BETA


2004/2202(INI) European action plan for organic food and farming

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AGRI AUBERT Marie-Hélène (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Committee Opinion ENVI
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2005/06/07
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2005/04/06
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2005/03/10
   EP - Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
Details

Parliament adopted own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène AUBERT (Greens/EFA, FR) on the European action plan for organic food and farming by 527 votes in favour, 8 against and 7 abstentions. (Please refer to the document dated 03/02/2005).

On the issue of research, Parliament suggests that in the European research framework programme, organic farming as a production method should be recognised as a priority, as should the coexistence of organic with conventional and genetically modified crops and assessment of the impact of the technologies that pose a threat to this production method, including environmentally directed research on selection, with regard to both crop species and farm animals.

Parliament stresses that the definition of organic farming must relate not only to the production method but also to a set of agricultural practices which guarantee respect for the environment and biodiversity, and enable the production of healthy, high-quality foodstuffs. Acceptance must be gained for this definition of organic farming in international fora in order to safeguard the specificity of the organic farming industry in the context of international trade.

Lastly, Parliament considers it regrettable that the Commission presents no concrete financial measures relating to the organisation of distribution channels, and calls for support, including financial support, to be given in the framework of the structuring of production, processing and marketing.

2005/03/10
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2005/03/10
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2005/03/10
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

Parliament adopted own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène AUBERT (Greens/EFA, FR) on the European action plan for organic food and farming by 527 votes in favour, 8 against and 7 abstentions. (Please refer to the document dated 03/02/2005).

On the issue of research, Parliament suggests that in the European research framework programme, organic farming as a production method should be recognised as a priority, as should the coexistence of organic with conventional and genetically modified crops and assessment of the impact of the technologies that pose a threat to this production method, including environmentally directed research on selection, with regard to both crop species and farm animals.

Parliament stresses that the definition of organic farming must relate not only to the production method but also to a set of agricultural practices which guarantee respect for the environment and biodiversity, and enable the production of healthy, high-quality foodstuffs. Acceptance must be gained for this definition of organic farming in international fora in order to safeguard the specificity of the organic farming industry in the context of international trade.

Lastly, Parliament considers it regrettable that the Commission presents no concrete financial measures relating to the organisation of distribution channels, and calls for support, including financial support, to be given in the framework of the structuring of production, processing and marketing.

Documents
2005/03/10
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2005/02/11
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2005/02/11
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2005/02/03
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène AUBERT (Greens/EFA, FR) on the European action plan for organic food and farming. MEPs welcomed the Commission's recognition of the important role of this type of farming in the context of achieving the objectives of the new CAP. They noted, however, that the Commission did not consider it necessary to provide human or financial resources from the EU budget. The report stressed that more needed to be done, given that organic farming makes a major contribution to the multipurpose role of European agriculture, as well as reducing pollution, protecting biodiversity and farmland and, not least, preserving or even creating jobs. These latter factors meant that the Commission should pay particular attention to the situation of organic farming in the new Member States.

MEPs insisted on the need to encourage state aid to organic farming and related industries, with quality systems being promoted. They regretted the Commission's failure to present concrete proposals on sectoral organisation, and called for support (especially financial) for the organisation of production and for processing and marketing. They also suggested that campaigns to promote organic food products should focus on public canteens, especially school canteens.

On the issue of standards and inspections, the report welcomed more advanced animal welfare standards but stressed that they should be accompanied by support for investment, as they often required costly conversions or the building of new structures. The committee was also concerned that the system of accreditation for inspection bodies should remain under the control of the Commission and the Member States . MEPs also asked the Commission what line it intended to take on coexistence between GMOs and organic crops and said that, in cases of contamination, the financial responsibility must lie entirely with those who market GMOs illegally, and certainly not with the farming industry as a whole. With regard to GMOs, they wanted the same rules to apply to Community products and imports. The report deplored the failure of the action plan to contain any specific measures to promote research, and proposed that the EU's framework programme for research should prioritise organic farming and the coexistence of organic crops with conventional crops and GMOs.

