Strasbourg, 14/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the own initiative report by Marie-Hélène Aubert (French, Greens) last Thursday, the European Parliament is calling for an ambitious strategy for organic farming products and greater vigilance about the risk of organic farming getting contaminated by genetically modified bodies (GMOs).
The EP has therefore agreed to the text adopted at committee stage (EUROPE 5 February p 12). It regrets that in its action plan of June 2004, the Commission “does not consider it necessary to plan for human or financial resources” for the development of the organic food market.
GMOs: the EP calls on the Commission to indicate what it intends to do with regard to the co-existence of trans-genetic and organic farming. In the event of contamination, even accidental, “the financial liability should only involve those illegally trading in GMOs and not the whole agriculture sector”, outlines the EP.
The EP is pleased that the Commission intends to continue with the approximation of European standards for organic products and production and considers that higher national standards in some Member States should not prevent organic products from other States being sold freely in their countries as if they were certified organic products. The EP believes that it would be better to harmonise cost conditions, particularly for animal production.
The EP is calling for public aid to be encouraged for organic farming and for industries linked to organic farming. It considers that the action plan should clearly indicate the contribution made by organic farming in areas like: the “nitrates” directive, the Natura 200 directive, water policy, promotion of biodiversity and jobs.
Research: the EP is calling for modes of organic farming and coexistence between organic products, as well as traditional farming and genetically modified organisms to be recognises as priorities in the European framework research programme. It regrets that the European action plan presented does not contain any concrete action for promoting research.