The problem

Originally, organic farming was a localised, self-regulating practice driven by distinct ethical values. Over the past two decades, it has undergone significant growth and development of an international organic industry and trade. There are, however, a variety of different standards, labels and certification bodies which makes it confusing for consumers, traders and the organic farming industry. An updated and improved Regulation 2092/91 will help harmonise standards across Europe and increase consumer confidence.

Overview:

New 2092/91 will help update EU Regulation 2092/91 and other standards for organic agriculture by:

• Identifying the basic ethical values and value differences of organic agriculture across Europe
• Comparing the organic standards of national and private organisations across Europe
• Develop proposals for future harmonisations through a new EU Regulation
• Compile good practice guidance on how to achieve 100% organic rations in diets for livestock
• Develop good practice guidelines on how to reduce the use of seed and vegetative propagation materials from conventional sources in organic farming

Contribution to policy development:

• New 2092/91 will support the Commission in preparing proposed revisions of EU regulations on organic standards in agriculture.
• The project will enhance the coordination of research in support of organic standards regulations at farm level.
• The project will help establish and promote common ethical standards for organic farming across member states.

Project deliverables

• Report on seed-borne diseases in organic seed and propagation material – April 2005
• Current standards among organic stakeholders – May 2005
• Constraints on the supply of amino acids in relation to different objectives and types of livestock production – September 2005
• The importance of quality characterising in organic seed and propagation material – April 2006
• Comparison of EU Regulation 2092/91 with Member States’ legislation – September 2006
• Ethical values in organic agriculture– July 2006
• Criteria list and evaluation guide for derogation regime – January 2007
• Final report – March 2007

Dissemination

• Project website – throughout project
• Multi-stakeholder workshops to discuss progress and proposals – at the end of year 1, 2 and 3

Technical information

Project acronym: EEC 2092/91 revision
Project’s official full title: Research to support revision of the EU Regulation on organic agriculture
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 502397
Start date: 1 March 2004
Kick off meeting: March 2004
Completion date: March 2007

Coordinator: Erik Steen Kristensen
Name: Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming
Abbreviated name: DARCOF/DIAS
Address: P.O. Box 50, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele,
Country: Denmark
Tel: +45 89 99 19 00
Fax: +45 89 99 16 73
e-mail: ErikSteen.Kristensen@agrsci.dk
Website: www.agrsci.org

Partners

Name: Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau
Abbreviated name: FiBL
Country: Germany         

Name:University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Abbreviated name: UWA
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica
Abbreviated name: AIAB
Country: Italy

Name: IFOAM EU regional group
Abbreviated name: IFOAM EU
Country: United Kingdom  

Name: Louis Bolk Instituut
Abbreviated name: LBI
Country: Netherlands

Name: University of Kassel  

Abbreviated name: UNKA
Country: Germany  

Name: Bundesanstalt für alpenländische Landwirtschaft
Abbreviated name: BAL
Country: Austria

Name: Lund University
Abbreviated name: ULUND
Country: Sweden