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The IFOAM EU Group |
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Invitation to all wine producers to join in ORWINE survey! |
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In the upcoming months
the EU-Commission will start discussions on the regulation of Organic Wine
production.
Before
the preparation of the final Recommendation to the EU Commission, the ORWINE
project wants to listen to the opinions of the stakeholders in detail. One of
the actions planned is this survey, which is widely proposed to all European
producers of organic wines through their associations.
Please
follow the link to access the Questionnaire
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IFOAM EU is calling on the Commission not to introduce 'traffic light' nutrition labelling |
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November 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group urged the Commission in a letter not to introduce the so-called traffic light system for nutrition labelling, but instead to base labelling on clear information to consumers.
Read the letter here:
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Ecolabelling should not apply to foods! |
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October 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the head of the Ecolabelling unit in DG Environment, requesting that foods should be left out of the scope of the European Ecolabel scheme.
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Most Europeans do not approve animal cloning |
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October 2008 - A large majority of EU citizens (84%) said, in a recent Eurobarometer survey, that the long-term effects of animal cloning on nature were unknown. Most people also believe that animal cloning might lead to human cloning (77%), that animal cloning is morally wrong (61%) and that it might decrease the genetic diversity within livestock populations (64%).
You can find the full text of the study here:
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Experts called for organic farming to be the future model for European agriculture |
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September 19, 2008, Brussels/Hortobagy - Thirty European experts, meeting at the IFOAM EU-organised seminar in Hortobagy/Hungary, welcomed the French Presidency’s initiative to review the CAP post-2013 and called on the EU Council to adopt organic farming as the future model for European agriculture.
The seminar participants concluded that the CAP has arrived at a pivotal turning point - budget cuts, rising food prices, production of agro-fuels, climate change, environmental problems, a situation which calls into question the current system of agricultural production and funding. They pointed at the same time that organic farming delivers a unique combination of positive effects to all of the above problem areas and should therefore become overall model for farming in Europe.
Full text of the press release:
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The Implementing rules (NIROF) have been published |
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September 18, 2008 - The implementing rules were published today in the EU Official Journal: Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control.
Official Journal
You can choose language version from the country codes list on the top-right of the linked page.
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Implementing rules for imports |
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August 29, 2008 - IFOAM EU and IFOAM sent a joint letter to the Head of the organic unit in the European Commission, commenting on the draft implementing rules for imports of July 22, 2008.
Read the letter on the revision info page.
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Launch of promotion campaign for organic farming |
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July 25, 2008 - The European Commission launched its EU- wide promotion campaign at Foire de Libramont agricultural fair in Belgium.
See more and read the Commisison's press release
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Take your chance for an interesting and qualifying experience |
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The IFOAM EU Group office in Brussels is looking for an intern starting from September 2008.
Application deadline is July 28th, 2008
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Approval of the implementing rules by the SCOF |
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On July 2nd, 2008 the Standing Committee on Organic Farming finally approved the implementing rules for organic farming.
In the months to come the Commission will still have to get the parts on wine and aquaculture,
and the rules on imports in place.
See the IFOAM EU press release and download the document on the revision info page:
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Presentation of the working document on the implementing rules on the organic aquaculture on the SCOF |
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On June 30th, 2008 the Working Group of the Standing Committee on Organic Farming, Organic Aquaculture, discussed the working document on the implementing rules for organic aquaculture. |
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Launch of CAP Health Check plan |
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On May 20th the Commission launched its plan for the CAP Health Check at parallel presentation meetings in the European capitals while Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel presented the plan to the Euroepean Parliament in Strassbourg. See the Commissioner's speech here.
The IFOAM EU Group released a press statement questioning the fact that the plan by and large disregards organic farming as the most sustainable solution.
The Commission's press release can be downloaded here.
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IFOAM EU comments on the implementing rules |
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May 19, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group today sent a letter to the Deputy DG of DG AGRI and the Head of the Organic Farming unit, commenting on the proposed implementing rules of 22.04.2008.
See more and read the letter on our revision info page: |
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New version of the implementing rules for organic farming |
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May 7, 2008 - A new draft of the implementing rules for organic farming has been issued by the European Commission.
Read more on our organic revision info page:
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ISOFAR and IFOAM EU Group launch second public consultation on draft Vision for an Organic Food and Farming Research Agenda 2025 |
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April 29, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group and ISOFAR have joined forces in initiating the
process of drawing up a Research Vision 2025 for Organic Food and
Farming. This document aims to outline the future challenges in the
area of food and agriculture and the potential of organic food and
farming which emphasises sustainability, high quality, ethical concepts
and social cohesion.
Therefore you are warmly invited to comment to the draft vision. This
is the second public online consultation: stakeholders of the whole
organic production and processing chain, the economic sector, the
industry, national and regional authorities, researchers, European NGOs
and the civil society are welcome to contribute to the document. Comments
to the new draft of the vision can be still given until Monday, May 12th. |
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IFOAM EU signs a letter against cloning of animals for food |
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March 4, 2008 - IFOAM EU Group joined Eurogroup for Animals, Friends of the Earth Europe, the European Public Health Alliance, Euro Coop and other organisations, in signing an open letter against cloning of animals for food. The letter calls on the EU Commission President Barroso, the Commission and the EU Member States to introduce a ban on the cloning of animals for food production, and on the import and sale of imported food products from cloned animals and their offspring.
You can read the letter below (Press 'More'):
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IFOAM EU Group activities at Biofach 2008 |
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February 2008 - The IFOAM EU group participated successfully at Biofach in Nuremberg in Germany this year.
With more than 9.00 participants at the workshops and 45.000 visitors in total at the trade fair there were plenty of chances to discuss and inform about the work of the IFOAM EU Group at the IFOAM world stand as well as in the workshops arranged by the Group.
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Council postpone decision on Soil Directive |
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Following vote in the Environment Council on December 20, where a blocking minority of five ministers from Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK stopped a compromise proposal for a Soil Framework Directive, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), the IFOAM EU Group and BirdLife expressed their utter dismay at the unwillingness of a select group of Environment Ministers to face a very real problem in the EU: the continuing degradation of our soils.
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CAP Health Check should treat the cause, not play with sticking plasters |
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Brussels/Puławy, 13/07/2007 – “The
CAP Health Check must treat the cause of our agricultural problems,
not just play with sticking plasters”. This is the message
from experts in organic farming who were meeting in Pulawy, Poland on
12 and 13 July, 2007.
The seminar, involving 40 national
experts from 20 countries, was organised by the IFOAM EU Group
with funding from the European Commission. Read the full press release here:
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ORWINE - National Stakeholder Forum and Farm day in Hungary |
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On July 2, 2007 the first National Stakeholder Forum and Farm day of the ORWINE project took place in Balaton region in Hungary. The event was jointly organised by the IFOAM EU Group and Green Agriculture Foundation, Hungary. Hungarian, Austrian, Czech and Slowakian stakeholders thereby had the possibility to learn about ORWINE and to give their input to the European wide research project.
For more on the ORWINE stakeholder meeting and for general information on the project, please click here:
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IFOAM EU Group at Green Week 2007 |
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Green Week
2007 took place in CharlemagneBuilding of the European Commission in Brussels, from 12th to 15th
June 2007. IFOAM
EU Group was represented in this event with a stand. |
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Council adopted new organic regulation |
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The Agriculture Council has today adopted the new organic regulation on organic food and farming. The new regulation will come into force at 1. January 2009.
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IFOAM EU Group undersigned a letter to Commissioner Dimas |
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May 14, 2007 - IFOAM EU Group undersigned a letter to the Environment Commissioner Dimas, with regard to the
"online consultation on Community labelling thresholds for the adventitious or technically unavoidable
presence of authorised genetically modified (GM) seeds in conventional seeds", which has
been launched on May 7 th on the internet.
To read the letter expressing some concerns about this procedure, click the link below:
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IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Commissioner about the Rural Development Programmes |
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May 7, 2007 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Commissioner Fischer Boel, to draw her attention to
a number of concerns of IFOAM EU Group regarding the national and regional Rural Development Programmes, which are in the process of notification by the European
Commission.
Click the link below to download the letter: |
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Newsletter nº16 - Extra Edition on “Organic Revision project results” |
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April 31, 2007 - The IFOAM EU Group participated as full partner in the Organic Revision Project which started in March 2004 and finalised this year. This project was a three year EU funded Policy-oriented Research (SSP), from the Sixth Framework Programme (Priority 8.1), whose objective was to provide outcomes for the improvement of the EU regulation on organic food and farming and for the future development of this sector in Europe.
To read the IFOAM EU Group extra edition newsletter, presenting the results of this project, please follow the link:
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IFOAM EU Group sends a letter to the Commission |
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April 18, 2007 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Commission with comments and suggestions for the implementing rules that will replace Annex VI in the Organic Regulation.
To read the letter, please click the link below:
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IFOAM EU Group supports Soil Directive |
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April 16, 2007 - The
IFOAM EU Group underlined its support for an EU wide protection for soil in a
letter sent to the German Presidency and the President of the European
Parliament On April
16, 2007. Soil has always been the starting
point for organic farming and the foundation of organic farm
management. Therefore, for organic farmers, the care for the soil has always
been at the heart of their concern. |
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Call for a truly sustainable CAP |
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March 22-24, 2007 - European experts met in Bari, Italy, at the CAP Seminar "Organic Farming and Nature Protection
to Allow Sustainable Growth" and called for the upcoming CAP
Health Check to put
sustainability properly at the center of European agriculture. The meeting of
European experts showed the importance of efficient and
coherent (CAP) Rural Development programmes in the Member States to further
develop organic farming and nature protection.
Read the Press Release here: |
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IFOAM EU Group expresses support for new German/French proposals |
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November 24, 2006 - IFOAM EU Group wrote a letter to the Finnish Presidency
in support of the new German/French amendments for the revision of the
EU ‘organic’ regulation and urging further time for discussion.
See also IFOAM EU Group Revision Info page
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IFOAM EU Group met Commissioner Fischer Boel |
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The IFOAM EU Group met today the Agriculture Commissioner Mariann
Fischer Boel. The IFOAM EU Group emphasized that there is still much work
to do on the revision proposal for a new Organic EU Regulation as it is
still not mature enough. The latest text has progressed since the
original proposal but there are still issues and concerns that will
cause significant problems. This was the main message the IFOAM EU
Group delegation brought to Commissioner Fischer Boel at a meeting
today.
See also IFOAM EU Group Info page
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IFOAM EU Group Annual Report 2005 |
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IFOAM EU Group published its Annual Report 2005, describing its financial situation and activities developed during the year 2005.
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European Organic Agriculture contributes to growth, jobs and sustainability |
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October 23, 2006 - The main outcome of the meeting of European experts at the CAP Seminar "Organic Farming and the Lisbon Strategy" is the recognition of the role of organic agriculture contributing to the targets of the Lisbon Strategy!" ‘Organic farming delivers the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy’, said Francis Blake, president of the IFOAM EU Group. ‘We call on the Commission to use organic farming to its maximum advantage.’
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Less EU Research Funding for Organic Farming? |
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October 11, 2006 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to EU Research Commissioner Potocnik to express its serious concern that there will be less funding for organic food and farming research in the new Framework Research Programme than under the current one. This letter has been supported by four other umbrella organisations:
- ISOFAR - International Society of Organic Agriculture Research
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EFFAT- European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism trade unions
- EURO COOP - European community of consumer cooperatives
- EEB - European Environmental Bureau
Reducing research money for organic farming in the 7th Framework Programme would not only contradict the different EU policy strategies relating to organic farming, e.g the European Action Plan on Organic Food and Farming. It would also hamper the further development of a dynamic organic food and farming sector and market.
Therefore, the IFOAM EU Group asks the European Commission urgently to ensure that Organic Farming research is strengthened from the beginning within the 7th Framework Programme. The new Programme will start on 1.1.2007.
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IFOAM EU launched Info page on Revision |
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July 16, 2006 - The IFOAM EU Group launched its new Info Page on the Revision of the organic Regulation. The page will give you an update about the latest development, documents and positions. |
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IFOAM EU Group at Brussels Green Week |
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From May 30 to June 2 the DG Environment of the European Commission holds its annual Green Week in Brussels. This year’s theme is biodiversity. The IFOAM EU Group will be present to demonstrate organic farmings contribution to hold the loss of biodiversity. |
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National Stakeholder Forum & Farm Day 2007 |
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Download the programmes of the National Stakeholder Forum & Farm Day 2007 taking place in Hungaryand in Portugal
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Organic Week in the EU canteens May 17 to 24 |
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The IFOAM EU Group organised together with the Austrian Presidency an ORGANIC WEEK in the canteens of the European Commission and the European Council in Brussels. The event will take place from May 17-24. During this period EU officials and their guests have the possibility to enjoy a range of organic meals. This public-private initiative aims to support the use of organic food in public canteens and underlines the role of catering for a dynamic development of the organic sector. |
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IFOAM EU Group at GM Coexistence conference in Vienna |
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The European Commission organised together with the Austrian Presidency of the Council the conference "Co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops – freedom of choice" which took place at 4-6 April 2006 in Vienna, Austria. The IFOAM EU Group was represented by eight delegates. |
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Conference on Organic Revision in European Parliament |
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Over 90 stakeholders from eleven different EU countries participated at the public conference ’Organic farming: Ready for the next Decade?’ on March 27, 2006 in the European Parliament. The delegates discussed the Commission’s proposal on the Revision of the Organic Regulation with the Austrian Presidency, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The conference was organised by the IFOAM EU Group together with the responsible rapporteurs from the European Parliament, Marie-Hélène Aubert and F.W. Graefe zu Baringdorf....... |
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Announcement: Conference on the Revision of Organic Regulation |
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The IFOAM EU Group organised togehter with the rapporteurs in the European Parliament on the EU Commission proposal on the revision of the regulation on organic agriculture the conference "Organic farming: Ready for the next Decade?". It will take place on March 27, 2006, 3pm to 6.30pm. It will give stakeholders the possibilities to discuss the proposal with the Agriculture Commissioner Fischer Boel, the Austrian Presidency, the European Parliament and the IFOAM EU Group.
Registration:
Please register until the March 17, 2006, indicate name, date of birth, nationality, organisation, country of residence, email address. Registration is necessary to enter the European Parliament.
Registration - Email: contact@ifoam-eu.org |
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3rd General Assembly of IFOAM EU in February 15 |
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The Third General Assembly of the IFOAM EU Regional Group is being held on Wednesday 15th February 2005 in Nuremberg, Germany (one day before Biofach). The IFOAM EU Group Board invites you as IFOAM members to participate fully in this democratic process. It gives you the power to direct the Group’s work and ensure it does genuinely represent you.
Since the second General Assembly in February 2003, the IFOAM EU Group has made great strides forward. We have established an office in Brussels which has given our work a necessary and welcome platform for coordination, research, information exchange, advocacy work, etc. The IFOAM EU Group is now recognized and respected in Brussels and our impact is growing. For example we now have the presidency of the Commission’s Advisory Group on Organic Farming.
An extra webpage will lead you to all relevant documents.
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IFOAM EU: Strengthening research for organic food and farming systems |
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On the occasion of the Commissions conference “Communicating European Research” the IFOAM EU Group published on 14th of November 2005 its position paper on “Organic Farming in the 7th Research Framework Programme” addressing organic research need to Research Commissioner Potocnik. The Group urges the Commission to boost organic farming in the 7th framework programme as it can contribute significantly to achieving several goals of various EU level policy strategies.
IFOAM EU Group is especially referring to the Commission’s European Action Plan on Organic Food and Farming, adopted in June 2004, where the Commission underlines its intention to strengthen research on organic farming systems. “It´s now the time to act”, said Francis Blake, president of the Group. “By giving organic farming a prominent role in the 7th Framework Programme, European research would keep its leadership and competitiveness in one of the few innovative fields of agriculture and food”.
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EU review (Commission Regulation 2229/2004) of existing pesticides used in organic farming |
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The European Commission is implementing a re-evaluation of substances used as pesticides. These should be notified to the Commission and low risk substances are also included. This affects many substances used in organic farming, especially those which it is not commercially viable to register or to compile safety data. Therefore the European Commission has established a working group on organic faming with experts from the member states. The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Commission suggesting major topics for such kind of group |
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IFOAM EU Group publish position paper on Revision of the EU Regulation |
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The IFOAM EU Group approved on October 14 its position paper on the revision of the EC Regulation 2092/91 suggesting concrete measures how to improve the Regulation for the future needs of organic farming in Europe. This Regulation has been of great importance to the growth of the organic sector. Therefore in its paper the IFOAM EU Group warmly welcomes the Commission initiative to overhaul the “organic Regulation” to ensure it better reflects the many changes of the past and can cope with the dynamics and challenges of the future. However, a major concern of the Group is that not enough time was given by the European Commission to sufficiently involve the stakeholder into the process of this important step. |
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