WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2613/97 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. Organic farming practices
16. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 117/31 (98/C 117/40) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2613/97 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: Organic farming practices In the organic livestock regulation the Commission has recommended the imposition of a limit of 20% conversion feedstuffs. Does the Commission acknowledge that the limit set is excessively restrictive for many farmers, particularly those in the process of conversion? Will this proposal not further inhibit farmers from converting to organic practices? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1997) The Commission proposal (1) for a Council regulation supplementing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (2) to include livestock production includes a provision permitting the feeding of animals with áin conversioní feedingstuffs (up to 20%), i. e. crop products from land under organic production for at least one year. In addition, the proposal also provides that, during a transitional period expiring on 31 December 2000, conventional feedingstuffs to a maximum of 10% (for ruminants) and 20% (for non-ruminants) may be used. The restrictions with regard to organic husbandry in general, and in particular, with regard to the feeding of the animals concerned, have been established after a careful examination of the existing organic husbandry practices in the Member States and the expectations of consumers with regard to these practices. In this context feeding with organic feedingstuffs is considered an essential element, and therefore the use of non organic feedingstuffs has been severely restricted. The Parliament delivered in its session of May 1997 its opinion on the Commission proposal after a detailed examination of the proposed production standards. In its amendments Nos 58 and 63, the Parliament proposed more flexible arrangements with regard to the conversion to organic husbandry: › an extension of the transitional period for use of conventional feedingstuffs to five years; › a limitation of the conversion period to an overall maximum of two years when the conversion is made for the complete holding and covers simultaneously its livestock and crop production. The Commission accepted these elements and will introduce them in its amended proposal, currently under preparation. (1) COM(96) 366. (2) OJ L 198, 22. 7. 1991. (98/C 117/41) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/97 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: VAT on sanitary protection Is the Commission aware that there is widespread support both from retailers and customers of sanitary protection for women to remove VAT from these products? How does the Commission propose to recognize these demands?