A mandatory EU logo for organic food is expected to be introduced later next year when the European Parliament is consulted on the issue in March.
The Council of Farm Ministers meeting in Brussels yesterday agreed by a qualified majority that the scheme go ahead despite objections from a number of ministers.
A spokesman for Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan said while Ireland had no objections to an EU organic label, there was concern that implementing the system might be over-bureaucratic.
"There was concern that another layer of regulation would be introduced, disrupting the controls we already have in place here," he said.
The general approach agreed by the council will allow the introduction of the label which will specify whether or not the product is produced in or outside the EU.
If the whole product comes from one country this can be specified on the logo, so Irish-produced produce would be labelled "Irish".
The regulations, which are still subject to amendment , will also allow other logos, both private and national be used alongside the EU logo.
The ministers had to deal with objections from a number of countries over the use of genetically modified organisms in organic produce.
Commission agriculture officials pointed out that all member states agreed that genetically modified organisms should not be deliberately used in organic produce.