Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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907. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 278, 280 and 281 of 11 May 2022, if the Government has sought a further derogation this year in relation to the use of non-organic wheat in organic diets up to a threshold of 5%, given the underlying conditions in relation to the invasion of Ukraine have not abated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6831/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Organic regulations which were introduced on 1st January 2022 restricted the previously allowed 5% non-organic feed protein derogation to young poultry and pigs, resulting in older, mature stock requiring a 100% organic feed.

It became apparent in early 2022 that a scarcity of organic protein feed had developed as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, impacting on the manufacturing of organic poultry and porcine compound feed.

As a result of submissions made by my Department and other Member States to the European Commission on the matter, Regulation 2022/1450 was introduced providing a derogation for a limited and defined use of non organic protein in organic poultry and porcine feed. This Regulation came into effect on 24 February 2022 for a maximum period of 12 months. Over the past year my Department has been closely liaising with stakeholders on the matter.

At the EU Committee of Organic Production meeting in January 2023 discussion took place on this derogation. The Commission stated, based on an examination of reliable data, that there is no longer a scarcity of organic protein feed in the EU. Consequently, there will not be an extension of the derogation and stakeholders have been updated by my Department.