Brussels, 03/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - At a hearing on organic farming held by the committee on agriculture of the European Parliament on Wednesday 3 December, experts and MEPs criticised the European Commission's proposal, arguing that a better option would be to make changes to the current framework, which seems to be working well. In particular, the MEPs and experts criticised the Commission's intention to get rid of mixed farms (organic/conventional) and the current derogations (animal feed, seed).
Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein, president of the 'Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft', who was the least critical of the Commission's proposal out of all those who took the floor, said that in Germany, it is felt that mixed farms should be phased out (he referred to a date of 2020), but with exceptions (so that the son or daughter of a farmer could move into organic even if the previous generation had not done so) with a conversion period of several years for the farm. Otherwise, the expert generally takes the view that the Commission's proposal aims to “push organic into a niche market, which will put people off”. He is, however, of the opinion that the legal framework needs to change (as demand is constantly on the increase). As regards seeds, he argues that more organic seeds should be produced. On controls, the Commission should supervise the controls carried out in third countries.
Jürn Sanders of the Federal Institute of Research for Rural Areas argued that the current legal framework is insufficient. However, if all of the derogations were removed (seeds, animal feed), this would have a cost that consumers might not be prepared to pay. A better option would be to take a red pen to the Commission's proposal, Sanders summarised.
Eric Andrieu (S&D, France) lamented the fact that the Commission is not tackling the issue of organic farming. Olli Rehn (ALDE, Finland) argued that farmers should be encouraged to move into organic and improve the available range. John Stuart Agnew (EFDD, UK) said that farmers should be able to have control of the seed situation. Esther Herranz Garcia (EPP, Spain) stressed that 40% of organic farms in Spain are mixed. She spoke against the Commission's proposal, which could increase constraints on farmers. Michel Dantin (EPP, France) said that it should be possible to keep mixed farms in order to allow “a proper development of organic farming throughout Europe”.
The Copa-Cogeca representative stated that in Europe, organic represents 225,000 farmers occupying just 5% of the agricultural land of the EU. In particular, he called for action to “avoid increasing the gaps, particularly in the most intensive areas” (lots of cereals have to be imported). In order to ensure this, the organic sector is calling to be able to keep the technical adjustments in place (derogations on seeds and breeding stock) and mixed farms.
A representative of the organic industry in Europe said that the existing organic rules should be developed, particularly in the poultry and greenhouse production sectors. He is opposed to the “revolution” the Commission is calling for.
Etienne Gangneron, president of the agency BIO, stressed that mixed farms were important in France. “Getting rid of mixed farms would bring about a great many 'deconversions' and lead to a drop in production capacity”. On seed, more organic is needed, but the use of conventional seeds is necessary, he said. As regards animal feed, he proposed keeping the thresholds, but replacing 'region' with 'EU': 90% of feed for cattle, sheep and goats should originate from the farm or the EU (60% for pig and poultry feed), 95% of organic animal feed (5% conventional ingredients). On the contamination thresholds, “we can support the Commission's wish to move legislation forward, because there are too many different practices”. Gangneron also argued that annual controls in the organic sector should be kept in place. (LC)