Stricter rules for organic farming i EU
The European Parliament has adopted a report, which seeks to strengthen proposed new regulation on organic production and the labelling of organic products. The parliament has called for stricter rules for importations and certification bodies, better labelling with the possibility to keep national organic logos, integration of non-food products and extension of the scope of the legislation to catering and restaurants.Following the vote, Vice-President Marie-Helene Aubert from (Greens) said: “The EP has today voted for much stronger rules for organic production and product labelling in the EU. Following the active role of the Parliament on this regulation some of the changes proposed in the EP report have already been accepted by the Council. These include: a better framework for controls, inspections and certification of imports of organic products from third Countries, which did not have similar legislation and controls in place; clearer rules for processing, certifying and labelling of organic products, while preserving the existing specific national and regional labels of the private organic organisations. We also welcome that regular consultation of the stakeholders in organic farming is now agreed,” writes www.neurope.eu.
Organic food which has been flown into Britain could be stripped of its status under Soil Association proposals to cut the environmental impact of the food industry. More than half of the organic food eaten in Britain comes from abroad. Soft fruit, including strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, would be especially affected by any change in status. The Soil Association, which licences 85 per cent of Britain’s organic produce, has suggested that food which has been transported by air might be classed on a par with being non-organic. Oxfam has said the loss of organic status would threaten the livelihoods of poor farmers in Africa and Central America, because organic food is more highly prized, writes the Daily Telegraph today.
