Organic food production is a growing market in the European Union, where EU consumers spent over €22 billion in 2013. However, the EU does not have the capacity to meet the demand and we are increasingly importing from abroad.
The original proposal presented by the European Commission focused only on the consumer side, and not enough on the producers and how to make a level-playing field for EU-farmers and importers. This is why the S&D Group successfully pushed for a more balanced approach tackling both consumer demand and also harmonising measures aimed at boosting the sector’s development.
The Parliament's agriculture committee today backed a proposal to update and strengthen rules on organic food production, labelling and controls at all stages of production, from field to consumer.
S&D shadow rapporteur, Eric Andrieu MEP, said:
"Buying organic means supporting a certain way of farming, respecting nature’s cycles and biodiversity, as well as responsible use of energy and resources. It implies also a certain way of consumption, responding to the sustainability challenge. Buying organic also means better health through better food, which should be made available to all.
"The objective of the regulation is to allow farmers to convert to organic through mixed farming, and give them more choice of seed – the basic agricultural resource for organic farming – through derogations where needed.
"It is essential to ensure the quality of organic products for consumers by reinforcing and harmonising controls in the EU and on imported products".
S&D spokesperson on agriculture, Paolo de Castro MEP, said:
"Consumers must be able to buy high quality goods from EU producers who are fully audited annually, and they must be sure that imported organic food they buy meets the same stringent standards.
"Given that this sector is constantly evolving and growing, the Commission should report back to Parliament in 2020 with proposals for any areas still in need of new laws - for example on establishing the levels of unauthorised products or substances to be applied to organic products.
"The result of the vote broadly reflects the position of the socialists, who have worked together and been the leading force behind this vote. We are going to enter the trilogue shortly. Our aim is to move forward as fast as possible under the Luxembourg presidency."
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