Brussels, 08/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission is to adopt an action plan presented by Commissioner Franz Fischler to guarantee the development of organic farming. This strategy is designed mainly to provide incentives to operators to use the Community logo, to increase the efficiency of public aid and boost Community standards and import and inspection requirements. This market share has risen to an average of just 2% in the EU15.
In a press release accompanying the action plan, the Commission explains that internal trade in organic products are hindered by the great diversity of standards, and their implementation, which could complicate sales in other Member States. The definition of common objectives, the development of a multilateral concept of equivalence, increased harmonisation of inspection requirements, and greater emphasis on the Community logo should help to combat these problems.
The Commission is proposing twenty actions divided up under the three priorities retained: Organic foods: To launch a Community-wide multi-annual promotion campaign targeting consumers, the canteens of schools and public institutions (particularly to encourage the use of the EU logo); to create an Internet database with the list of private and national standards, compared to Community standards; improving statistic-gathering. State aid: to allow the Member States to add to Community support with aid granted to fruit and vegetable producers committed to organic;
- encourage Member States to use instruments made available in rural development programmes; strengthen research. Standards and inspection: complete harmonisation or standards by drawing up list of additives authorised in the manufacture of processed animal products, by rethinking definition on specific standards for organic wine and if necessary, extend the field of application for aquaculture regulation; add provisions to 1991 regulation on organic production for explaining labelled products contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and can therefore not be labelled as organic; that labelling thresholds are the same as those applicable to those applied to those in which there are accidental traces of GMOs (other than in seeds) and used in organic farming (the Commission is still investigating whether there is a need to set specific thresholds for seeds used in organic farming); improve inspection services by targeting operators committing fraudulent practices; develop with third countries, import equivalent agreements and bilateral agreements for mutual recognition in organic farming.