A letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
Our readers are probably not aware but last summer the EU decreed that all organic food produced or processed in Europe must bear a compulsory EU logo. This decision – part of yet again new European regulations – will supposedly give assurances of precisely what people are buying. However, Soil Association, the UK’s leading environmental organisation campaigning for sustainable, organic farming and human health thinks different. They say that far from providing ‘assurances’, the new logo brings the prospect of confusing people, goes against the trend for more local, regionally distinctive produce, and could lead to a dilution of organic standards.
‘Soil’ believe that this move from Brussels has more to do with championing the single European market and encouraging trade than promoting the benefits of organic farming. The principles and practices underlying organic standards are not, and never have been, about trading commodities, and unfortunately the minimum organic standards laid down by European law fall below the animal welfare requirements the Soil Association sets its own farmers and growers.
Continued From Front Page:
It seems Brussels is incapable of relaxing its fixation on the European single market even if it means crushing the distinctive nuances that make up sustainable local food economies.
The risk is that this will end up with a ‘race to the bottom’ as retailers and producers cut corners in pursuit of profit. For example, the ‘organic’ Danish bacon available in Tesco comes from pigs that spend much of their time indoors and are routinely ‘nose ringed’ to prevent their natural habit of rooting around when they do get to go outside – practices that Soil Association prohibit.
Despite these very different welfare standards, once the new regulation comes into effect the Danish bacon will carry the same logo as Soil Association certified bacon.
Aside from the risks of standards being undermined, there are practical problems with a mandatory logo. The initial proposal was to implement a ‘bio’ logo in 2009, but the fact that it might have infringed on a trademark of a German supermarket meant that just as it was going to ‘press’ the plan was scrapped and delayed until 2010.
Should we say EU or E aw?
Derek Elliott
PPC for UKIP
Camborne, Redruth, and Hayle
Sorry, because it has been over a month since this article was posted, additional comments can not be posted.