§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has collected about the national standards that apply in each EU member state regarding the duration of the conversion period required for land used to grow organic crops. [121430]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 9 May 2000]: Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 requires land used to grow organic crops to be subject to a conversion period not less than two years, or three years in the case of land used to grow perennial crops other than grass. However, the regulation permits these conversion periods to be reduced in the light of previous use of the land immediately prior to conversion. It does not specify a minimum conversion period.
As we understand the current position, six member states, including the UK, require a minimum conversion period of 12 months. The other member states permit conversion periods shorter than 12 months in exceptional cases. However, the Commission is reviewing the position with the aim of achieving a greater degree of consistency of practice between the member states.