Select Committee on European Legislation First Report


ORGANIC PRODUCTION

11.   We consider that the following raises questions of political importance, but make no recommendation for its further consideration at this stage:--

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

(17474)
9782/96
COM(96)366
Draft Council Regulation on organic production of agricultural products.
Legal base: Article 43; qualified majority voting.
Background

11.1  Council Regulation No. 2092/91[20] proposed a harmonised framework for the production, processing, labelling, inspection and importation of foodstuffs and agricultural products produced organically. The draft Regulation would extend 2092/91 to cover organic livestock products such as meat, milk, eggs and honey.

The proposal

11.2  The Commission summarises its proposals as laying down a framework for organic livestock farming to achieve balanced agricultural production which takes account of the environment by the following means:

    "--recognition of the interdependence between stockfarming and the land with a view to ensuring responsible management of effluents and favouring feed produced on the holding;

    --consideration for the welfare of the livestock, in particular by eschewing systematic mutilation and eliminating stress during transport and slaughter;

    --choice of breeds which are adapted to local conditions, search for biological diversity and use of natural service;

    --obligation to mange the whole livestock production unit in accordance with the principles of organic production."

11.3  The Commission's proposals would also lay down specific rules for the various types of stock farming covering:      

    "--the origin of the animals,

    --the rules for conversion from conventional to organic stockfarming,

    --animal feed,

    --animal-health treatment and care,

    --animal housing and living environment.

    --special provisions specific to livestock production as regards inspection and record keeping."

11.4  The draft Regulation would provide for similar requirements for the inspection of producers and organic imports from third countries in the same way as they already apply for crop-based products.

11.5  The basic requirement would be for all animals to be organic in origin, although there would be special provision for renewal or development of herds/flocks until 31 December 2000 and there would also be derogations to allow the buying in of conventional calves, piglets, broiler chicks or pullets where organic animals were not available in sufficient numbers.

11.6  A conversion period of 2 years for organically managed grazing fodder or silage would be set and animals would have to be managed organically for at least 12 months. All feed would have to be organic in origin, but until 31 December 2000 with a derogation allowing conventional feed to comprise 10% of the diet for ruminants and 20% for non-ruminants. The routine use of conventional treatment would be avoided and a wide range of requirements set on livestock housing.

The Government's view

11.7  In his Explanatory Memorandum of 30 September the Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr Baldry) supports the concept of Community rules to cover organic livestock production, but says that certain aspects of what is proposed would not accord with UK practice. He cites a number of examples:

    "(a)  the proposal would not allow conventional and organic animals of the same species to be present on a holding; UKROFS[21] allows this, subject to practical safeguards;

    (b)  UKROFS has a basic rule that animals cannot be sold for organic meat unless they have been born and raised on an organic unit; the proposal would allow brought-in animals from conventional farms to be sold for meat after a conversion period;

    (c)  unlike UKROFS the proposal specifies limits on stocking rate, and those envisaged for pigs and poultry would be too restrictive;

    (d)  the UKROFS rules on conventional feed allowances are more flexible than those in the proposal, and they are not time-limited; and

    (e)  the proposal would seem to be promoting mixed farms which are self-sufficient in animal feed and nutrient inputs as a standard 'model' for organic production. An insistence on this view would call into question farm types accepted in the UK, such as stockless arable systems and specialist horticultural enterprises."

11.8  The Minister of State indicates that the industry has been formally consulted and that a Compliance Cost Assessment will be submitted as soon as possible.

Conclusion

11.9  There is obvious merit in a coherent Community structure for organic farming and labelling of organic products, but it may not be easy to get agreement to rules that suit all countries. There is also a need not to mislead the consumer as to what the "organic" label actually implies. We note that the industry has been formally consulted and that a Compliance Cost Assessment will be submitted. We would like to have this information before coming to a decision on a debate. We consider the matter to be politically important, but we are not yet clearing the document.


20. OJ No. L 198, 22.7.91, p.1. Back

21. UKROFS is the UK Register of Organic Food Standards. Back

 


© Parliamentary copyright 1996
Prepared 12th November 1996