Annex 1
THE ORGANIC FOOD AND FARMING TARGETS BILL—ENGLAND,
WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND
On 19 October 1999 the Organic Food and Farming
Targets Bill (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) was launched.
The aim of the Bill is to persuade the Government to adopt a strategy
and targets to greatly increase the size of the organic sector
in the next ten years. The targets were chosen based on current
demand and supply, rates of growth in demand, available land,
European trends and experience in other European countries. These
targets are:
— not less than 30 per cent by area
of agricultural land in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is
certified as organic or is in the process of being converted to
that status, and;
— not less than 20 per cent by volume
of food consumed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is certified
as organic.
Other requirements of the Bill include:
— the need to ensure greater access
to organic food for all sectors of society;
— addressing problems of market infrastructure
and development;
— the need to develop local food distribution
networks.
Over 200 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion
showing strong, cross-party support for the Bill. Over 50 organisations
have also signed up to the hill, including consumer groups (National
Federation of Consumer Groups), health groups (Health Education
Trust), trade unions (UNISON), supermarkets (Waitrose, Marks &
Spencer, Sainsbury & Asda) and environmental organisations
such as the RSPB.
THE ORGANIC
FOOD AND
FARMING TARGETS
BILL—SCOTLAND
An Organic Targets Bill has also been presented
to the Scottish Parliament. It is supported by 38 of the 129 Members
of the Scottish Parliament, the largest support for a Private
Members Bill. The provisional target is not less than 20 per cent
by area of agricultural land is certified organic or in conversion
by 2010. Several issues require resolving before the target can
be confirmed:
— modulation has not yet been implemented
in Scotland, as a result agri-environment schemes remain chronically
under-funded, of which support for organic farming is just one
element;
— the need to ensure conversion occurs
all the way down the process line. For example, to allow upland
farmers to realise the organic price premium by finishing their
stock on organically certified lowland farms.
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