Minister blocks organic rule changes

Farms minister Ben Bradshaw has blocked organic stocking rate changes, which were due to come into force next year.

The shock decision means producers operating at 9 birds per square metre and flock sizes of up to 12,000 will be able to continue until 2010.

The Minister revealed his decision at a meeting in Exeter while taking part in a debate on the power of supermarkets. The surprise announcement even stunned officials at Defra. They were still involved in a consultation process which was supposed to lead to them presenting a detailed document to the Minister to assist him with a decision.

As reported in the Ranger the stocking rate question has been at the centre of controversy for weeks after established, large-scale organic producers began a campaign to reverse a Government decision made in 1999. That was to have led to the introduction of new EU regulations in 2005, five years ahead of other European countries.

The major producers claimed that they would be forced out of the organic sector and the move would lead to a flood of imports.

The issue was raised at the meeting at Exeter University by John Widdowson, BFREPA vice chairman and Ranger editor.

The Minister said: “I have reversed the decision to introduce the changes next year.”

Speaking after the meeting he added: “The decision has been made and you can certainly make that public.”

Defra were due to meet officials from the British Egg Industry Council on October 11 to finalise their consultation process. The unscheduled announcement will create particular embarrassment since the new organic advisory body ACOS had come to the opposite conclusion.

While the decision will delight the egg industry in general, the large producers who led the campaign and the organic body OF&G which supported them, it will clearly infuriate many producers.

All new entrants to the organic sector since 1999 have had to operate at 6 birds per square metre and at a maximum flock size of 3000. As a result at least a third of all organic production comes from hens housed under the new regulations.

But some established producers have already spent tens of thousands of pounds accommodating their units to the stricter rules. Despite the decision new entrants to the industry will continue to operate at the new levels since the requirement is part of EU regulations which are already in operation.

The U-turn will throw further question marks over the introduction of rules on other aspects of organic production. Plans for the use of organically reared pullets are already in disarray. And attempts to finally introduce a set of standards and an operational deadline are sure to be clouded with uncertainty.

As one leading pullet rearer commented: “If the Minister can change a major decision on stocking rates then who is going to take any notice of plans for organic pullets which could be thrown out at the last moment as well.”