This week Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said that many aspects of the EU Commission’s text proposal on new regulations for organic farming in Member States are "too ambitious" and could curtail the development of the sector in Ireland, as well as acting as an impediment to farmers wishing to convert to organic production.

The Minister was responding to a written question put to him by Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who asked what position Ireland is adopting on the negotiations.

Coveney said that while there are many elements in this proposal that are welcomed, every Member State, without exception, had issues of concern.

The list of proposals are extensive and include the introduction of a risk-based control regime and the proposal to remove the requirement for the annual inspection by the Organic Control Bodies.

It also includes the harmonisation of residue sampling, analysis and action, thereby establishing a minimum threshold for pesticide residues above which the product cannot be sold as organic, the removal of the current flexibility where a farm can, under very specific conditions of separation, produce both organic and non organic products on the same holding, as well as severe restriction in the reduction of the conversion period.

The Minister said while, in principle, Ireland is supportive of many aspects of the text, "we feel that the proposal overall is too ambitious and does not sufficiently reflect the varying stages of development of the organic sector at individual Member State level. The proposal, as formulated, could curtail the development of the sector in Ireland and may act as an impediment to farmers wishing to convert to organic production."

Earlier this month, EU Member States representatives met in Brussels to discuss negotiations on the new proposals. It made significant progress on a number of articles but some member states requested more time to reflect further on some sensitive issues such as controls and the presence of non-authorised substances in organic products, meaning there will be no agreement reached on the proposals until the next Council meeting in June.

Janis Duklavs, Latvian Minister of Agriculture, who chaired the meeting, said "Despite the willingness shown by the Member states to make possible an agreement, some very sensitive issues need clearly to be further discussed. We will consider the possibility to reach agreement for a general approach on organic farming at the next Council."