The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU remains very optimistic about sealing an agreement with the European Parliament between now and the end of December on reform of organic farming rules (see EUROPE 11626).
During the trialogue negotiations (Presidency of the Council, representatives of the Parliament and of the Commission) on 28 September, progress was made on one of the most sensitive points: the structure of the regulation (balance between basic, delegated and implementing acts). “A common line was agreed on the structure” of the text, a European source has indicated.
A distinction has been made between what are considered to be general rules in the basic act (principles, such as allowing animals out into the open air or to feed on certain fresh products) and certain specific rules (rules specific to animal, plant and aquatic production) which come under delegated or implementing acts. The number of delegated acts has been reduced to keep a rein on Commission powers to interpret and amend the rules, a source said.
The sensitive points which remain to be negotiated are: - seeds (arrangements for moving from conventional seeds, which are the only kind available at the moment, to organic seeds); - allowing plants to be elsewhere than in the soil (possible derogations for the northern European countries); - selection of the breeds best suited to organic production (longer lifetime). Lastly, the Commission is insisting that thresholds be set for unauthorised substances, such as pesticides, non-compliance with which would see products re-classified as non-organic. Neither the Council nor the Parliament, however, want thresholds of this sort.
The next trialogue on organic farming will take place on 18 October (a further meeting is scheduled for 7 November and others will follow in November). The Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) of 10 October will also discuss this subject. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)