Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process used to set organic standards for produce both produced on land and in aquaculture; the steps he has taken to ensure the standards are comparable in respect of the use of medicines, antibiotics, feed, fertiliser and other products used in production; if any analysis has been carried out on the comparative standards used to certify land-based production and aquaculture production as organic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44896/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Organic Standards for terrestrial and aquaculture products are harmonised at European Union level by Regulation. These organic regulations set down in some detail the technical standards of organic production. The relevant regulations are:

- Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91

- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 with detailed rules on production, labelling and control

- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1235/2008 of 8 December 2008 with detailed rules concerning import of organic products from third countries.

On the 1 of July 2010, new rules covering organic aquaculture production of fish, shellfish and seaweed entered into force. Regulation 710/2009 set conditions for the aquatic production environment and impacts on other species.  It deals with the separation of organic and non-organic units and specifies animal welfare conditions including maximum stocking densities. It also lays down regulations in respect of the use of veterinary medicines, including those used as part of compulsory eradication schemes, and sets out the general rules on disease prevention and parasite control.

The rules of both land-based and aquaculture production systems are harmonised at EU level. The organic standards implemented by the Organic Certifying Bodies are based on these harmonised rules. All organic operators must, at a minimum, be inspected annually. This annual inspection, carried out by the approved Organic Certifying Bodies includes detailed checks to ensure compliance with the rules of organic production. The Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine, being the competent authority for the sector, has oversight of the production system. Organic operators must also be compliant with all horizontal legislation applicable to the production process and product.

Separate organic standards are agreed for both land based and aquaculture production. While there are many elements of organic certification common to both production systems, those elements that differentiate the two organic production systems are identified and dealt with separately in the regulations. These regulations are subject to ongoing review and amendment. The Commission Regulatory Committee on Organic Production, which is representative of all Member State delegations, reviews and updates the standards for organic production, while a separate independent scientific committee (ECTOP), established by the EU Commission, also reviews the standards, produces reports and provides technical advice.