Consultation for the review of the European policy on organic agriculture
Period of consultation: 15/01/2013 – 10/04/2013
Organic farming and production play a significant economic role in the EU’s agricultural landscape. They can provide a market-oriented alternative for agricultural producers wishing to respond to the increasing demand for high-quality, eco-friendly products. In this consultation, the European Commission would like your views on how organic farming should be best developed.
The Public Consultation is available on the website of the European Commission
Background - organic farming in the EU
Under the common agricultural policy, organic production is supported by European financial support, policies and laws. This approach is designed to bolster consumer confidence while creating the conditions for fair competition among organic producers in the 27 EU countries. The rules for organic production are set out in Council Regulation No 834/2007and Commission Regulation No 889/2008.
Organic farming covers a relatively limited part of the EU’s utilised agricultural area - around 5% - but the sector is driven by ever-increasing consumer demand. In the current economic downturn, will consumers continue to turn towards a more sustainable lifestyle and higher consumption of organic products?
Key issues:
- simplifying the legal framework – while ensuring standards are not watered down
- co-existence of GM crops with organic farming
- better control systems and trade arrangements for organic products
- impact of the new labelling rules (especially the now obligatory use of the European logo on all EU-produced organic products – has this given organic products more visibility?)
Other issues:
- Action plan – in 2004, the Commission launched an action plan to develop organic farming in Europe, which gave further impetus to the sector. This consultation is also an opportunity to find out from the public in which areas they think a new action plan might be needed.
- Controls – for the sector to develop, it is essential to guarantee its integrity. Some recent cases of fraud suggest the need to reinforce controls and enforce the rules more tightly.
- Imports – an import regime has been set up to regulate the growing international trade in organic products. Because of the fast pace of this market development, shortcomings have to be addressed to ensure the smooth functioning of our organic trade in the future.
See also the Commission report on the application of current rules for organic farming
Ouest-France article about the consultation in French
EPHA related articles
Go and Meet a Deputy! (Go MAD!)- NGOs urge citizens to Go MAD over the CAP Reform
Commission proposes new Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived 07/11/2012
FEANTSA, Eurodiaconia, Red Cross, Caritas Europa, FEBA and EAPN press statement 25/10/2012
Food Aid in Europe to continue for two more years 20/02/2012
No more EU food aid for the most vulnerable in 2012? 12/01/2012
EPHA position on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy 12/12/2011
MEPs against sharp cuts to the EU food aid scheme 17/07/2011
Revised Commission proposal on Food Aid to Most Deprived Persons (MDP) Scheme 02/10/2010
EPHA briefing on Food Aid to Most Deprived Persons (MDP) 23/07/2010
Related documents
- EPHA position on the European Commission’s 7th Environment Action Programme
- EPHA Press Release: A legacy of obesity and diabetes? - The International Olympic Committee embraces the junk food industry to sponsor the Olympics
- EPHA calls on the Danish government to maintain its leadership in public health in Europe
Credits
The European Public Health Alliance runs projects which receive financial support from the European Commission. The views expressed in this website do not necessarily reflect the official views of the EU institutions.
This website is powered by open source solutions and runs on a Linux server.