Lastly, the committee wanted the action plan to include a recommendation that development aid and fair trade should promote the production of and trade in organic products.

2004/12/16
   ESC - Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
2004/11/18
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2004/10/18
   CSL - Resolution/conclusions adopted by Council
2004/10/18
   CSL - Council Meeting
2004/09/21
   EP - AUBERT Marie-Hélène (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in AGRI
2004/06/10
   EC - Non-legislative basic document
Details

In this Communication, the Commission intends to assess the situation and to lay down the basis for policy development in the coming years, thereby providing an overall strategic vision for organic farming’s contribution to the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In designing a global policy concept for organic farming, the dual societal role of organic farming should be recognised.

1) Organic food marketing, responding to the concerns of some consumers, and should therefore be rewarded by the markets and hence be financed by the consumers. The development of organic farming will, in this respect, be governed by market rules.

2) Organic land management is known to deliver public goods, primarily environmental, but also rural development benefits and in certain respects may also result in improved animal welfare. Seen from this angle, the development of organic farming should be driven by society.

In order to ensure stable market development, there needs to be a balance between supply and demand.

The Commission analysis has shown that more emphasis should be put on facilitating the development of the market. The current market share is on average about 2% in EU-15. In order to increase this figure or even to maintain the current figure in the long run, more focus on consumer expectations is needed. Consumers need better information on the principles and objectives of organic farming as well as the positive impact on, for example, the environment. At the same time, it is important to safeguard the integrity of the inspection system.

The internal trade of organic products is hampered by the many different national and private standards and their implementation, which can make it very complicated to sell organic products in other Member States. The developing of common objectives, development of a multilateral concept of equivalence, further harmonisation of inspection requirements and more emphasis on the EU logo would help to minimise these problems.

To facilitate the expansion of organic farming, but also to increase production capacity, new information and, above all, new technologies are required. It is therefore essential to ensure the necessary research into organic farming and processing methods. At the same time, the gathering of statistical information about production and the market should be improved.

One of the objectives in the 2003 CAP reform was to promote production that supports environmentally friendly, quality products. Organic farming is an important device towards the attainment of this goal.

Organic farmers are currently entitled to receive support from the first pillar of the CAP through direct payments and price support measures. More importantly, organic farming is fully integrated in the rural development policy in the second pillar of the CAP and has a prominent place in the agri-environment measures. The 2003 CAP reform has provided a useful framework for the future development of organic farming and has made a range of instruments available to Member States.

Based on this analysis and building upon the achievements already accomplished, the main proposals in the Action Plan concentrate on:

- an information-led development of the organic food market, by increasing consumer awareness, providing more information and promotion to consumers and operators, stimulating the use of the EU logo, including on imported products, providing more transparency on different standards, and improving the availability of production, supply and demand statistics as policy and marketing tools;

- making public support for organic farming more effective by encouraging Member States to make a more coherent and greater use of the different rural development measures, for example, by means of the national action plans, and by strengthening research on organic farming;

- improving and reinforcing of the Community’s organic farming standards, import and inspection requirements by defining the basic principles of organic agriculture and thus making its public service explicit; increasing transparency and consumer confidence; by establishing an independent committee for scientific and technical advice; by a further harmonisation and reinforcement of the standards making use of international organisations; by improving standards, for example, with regard to animal welfare; by completing the standards for areas not yet covered such as aquaculture or environment-related standards such as fossil energy use, etc.; by explaining the standards laid down for the prohibition of the use of GMOs; by increasing the efficiency and transparency of the inspection system and, finally, by making import provisions more efficient.

2004/06/09
   EC - Non-legislative basic document published
Details

In this Communication, the Commission intends to assess the situation and to lay down the basis for policy development in the coming years, thereby providing an overall strategic vision for organic farming’s contribution to the common agricultural policy (CAP).

In designing a global policy concept for organic farming, the dual societal role of organic farming should be recognised.

