)

Control bodies in the European Union

FiBL Country reports
U.S. International Trade Administration

USDA’s GAIN Report Denmark Exporter Guide (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report The Organic Food Market in Denmark (2020)

USDA's GAIN Report Economic Woes Slows Growth in EU Organic Sales (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report EU Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report EU Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report Annual(2023)
USDA's GAIN Report EU 2024 Promotion Programs for Agricultural Products (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report EU Adopts New Rules for Organic Pet Food (2023)
USDA’s GAIN Report Procedure for EU TRACES Registration of Honey and Other Apiculture Products Establishments - New EU Market Access Rules from 29 November 2024 (2024)
USDA’S GAIN Report EU Consumers save on food and buy less organic in 2022 (2023)
USDA’S GAIN Report COVID-19 Boosts Organic Food Sales in the EU (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report Update on Changing EU Import Conditions for Composite Products (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report European Commission Launches Public Consultation on the Revision of EU Food Labeling Requirements (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report New EU Labeling Rules for Wines (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report Continuing Good Prospects for US Organic Exports to the EU (2021)
USDA’S GAIN Report New EU Organic Regulation Entering Into Force in 2021 Regulatory Update (2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report EU Launches Consultation on Future Organics Action Plan (Sept. 2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report Food Labeling Initiatives in the EU Farm to Fork Strategy (2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report Pesticides Initiatives in the EU Farm to Fork Strategy (2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report Good Prospects for US Organic Exports in the EU (2020)