Labelling of Organic Food set to become a whole lot clearer

11.34.22am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Mar 2007

Fans of organic food could soon be reaping the benefits of new rules governing organic production and labelling, which are due to go before the European Parliament later today.

Speaking the run-up to this debate, Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, said:

"I have been contacted by a number of concerned constituents in the South West unhappy that current rules allow a level of GM contamination in organic food. The European Parliament needs to be vocal in protecting consumer rights in this instance and in ensuring that we know fully what we are buying. As organic production and the demand for organic products increases throughout the EU, we need to lay down the ground rules that organic actually means organic."

Since 1991, when the first European framework on organic farming and food production was drawn-up, the organic sector has seen an impressive growth. According to the most recent data, nearly 150 000 farms across Member States are organic, which represents a total of 1.4% of agricultural holdings in the EU.

The labelling package on organic production calls for a wholesale review of the inspection system for organic products and the need to overcome the dysfunctions of the EU market mixed with the UK market, highlighted in particular by differing national logos and standards for organic food. The proposal would also tighten the rules on which ingredients and substances can be used to produce organic products.