1) Organic food marketing, responding to the concerns of some consumers, and should therefore be rewarded by the markets and hence be financed by the consumers. The development of organic farming will, in this respect, be governed by market rules.

2) Organic land management is known to deliver public goods, primarily environmental, but also rural development benefits and in certain respects may also result in improved animal welfare. Seen from this angle, the development of organic farming should be driven by society.

In order to ensure stable market development, there needs to be a balance between supply and demand.

The Commission analysis has shown that more emphasis should be put on facilitating the development of the market. The current market share is on average about 2% in EU-15. In order to increase this figure or even to maintain the current figure in the long run, more focus on consumer expectations is needed. Consumers need better information on the principles and objectives of organic farming as well as the positive impact on, for example, the environment. At the same time, it is important to safeguard the integrity of the inspection system.

The internal trade of organic products is hampered by the many different national and private standards and their implementation, which can make it very complicated to sell organic products in other Member States. The developing of common objectives, development of a multilateral concept of equivalence, further harmonisation of inspection requirements and more emphasis on the EU logo would help to minimise these problems.

To facilitate the expansion of organic farming, but also to increase production capacity, new information and, above all, new technologies are required. It is therefore essential to ensure the necessary research into organic farming and processing methods. At the same time, the gathering of statistical information about production and the market should be improved.

One of the objectives in the 2003 CAP reform was to promote production that supports environmentally friendly, quality products. Organic farming is an important device towards the attainment of this goal.

Organic farmers are currently entitled to receive support from the first pillar of the CAP through direct payments and price support measures. More importantly, organic farming is fully integrated in the rural development policy in the second pillar of the CAP and has a prominent place in the agri-environment measures. The 2003 CAP reform has provided a useful framework for the future development of organic farming and has made a range of instruments available to Member States.

Based on this analysis and building upon the achievements already accomplished, the main proposals in the Action Plan concentrate on:

- an information-led development of the organic food market, by increasing consumer awareness, providing more information and promotion to consumers and operators, stimulating the use of the EU logo, including on imported products, providing more transparency on different standards, and improving the availability of production, supply and demand statistics as policy and marketing tools;

- making public support for organic farming more effective by encouraging Member States to make a more coherent and greater use of the different rural development measures, for example, by means of the national action plans, and by strengthening research on organic farming;

- improving and reinforcing of the Community’s organic farming standards, import and inspection requirements by defining the basic principles of organic agriculture and thus making its public service explicit; increasing transparency and consumer confidence; by establishing an independent committee for scientific and technical advice; by a further harmonisation and reinforcement of the standards making use of international organisations; by improving standards, for example, with regard to animal welfare; by completing the standards for areas not yet covered such as aquaculture or environment-related standards such as fossil energy use, etc.; by explaining the standards laid down for the prohibition of the use of GMOs; by increasing the efficiency and transparency of the inspection system and, finally, by making import provisions more efficient.

Documents

Votes

Rapport Aubert A6-0039/2005 - résolution #

2005/03/10 Outcome: +: 527, -: 8, 0: 7
DE FR PL GB ES IT NL HU CZ BE PT EL AT SK DK FI LT IE LV SI SE EE CY MT LU
Total
86
54
50
49
34
31
25
23
19
18
18
18
16
14
13
11
8
8
7
7
16
5
4
4
4
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
206

Denmark PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Ireland PPE-DE

3

Sweden PPE-DE

3

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE-DE

1

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3
icon: PSE PSE
153

Czechia PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
62

Spain ALDE

1
2

Denmark ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

3

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
35

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
25

France GUE/NGL

2

Italy GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
19

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia NI

1

Belgium NI

2

Austria NI

2
icon: UEN UEN
18
2

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
24

France IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom IND/DEM

3

Italy IND/DEM

2

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

1

Denmark IND/DEM

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

Against (2)

Abstain (1)

