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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had in 2003 with the chairman of the Food Standards Agency on the promotion of organic food; and if she will make a statement on the implementation of the organic action plan. [116797] Mr. Meacher: Copies of correspondence so far between myself and the Chairman of the Food Standards Agency on organic issues have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. As Chairman of the Stakeholder Group taking forward the "Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England" I attach great importance to progressing the commitments made in the Plan. In respect of these commitments: I am in discussion with Chief Executives of the main multiples on the commitment to increase the proportion of organic food they source from within the UK; We are taking forward the commitment to encourage the purchase of sustainable and local food, including organic food, in public procurement; We have put in place a revised Organic Farming Scheme for England including on-going aid for organic farmers and higher rates of conversion aid for top fruit orchards; We are providing an additional £5 million over the next five years to support organic R&D under the LINK programme; The first organic statistical information notice for England was published on 19 May.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

116797; 406 c727W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Fruit Publicity Procurement Organic farming Organic food Retail trade Supermarkets Subsidies Organic farming scheme

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk