Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on the recommendations of the report of the organic development committee which have been implemented; the timescale and status of the implementation of the outstanding recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4122/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the organic development committee, which was published in April 2002, contained a number of recommendations to develop the organic sector in Ireland. The committee's main recommendations have been implemented, including the establishment of a national steering group. This group has met on eight occasions and continues to monitor the implementation of the other recommendations of the organic development committee.

Among the recommendations on which progress has taken place are the following. A partnership expert working group has been set up to co-ordinate, facilitate and monitor the provision of training, education, advice and research and an organic market development group has been established with overall responsibility for developing a national marketing strategy for organic food. A census of Irish organic production was carried out and published in October 2003. My Department's website now includes a dedicated section on organic food and farming. Seven organic demonstration farms were selected last year as a pilot project, and this successful initiative will be further extended in 2005. Teagasc has also expanded its organic advisory network. It has identified advisers nationwide and their contact details are also available on my Department's website.

Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland have produced publications in the areas of research and advice. My Department undertook preliminary investigative organic seed trials for suitable barley, wheat and oat varieties on the farms of two organic producers. A study of the organic poultry sector was published in 2004. In addition to rolling out education and advice on organic production, Teagasc is currently developing an organic beef research programme.

The REPS organic supplementary measure was reviewed as part of the general review of the scheme, and some of the changes recommended in the organic development committee report were included in the new REP3 scheme.

A statutory instrument was adopted in March last year, which gave full effect to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91, as amended, and to the additional standards contained in Chapter 7 of the report of the organic development committee. It gives, inter alia, powers to my Department to prosecute those operating illegally.

Substantial consideration has been given to the development of a national label. A final decision has been deferred pending the outcome of deliberations on the information campaign proposed in the European action plan for organic food and farming. An information leaflet on organic food and farming was published in September 2004, the objective of which was to raise awareness among consumers of what organic food and farming is about.

Teagasc has developed and delivered a number of organic courses to farmers and will expand this area in response to demand. Substantial progress, in partnership with the existing course providers, has also been made in the establishment of a FETAC accredited course in organic horticulture. The national steering group will continue to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations in line with the timescales provided for in the report of the organic development committee.