3

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0
date
2004-12-16T00:00:00
docs
type
Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
body
ESC
docs/0
date
2004-06-10T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Non-legislative basic document
body
EC
docs/1
date
2004-12-16T00:00:00
docs
type
Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
body
ESC
docs/1
date
2005-01-17T00:00:00
docs
title: PE353.418
type
Amendments tabled in committee
body
EP
docs/1/docs/1/url
Old
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2005:157:TOC
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2005:157:SOM:EN:HTML
events/0
date
2004-06-09T00:00:00
type
Non-legislative basic document published
body
EC
docs
summary
events/0
date
2004-06-10T00:00:00
type
Non-legislative basic document published
body
EC
docs
summary
docs/0
date
2004-12-16T00:00:00
docs
type
Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
body
ESC
docs/0
date
2004-12-16T00:00:00
docs
type
Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
body
ESC
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2005-0039_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2005-0039_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2005-0072_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2005-0072_EN.html
events/2/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/3/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/4
date
2005-02-11T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2005-0039_EN.html title: A6-0039/2005
events/4
date
2005-02-11T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2005-0039_EN.html title: A6-0039/2005
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050310&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20050310&type=CRE
events/7
date
2005-03-10T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2005-0072_EN.html title: T6-0072/2005
summary
events/7
date
2005-03-10T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2005-0072_EN.html title: T6-0072/2005
summary
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 52
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
rapporteur
name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène date: 2004-09-21T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
date
2004-09-21T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
docs/0/docs/1/url
Old
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2005:157:TOC
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2005:157:SOM:EN:HTML
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-39&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2005-0039_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-72
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2005-0072_EN.html
docs/4/body
EC
docs/5/body
EC
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-39&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2005-0039_EN.html
events/7/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-72
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2005-0072_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2004-06-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2004/0415/COM_COM(2004)0415_EN.pdf title: COM(2004)0415 type: Non-legislative basic document published celexid: CELEX:52004DC0415:EN body: EC commission: type: Non-legislative basic document published
  • date: 2004-10-18T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 2611
  • date: 2004-11-18T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2004-09-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • date: 2005-02-03T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2004-09-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2005-02-11T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-39&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0039/2005 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=3853&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050310&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-72 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0072/2005 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
date
2004-09-21T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
AGRI
date
2004-09-21T00:00:00
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
council
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 2611 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2611*&MEET_DATE=18/10/2004 date: 2004-10-18T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2004-12-16T00:00:00 docs: url: https://dm.eesc.europa.eu/EESCDocumentSearch/Pages/redresults.aspx?k=(documenttype:AC)(documentnumber:1657)(documentyear:2004)(documentlanguage:EN) title: CES1657/2004 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2005:157:TOC title: OJ C 157 28.06.2005, p. 0167-0172 type: Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report body: ESC
  • date: 2005-01-17T00:00:00 docs: title: PE353.418 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2005-02-11T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-39&language=EN title: A6-0039/2005 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-72 title: T6-0072/2005 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2005:320E:SOM:EN:HTML title: OJ C 320 15.12.2005, p. 0171-0242 E summary: Parliament adopted own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène AUBERT (Greens/EFA, FR) on the European action plan for organic food and farming by 527 votes in favour, 8 against and 7 abstentions. (Please refer to the document dated 03/02/2005). On the issue of research, Parliament suggests that in the European research framework programme, organic farming as a production method should be recognised as a priority, as should the coexistence of organic with conventional and genetically modified crops and assessment of the impact of the technologies that pose a threat to this production method, including environmentally directed research on selection, with regard to both crop species and farm animals. Parliament stresses that the definition of organic farming must relate not only to the production method but also to a set of agricultural practices which guarantee respect for the environment and biodiversity, and enable the production of healthy, high-quality foodstuffs. Acceptance must be gained for this definition of organic farming in international fora in order to safeguard the specificity of the organic farming industry in the context of international trade. Lastly, Parliament considers it regrettable that the Commission presents no concrete financial measures relating to the organisation of distribution channels, and calls for support, including financial support, to be given in the framework of the structuring of production, processing and marketing. type: Text adopted by Parliament, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2005-04-06T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=3853&j=0&l=en title: SP(2005)1475 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
