Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position Ireland is adopting, as part of the current European Union negotiations, on formulating new organic farming regulations; the contribution such farming makes to the overall agri-sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19688/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Commission’s proposal on formulating new Organic Farming Regulations was first introduced in 2014. While there are many elements in this proposal that are welcomed, every Member State, without exception, had issues of concern. The main elements of the proposal are as follows:

-Introduction of a risk-based control regime and the proposal to remove the requirement for the annual inspection by the Organic Control Bodies.

-Harmonisation of residue sampling, analysis and action thereby establishing a minimum threshold for pesticide residues above which the product cannot be sold as organic.

-The removal of the current flexibility where a farm can, under very specific conditions of separation, produce bothorganic and non organic products on the same holding.

-Severe restriction in the reduction of the conversion period.

While, in principle, Ireland is supportive of many aspects of the text we feel that the proposal overall is too ambitious and does not sufficiently reflect the varying stages of development of the organic sector at individual Member State level. The proposal, as formulated, could curtail the development of the sector in Ireland and may act as an impediment to farmers wishing to convert to organic production.

Organic farming makes a significant positive contribution to the overall agri-sector in Ireland both from an environmental and economic perspective. Organic farming involves farming in an environmentally friendly and sustainable fashion within a closed system with very restrictive lists of permitted inputs which include the non-use of soluble fertilizers (synthetic fertilizers) and pesticides.

Bord Bia research has shown that there is a market demand for Irish organic beef, lamb, fruit, vegetables and cereals and currently the sector is contributing over €100 million to the Irish economy. However, a significant percentage of the Irish organic food market is comprised of imports. The organic sector therefore offers real opportunities for Irish farmers and food processors in the form of import substitution in areas where Ireland is under-producing at present, and the large export markets such as the UK and Germany.