§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the British Egg Industry Council will be consulted prior to the finalisation of the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards standards on organic livestock products. [132639]
§ Mr. MorleyI understand that UKROFS has already taken into account the concerns of the British Egg Industry Council about its proposed standards, which will shortly be considered by Ministers.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the British Egg Industry Council was consulted on further proposals concerning the egg industry made by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards on 30 May. [132637]
§ Mr. MorleyThe British Egg Industry Council was included in the list of consultees whose comments were sought by UKROFS on their proposals for implementing Council Regulation (EC) 1804/1999, which were issued on 10 April. In the light of responses to the initial consultation, UKROFS subsequently consulted organic producers, through the organic inspection bodies with which they are registered, on amendments to the proposals.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards has made proposals concerning organic livestock and livestock products for standards which go beyond those required by European Council Regulation 1804/1999. [132638]
§ Mr. MorleyUKROFS has made a limited number of such proposals, which are permitted by Council Regulation (EC) 1804/1999. In some cases UKROFS has done so in order to carry forward existing UK organic standards and in others because it believes it necessary to do so in order to maintain consumer confidence in organic standards.