WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1552/99 by Graham WATSON European Commission Task Force on Vitamins and Minerals
C 27 E/128 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 1. 2000 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 October 1999) The Commission agrees that more sustainable forms of agriculture, such as organic farming, should be promoted. In the Baden/Vienna organic conference of May 1999, the Commission made a commitment to continue and where necessary increase its efforts to stimulate the development of the organic sector. The reform of the common agricultural policy in Agenda 2000 in many ways provides important building blocks for further development of this sector. In particular, several measures of Council Regulation (EC) 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1), (e. g. investment, agri- environment and processing and marketing) can be targeted to promote organic farming. Already in the past, all Member States have used the possibility to promote organic farming through payments for environmental services within their agri-environment programmes. The new requirement for the Member States to produce integrated rural development programmes, will further facilitate the introduction of marketing measures and other measures which will contribute to a balanced and sustainable organic sector. The Commission has introduced a legal framework for organic production by which definition of the production method and inspection are harmonised for the Member States. Recently this legal framework was expanded to include animal production and soon a Community logo for organic products will be introduced. A tiered approach to environmental programmes, as suggested by the Honourable Member, is already pursued in the United Kingdom under the current programme period and may continue in the future. (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 27 E/156) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1552/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: European Commission Task Force on Vitamins and Minerals The European Commission has asked its Scientific Committee for Foods to set up a new Task Force to look at the safety of vitamins and minerals. Will the Commission publish the membership list of the Task Force and its detailed terms of reference? (2000/C 27 E/157) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1593/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Task force on vitamins and minerals Can the Commission indicate whether it has asked the Scientific Committee for Foods to set up a task force to look into the safety of vitamins and minerals and with what remit? If such a task force has already been established, who are its members? If no members have yet been named, on what basis is recruitment planned?