Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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967. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the policy oversight and management of the organic labelling system should be transferred to a body that is independent of his Department in view of the many failures of his Department to properly regulate the organic labelling system. [24755/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I wish to make very clear that the procedures operated by my Department are designed to ensure that the highest standards apply to all areas of Irish organic production. The award of organic status is secured by a formal certification process delegated by my Department to various Organic Control Bodies in accordance with the relevant EU regulations. The certification process involves regular inspection of all organic operators, production techniques, labelling and sampling of organic produce to ensure compliance with all EU requirements.

I am unaware of the 'many failures' mentioned by the Deputy but presume the reference is to the findings of an EU audit of the sector carried out in 2016, which did identify a number of areas where controls could usefully be strengthened. This audit, which was extremely detailed, was one of a series undertaken in Member States and designed to harmonise controls across Europe.

Overall, the audit team concluded that Ireland had a control system in place which laid down a clear division of tasks between competent authority and the various control bodies. The EU audit team made some recommendations for further improvements, recognising that some of these had already been identified by my own Department as part of its ongoing management of the sector.

All recommendations made by the audit team have been fully implemented by my Department and this has been formally recognised by the EU audit team. I am satisfied therefore that the organic label in Ireland is fully intact and that our current control system is robust.