Proposed changes from the European Commission, which would have seen organic pig and poultry farmers required to grow 40 per cent of their feed on-farm, have been amended following industry lobbying. image expired

During a meeting last week members of the EC Standing Committee on Organic Farming decided to allow greater flexibility, meaning producers can source feed without geographical restrictions. It had been the Commission’s intention to push for 40 per cent of mono-gastric and 70 per cent of herbivore feed ingredients to be grown on farm.

Martin Humphrey, NFU poultry board and organic feed representative, who was part of a group of organic poultry sector representatives which met with the commission, said, "The NFU has always been against these proposals as we knew they would have had a detrimental effect on the organic poultry sector, so we are delighted that the Commission had seen sense to make these essential changes.

"However, we are still concerned over proposed changes to the composition of organic feeds for mono-gastric animals and the timescales involved in the implementation of the changes to legislation. It is essential that any changes to organic feed do not jeopardise the welfare standards of organic poultry."

The EC is also seeking to change the volume of organic feed given to poultry; from the end of the year it wants to raise the threshold for organic feed from 95 per cent to 100 per cent of feed in the ration.