NEW rules to ensure that only high-quality organic food is sold in the EU and to boost organic production were approved by the European Parliament on Thursday.

MEPs gave the go-ahead to the new EU law on organic production and labelling, as agreed by Parliament’ s negotiators and EU ministers on 28 June 2017.

The main features include:

Ensure high quality of organic food

• Strict, risk-based checks will take place along the supply chain. Thanks to Parliament’ s insistence, checks will be carried out on-site and for all operators, at least annually or once every two years if no fraud has been found in the last three years.

• Imports will have to comply with EU standards. Current“ equivalence” rules, requiring non-EU countries to comply with similar but not identical standards, will be phased out within five years.

Boost EU organic food production

• Increasing supply of organic seeds and animals to meet the needs of organic farmers: derogations allowing the use of conventional seeds and animals in organic production should expire in 2035.

• Mixed farms, to encourage conversion: farms producing both conventional and organic food would be allowed, on condition that the two farming activities are clearly and effectively separated.

• Easier certification for small farmers: group certification would save small farmers time and money.

Avoid contamination from chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilisers

• Precautionary measures: farmers and other operators in the food supply chain will be obliged to apply a set of new measures to avoid contamination. Member states that currently apply thresholds for non-authorised

substances in organic food, such as pesticides, could continue to do so, if they allow other EU countries’ organic foodstuffs complying with EU rules to access their markets.

Four years after entry into force of this regulation, the Commission would report back on how efficient the EU anti-contamination rules and national thresholds are.