§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions she has had with the US Department of Agriculture over the US National Organic Programme and its implementation; [76252]
(2)what assessment she has made of the impact of the US National Organic Programme on UK organic (a) exports and (b) standards; [76253]
(3)what representations she has received in relation to the US National Organic Programme; and if she will make a statement. [76254]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 23 October 2002]: The Department has been in close touch with the USDA since the submission last year of an application for a determination that UKROFS' standards meet the requirements of the NOP. The USDA has now written to UKROFS to confirm that it accepts the UKROFS control system as sufficient to secure conformity with the NOP. This means that the UK organic inspection bodies are able to certify product for the purposes of the NOP but it does not affect the standards required to be met by products sold as organic in the UK. The Department has also been in close touch with organic certifiers in the US to ensure that the introduction of the NOP does not invalidate authorisations previously issued to import US organic produce into the UK. Discussions are also taking place between the European Commission and the USDA to ensure that disruption to trade between the Community and the US is kept to a minimum. We have received a number of representations about the introduction of the NOP from the UK organic inspection bodies and from companies concerned about the effect of the NOP on their ability to export to the US.