Organic controls must be better

Because this infringement of the EG regulation for organic agricultural production, committed by a poultry company group in Delbrück, the minister for environment Eckhard Uhlenberg wants to improve the control system of the organic market. „The control of organic production is organised in two steps,  with private control companies and public supervision. It has to concentrate more on risks and weak points." Control has to be improved especially in the fodder and poultry section. Last year in november and december the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (authority for nature, environment, consumer production) found out with normal controls in fodder factories, that the farms of the organic company group at Delbrück bought conventional fodder for a long time. More inspections in following treatment and trading companies showed that conventional poultry products were buyed in large quantities (we reported). Suspicion is entertained that organic certification was used illegaly. This fact for Mr. Uhlenberg is a „fraud of the customer“. The private organic control companies didn't discover these manipulations. The reason why has to be analysed. It has to be controlled also the whole control system and the co-operation of private and public supervision („control the controllers“). The minister refered to the 2800 organic companies in Nordrhein-Westfalen (production, treatment and trade). „There are many honestly working organic farmers that have the right to ask for effective controls and infringements. The organic marktet lives more than others of the confidence of its customers. The government has to pay attention that the fame of a whole sector is damaged, because of some dishonest acters with criminal energy", says Mr. Uhlenberg. The ministry will talk to all parties, to improve the control of organic production.
Source: MUNLV NRW- press release


« back