Organic food is gaining ground in China as increasingly health-conscious consumers pay greater attention to food quality, safety and sustainability. For European SMEs, this evolving market presents opportunities, but also requires a clear understanding of local regulations and certification requirements.
On 30 October, the EU SME Centre and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China are organising a seminar in Beijing and online that will explore key market trends, market access conditions and China’s organic certification procedures, providing practical insights to help European businesses navigate the regulatory landscape and assess opportunities for their products.
Agenda
Friday 30 October (China Standard Time)
16:00–16:05
Opening remarks Keyu Zhou, Events Coordinator, EU SME Centre
16:05–16:45
China’s Organic Food Market and Organic Certification Rita Merkle, Head of Science Dialogue, Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ)
16:45–17:10
Q&A session
Keynote speaker
Rita Merkle
Head of Science Dialogue, Sino-German Agricultural Centre
Rita Merkle leads the Science Dialogue at the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ), a bilateral cooperation project that promotes exchange and research collaboration in agricultural sciences between Germany and China. Organic farming is one of her key areas of work. She authored a comparative study on organic certification in China and Germany and moderated the Germany–China organic trade roundtable at BIOFACH China 2026. She also contributes to DCZ’s policy recommendations for sustainable, climate-resilient food systems.
Before joining DCZ, she worked for many years as an independent consultant, carrying out evaluations and strategic assignments for public-sector clients in Europe and Asia. Her areas included farming systems, food safety and quality, agrifood value chains, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
