Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give assurances on the safety of organic food in view of the recent report of the Food Safety Authority on the use of organic fertiliser. [37380/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The FSAI Report concluded that the landspreading of organic agricultural materials on agricultural land for food production is beneficial and should continue, with one exception. The one exception relates to the spreading of untreated organic agricultural materials on land to be used for ready-to-eat food crops.

The safety of organic food is not compromised by these findings. Organic farming already has very strict controls in place for manure management and application. Non-composted manures are not spread on land which is being used for ready-to-eat food crops. Sewage sludge and effluent based composts are not permitted in organic farming.