Organic Food (Hansard, 6 November 1996)

§ Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of organic food has been imported into the United Kingdom for each year since 1992; what percentage these imports constitute of the total amount of organic produce sold each year in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [2356]

§ Mr. Boswell
Specific figures for imports of organic food are not collected. Estimates made several years ago with the co-operation of several large supermarket chains indicated that about three-quarters of organic food on sale in those shops was imported.

§ Mr. Jones
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each year since 1994(a) the estimated number of organic farms or holdings in England, (b) what administrative procedures are required for the acquisition of money under the organic aid scheme, (c) how much money was earmarked for the organic aid scheme and (d) what percentage of the money annually earmarked has now been received by farmers for that year; and if he will make a statement. [2327]

§ Mr. Boswell
(a) The total area on which organic methods were practised in England as at February 1995 was 21,896 hectares. This had increased to 24,543 hectares by the end of December 1995. Currently there are 688 registered organic holdings in England representing an area of 25,993 hectares. Details of the number of organic farms/holdings in England—as opposed to the UK—are not available for earlier years.
(b) To obtain organic aid a farmer must register the land in a conversion with the UK Register of Organic Food Standards, (UKROFS), or a body approved by UKROFS, and undertake to convert to organic agriculture in accordance with the rules of the scheme and UKROFS organic production standards.
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(c) At the time of its launch in August 1994, budgetary provision for the organic aid scheme in England was set at £0.8 million for 1994–95 rising to £1.5 million in 1995–96 and 1996–97. Scheme budgets are constantly revised in the light of scheme uptake and provision for 1996–97 is now £455,000.
(d) For 1994–95 and 1995–96, 3.3 per cent. and 17.4 per cent. respectively of the original budgets were actually paid to farmers. For 1996–97, our current forecast show that about 89 per cent. of the revised budget will be paid to farmers by the end of this financial year.
Our research shows that the organic aid available should be sufficient to attract a greater number of applicants, but it is apparent that aid rates are not the only factor which determines whether a farmer will go organic. We believe lack of knowledge is a major reason and I was therefore pleased to launch the organic conversion information service last July. The service provides a telephone helpline and a free advisory visits to would be organic farmers. Interest has been strong and we hope that more farmers will be encouraged to convert as a result of this initiative.

§ Mr. Jones
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries from which the United Kingdom imports organic food stating for each the(a) tonnage and (b) relative percentage of overall organic food imports that it constitutes; and if he will make a sttaement. [2351]

§ Mr. Boswell
Specific figures for imports of organic food are not collected. The UK Register of Organic Food Standards grants authorisations for the sale, as organic, of food from countries outside the European Community. In the past 12 months, authorisations have been granted with respect to the following countries: Chile, two authorisations; Egypt; Ghana; Slovakia; South Africa; Turkey; and USA, four authorisations.
Authorisations are not required for countries of the European Community and for the following countries deemed to operate standards equivalent to those of the EC: Argentina, Australia, Hungary, Israel, Switzerland.