Copa & Cogeca outline key points for successful organic reform
Chairman of Copa & Cogecas’ Organic Working Party Kees Van Zelderen said “We can only reach a successful agreement, if a number of key elements are adopted. In particular, a harmonised European declassification level should not yet be established because there first needs to be clear data on the levels and volumes of the adventitious contamination of seeds and related preliminary costs, amongst other conditions. Member States also need to start harmonising the work of their control bodies, without creating excessive red tape and bureaucracy on operators”.
He continued: “Instead of fixing a date of 15 years to end derogations on the use of non-organic seeds and for the use of non-organic animals for breeding, we believe that a decision to end the derogations should be based on what is known about how organic inputs are developing within the EU. In parallel, all operators in the organic sector should work together to supply the market with enough organic seeds and organic animals for breeding purposes. Furthermore, no limits should be imposed on the size of poultry houses because the size of a holding bears no relation to animal welfare concerns or production sustainability. Finally, annual controls must be kept in order to maintain regular contact between the certification bodies and operators and to protect consumer confidence”.
The move comes after Ministers agreed today to continue talks on the review with last trialogue talks between the Council, Parliament and Commission, probably at the end of the month, in order to get an agreement on it under the Maltese Presidency which would be endorsed by Ministers in July under the Estonian presidency.
For more information:
Copa Cogeca
www.copa-cogeca.eu