"--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.
