EU Regulation 1804/1999, which governs the organic livestock sector, came into effect on 24 August 2000. This Regulation supplemented regulation 2092/91 which had already governed the organic crop sector since 1992. As the competent authority, my Department has had to put measures in place to give effect to regulation 1804/1999. In doing so, my Department had regard to the recommendation in the AgriFood 2010 report that a credible regulatory system be put in place for the organic sector and that the existing confusion between competing inspection bodies be ended. In response to that recommendation, I undertook to streamline the inspection arrangements. My objective is to ensure that all organic farmers and processors have ready access to the most efficient, transparent and consistent arrangements for inspection and certification, and to encourage new entrants to the sector.
To that end, my Department has put proposals to the three bodies which had been approved to inspect organic crop produce under regulation 2091/92 – Demeter Standards Limited, Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association and Organic Trust – for a unified inspection and certification system which will achieve this objective while allowing the three bodies to continue to operate their own arrangements, where their own members are concerned, as heretofore. My Department has since had a number of meetings and other contacts with the three bodies to clarify these proposals. Furthermore, at their request, my Department has agreed to assist with funding to engage a facilitator to help the three bodies in their negotiations with one another.
A considerable amount of time and effort has been expended to date in endeavouring to assist the three bodies to arrive at a resolution of issues associated with the establishment of a unified inspection and certification system. I understand the three bodies are still considering the Department's proposals and I am hopeful of an early and positive response.
As the new regulation 1804 has already come into effect, final decisions on the practical aspects of its application must be taken as a matter of urgency. Pending the outcome of this process, the approval which the three organic farming bodies were given in 1993 to carry out the inspection function will remain in effect.
Additional information
While my Department has had numerous and lengthy discussions with the three organic farming bodies both on the inspection and certification arrangements for organic farming and also on the standards to apply to the organic livestock sector, a number of groups of organic producers have also made approaches to my Department independently of the three bodies to offer their own comments and recommendations.
The AgriFood 2010 committee also recommended the establishment of an organic development committee and I accepted that recommendation. I am seeking to ensure that the committee includes representatives of the widest interests in the organic sector including those involved in production, marketing, distribution and retailing, as well as the areas of research, training, advice and regulation. The remit of the committee is to recommend a coherent development strategy to achieve expansion in production, processing and marketing of Irish organic produce and to secure an increased share of the growing national and export markets, and to consider the broad actions necessary for the most advantageous long-term future development of the Irish organic sector while protecting its integrity. I envisage that the organic development committee will convene for the first time within the next few weeks.