  • date: 2005-06-07T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=3853&j=1&l=en title: SP(2005)1714/2 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2004-06-10T00:00:00 type: Non-legislative basic document published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2004/0415/COM_COM(2004)0415_EN.pdf title: COM(2004)0415 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2004&nu_doc=415 title: EUR-Lex summary: In this Communication, the Commission intends to assess the situation and to lay down the basis for policy development in the coming years, thereby providing an overall strategic vision for organic farming’s contribution to the common agricultural policy (CAP). In designing a global policy concept for organic farming, the dual societal role of organic farming should be recognised. 1) Organic food marketing, responding to the concerns of some consumers, and should therefore be rewarded by the markets and hence be financed by the consumers. The development of organic farming will, in this respect, be governed by market rules. 2) Organic land management is known to deliver public goods, primarily environmental, but also rural development benefits and in certain respects may also result in improved animal welfare. Seen from this angle, the development of organic farming should be driven by society. In order to ensure stable market development, there needs to be a balance between supply and demand. The Commission analysis has shown that more emphasis should be put on facilitating the development of the market. The current market share is on average about 2% in EU-15. In order to increase this figure or even to maintain the current figure in the long run, more focus on consumer expectations is needed. Consumers need better information on the principles and objectives of organic farming as well as the positive impact on, for example, the environment. At the same time, it is important to safeguard the integrity of the inspection system. The internal trade of organic products is hampered by the many different national and private standards and their implementation, which can make it very complicated to sell organic products in other Member States. The developing of common objectives, development of a multilateral concept of equivalence, further harmonisation of inspection requirements and more emphasis on the EU logo would help to minimise these problems. To facilitate the expansion of organic farming, but also to increase production capacity, new information and, above all, new technologies are required. It is therefore essential to ensure the necessary research into organic farming and processing methods. At the same time, the gathering of statistical information about production and the market should be improved. One of the objectives in the 2003 CAP reform was to promote production that supports environmentally friendly, quality products. Organic farming is an important device towards the attainment of this goal. Organic farmers are currently entitled to receive support from the first pillar of the CAP through direct payments and price support measures. More importantly, organic farming is fully integrated in the rural development policy in the second pillar of the CAP and has a prominent place in the agri-environment measures. The 2003 CAP reform has provided a useful framework for the future development of organic farming and has made a range of instruments available to Member States. Based on this analysis and building upon the achievements already accomplished, the main proposals in the Action Plan concentrate on: - an information-led development of the organic food market, by increasing consumer awareness, providing more information and promotion to consumers and operators, stimulating the use of the EU logo, including on imported products, providing more transparency on different standards, and improving the availability of production, supply and demand statistics as policy and marketing tools; - making public support for organic farming more effective by encouraging Member States to make a more coherent and greater use of the different rural development measures, for example, by means of the national action plans, and by strengthening research on organic farming; - improving and reinforcing of the Community’s organic farming standards, import and inspection requirements by defining the basic principles of organic agriculture and thus making its public service explicit; increasing transparency and consumer confidence; by establishing an independent committee for scientific and technical advice; by a further harmonisation and reinforcement of the standards making use of international organisations; by improving standards, for example, with regard to animal welfare; by completing the standards for areas not yet covered such as aquaculture or environment-related standards such as fossil energy use, etc.; by explaining the standards laid down for the prohibition of the use of GMOs; by increasing the efficiency and transparency of the inspection system and, finally, by making import provisions more efficient.
  • date: 2004-10-18T00:00:00 type: Resolution/conclusions adopted by Council body: CSL
