WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2613/97 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. Organic farming practices
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: agricultural product, animal nutrition, animal product, animal production, biological standard, crop production, foodstuff, livestock farming, organic farming, product quality

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/31

(98/C 117/40)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2613/97

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Organic farming practices

In  the  organic  livestock  regulation  the  Commission  has  recommended  the  imposition  of  a  limit  of  20%
conversion feedstuffs.

Does the Commission acknowledge that the limit set is excessively restrictive for many farmers, particularly
those in the process of conversion? Will this proposal not further inhibit farmers from converting to organic
practices?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1997)

The Commission proposal (1) for a Council regulation supplementing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic
production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (2) to
include  livestock  production  includes  a  provision  permitting  the  feeding  of  animals  with  (cid:145)in  conversion(cid:146)
feedingstuffs (up to 20%), i.e. crop products from land under organic production for at least one year. In addition,
the  proposal  also  provides  that,  during  a  transitional  period  expiring  on  31  December  2000,  conventional
feedingstuffs to a maximum of 10% (for ruminants) and 20% (for non-ruminants) may be used.

The restrictions with regard to organic husbandry in general, and in particular, with regard to the feeding of the
animals concerned, have been established after a careful examination of the existing organic husbandry practices
in the Member States and the expectations of consumers with regard to these practices. In this context feeding
with organic feedingstuffs is considered an essential element, and therefore the use of non organic feedingstuffs
has been severely restricted.

The Parliament delivered in its session of May 1997 its opinion on the Commission proposal after a detailed
examination of the proposed production standards. In its amendments Nos 58 and 63, the Parliament proposed
more flexible arrangements with regard to the conversion to organic husbandry:

›  an extension of the transitional period for use of conventional feedingstuffs to five years;

›  a limitation of the conversion period to an overall maximum of two years when the conversion is made for

the complete holding and covers simultaneously its livestock and crop production.

The  Commission  accepted  these  elements  and  will  introduce  them  in  its  amended  proposal,  currently  under
preparation.

(1)  COM(96) 366.
(2)  OJ L 198, 22.7.1991.

(98/C 117/41)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/97

by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: VAT on sanitary protection

Is  the  Commission  aware  that  there  is  widespread  support  both  from  retailers  and  customers  of  sanitary
protection for women to remove VAT from these products?

How does the Commission propose to recognize these demands?