WRITTEN QUESTION P-2000/96 by Mirja Ryynänen (ELDR) to the Commission (12 July 1996)

Subject: Environmental protection and agriculture

In areas where intensive farming is practised, environmental problems are severe. Frequently, water-collection areas are polluted because the nitrate content is excessive. On the other hand, farming in the peripheral areas of the EU is essentially environmentally acceptable. However, the lower yields achieved because of the natural conditions, for example in Finland, make the competitive position unfavourable.

What measures can be taken to achieve sustainable agriculture in both kinds of area? Does the Commission intend to provide an incentive for the sustainable production of foodstuffs, for example by introducing quality requirements and supporting environmentally-friendly agriculture?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1996)

The Commission is aware that agriculture is largely responsible for increased nitrate levels in water resources. It was for this reason that Directive 91/676/EEC ((OJ L 375, 31.12.1991. )) introducing a number of restrictions in vulnerable areas designated by the Member States was adopted. However it will take some time for its impact to be felt.

It is the highly diversified nature of Community agriculture which ranges from very intensive farming with its sometimes negative impact to extensive farming which is inherently more respectful of the environment, that the environmental situation described by the Honourable Member has arisen.

There is a panoply of Community instruments which can be used to promote greater respect for the environment or to improve competitiveness in the areas in question. These include Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 ((OJ L 215, 30.7.1992. )) which provides support for farming methods which are compatible with environmental protection and the maintenance of the countryside, Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 ((OJ L 198, 22.7.1991. )) on organic farming methods and the labelling and advertising of organic products and foodstuffs and Directive 75/268/EEC ((OJ L 128, 19.5.1975. )) on hill farming and farming in less-favoured areas. The role played by the Structural Funds with the creation of Objective 6 for peripheral subarctic regions and by Community research in defining sustainable farming should be noted.

Furthermore, all Community agricultural products have to comply with stringent quality standards in terms of plant protection product residues. The Commission also intends to introduce maximum tolerances for particular food contaminants, including nitrates, in certain vegetables.

If genuine sustainable agriculture, that is agriculture which respects natural resources, manages the countryside and is competitive, is to be achieved, there will have to be further changes. It is not enough to simply define dual agriculture (two types of farming, two types of development or two types of natural area) where the environment would be systematically viewed as a constraint, in intensive farming areas because of the volume of environmental legislation and in less-favoured areas as a natural obstacle. What the Commission is seeking to do is to promote a better balance between farming and other economic activities in rural areas and the conservation of natural resources as a whole. It does so by making judicious use of market and income support policies, by giving priority to integrated rural policy, by ensuring agriculture plays a multi-functional role and by further simplifying and decentralizing current legislation.

It is only through an integrated policy of this kind, which takes account of environmental, economic and social aspirations in a rural development context, that the sustainable agriculture advocated by the Honourable Member can be attained.

Finally, attention is drawn to the proposal for a Parliament and Council decision reviewing the fifth environment programme ((Doc. COM(95) 647. )). This calls for greater accommodation of agricultural market instruments and environmental needs, reports on the constraints and impact of agricultural practices on the environment, promotion of sustainable farming methods and a global approach to rural development.