  • date: 2004-11-18T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2005-02-03T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène AUBERT (Greens/EFA, FR) on the European action plan for organic food and farming. MEPs welcomed the Commission's recognition of the important role of this type of farming in the context of achieving the objectives of the new CAP. They noted, however, that the Commission did not consider it necessary to provide human or financial resources from the EU budget. The report stressed that more needed to be done, given that organic farming makes a major contribution to the multipurpose role of European agriculture, as well as reducing pollution, protecting biodiversity and farmland and, not least, preserving or even creating jobs. These latter factors meant that the Commission should pay particular attention to the situation of organic farming in the new Member States. MEPs insisted on the need to encourage state aid to organic farming and related industries, with quality systems being promoted. They regretted the Commission's failure to present concrete proposals on sectoral organisation, and called for support (especially financial) for the organisation of production and for processing and marketing. They also suggested that campaigns to promote organic food products should focus on public canteens, especially school canteens. On the issue of standards and inspections, the report welcomed more advanced animal welfare standards but stressed that they should be accompanied by support for investment, as they often required costly conversions or the building of new structures. The committee was also concerned that the system of accreditation for inspection bodies should remain under the control of the Commission and the Member States . MEPs also asked the Commission what line it intended to take on coexistence between GMOs and organic crops and said that, in cases of contamination, the financial responsibility must lie entirely with those who market GMOs illegally, and certainly not with the farming industry as a whole. With regard to GMOs, they wanted the same rules to apply to Community products and imports. The report deplored the failure of the action plan to contain any specific measures to promote research, and proposed that the EU's framework programme for research should prioritise organic farming and the coexistence of organic crops with conventional crops and GMOs. Lastly, the committee wanted the action plan to include a recommendation that development aid and fair trade should promote the production of and trade in organic products.
  • date: 2005-02-11T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-39&language=EN title: A6-0039/2005
  • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=3853&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050310&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-72 title: T6-0072/2005 summary: Parliament adopted own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène AUBERT (Greens/EFA, FR) on the European action plan for organic food and farming by 527 votes in favour, 8 against and 7 abstentions. (Please refer to the document dated 03/02/2005). On the issue of research, Parliament suggests that in the European research framework programme, organic farming as a production method should be recognised as a priority, as should the coexistence of organic with conventional and genetically modified crops and assessment of the impact of the technologies that pose a threat to this production method, including environmentally directed research on selection, with regard to both crop species and farm animals. Parliament stresses that the definition of organic farming must relate not only to the production method but also to a set of agricultural practices which guarantee respect for the environment and biodiversity, and enable the production of healthy, high-quality foodstuffs. Acceptance must be gained for this definition of organic farming in international fora in order to safeguard the specificity of the organic farming industry in the context of international trade. Lastly, Parliament considers it regrettable that the Commission presents no concrete financial measures relating to the organisation of distribution channels, and calls for support, including financial support, to be given in the framework of the structuring of production, processing and marketing.
  • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    Old
    AGRI/6/23726
    New
    • AGRI/6/23726
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure EP 52
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 3.10.09.04 Organic farming
    • 3.10.10 Foodstuffs, foodstuffs legislation
    New
    3.10.09.04
    Organic farming
    3.10.10
    Foodstuffs, foodstuffs legislation
    activities/0/docs/0/url
    Old
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2004/0415/COM_COM(2004)0415_EN.pdf
    New
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2004/0415/COM_COM(2004)0415_EN.pdf
    activities
    • date: 2004-06-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2004/0415/COM_COM(2004)0415_EN.pdf celexid: CELEX:52004DC0415:EN type: Non-legislative basic document published title: COM(2004)0415 type: Non-legislative basic document published body: EC commission:
    • date: 2004-10-18T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 2611
    • date: 2004-11-18T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2004-09-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
    • date: 2005-02-03T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2004-09-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    • date: 2005-02-11T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2005-39&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0039/2005 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    • date: 2005-03-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=3853&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050310&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-72 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0072/2005 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
    committees
    • body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2004-09-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: AUBERT Marie-Hélène
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
    links
    other
      procedure
      dossier_of_the_committee
      AGRI/6/23726
      geographical_area
      Bulgaria
      reference
      2004/2202(INI)
      title
      European action plan for organic food and farming
      legal_basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
      stage_reached
      Procedure completed
      subtype
      Initiative
      type
      INI - Own-initiative procedure
      subject