The European Commission has released the draft proposal on what the new organic regulations should be.

The commission states that it has adopted a ‘principled driven approach’ to the regulations in order to maintain integrity in the sector.

The announcements follow a consultation which took place last year involving around 45,000 responses from consumers (96 per cent) and industry stakeholders (4 per cent).

The results of the consultation showed respondents to the public consultation are concerned mainly with environmental and quality issues. They’d like the European organic rules to be strengthened and wish to have uniformity of organic rules for farmers and other operators throughout the Union. Therefore the majority are in favour of putting an end to the exceptions to the rules.

NFU key concerns

    Loss of organic certification on products that show traces of pesticides irrespective of where it the contamination derived from. Organic farmers could lose their organic premium through no fault of their own and have to absorb the associated cost.
    Animal feed to become more regional.  Herbivores diet to be sourced 90 per cent from on farm or local region and other animals to source 60 per cent of their diet from on farm or local region.
    Animal feed to be 100 per cent organic. This is a particular concern for monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry who require a nutritionally balanced diet to grow healthily.
    All holdings to be fully organic.  Therefore removing the ability to convert part of a holding to organic first before converting the whole of the holding to organic over time.

Tom Lander, NFU Food Chain Adviser said: “The Commission has adopted a principle driven approach which is contrary to the position of the NFU and Copa in the consultation process which was based towards the improved status quo option.

“The UK organic industry has showed some long awaited positive sales figures in recent months, showing growth in the domestic sector. However with regards UK farms converting to organic, we are still seeing a reduction in how much land is being converted year on year.

“The rules governing the European organic market are already very stringent and whilst we accept improvements can be made in certain areas, a level of pragmatism at European level needs to be maintained in the development of these proposals. However, two of the NFU’s primary concerns are with the existing regulation which proposes to bring to an end the 5 per cent non-organic feed and part organic pullet derogations on the 31 December 2014.”

At European level there will be ongoing discussions for some time on finalising these regulations. The NFU shall continue to work with stakeholders in the sector to lobby Defra and Copa at European level on your concerns.