91999E1938

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1938/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(4 November 1999)

Subject: Payments for conversion to organic farming

Can the Commission detail the resources given over each of the past five years to enable farmers to convert from non-organic to organic farming?

Is the Commission prepared to increase the amounts payable, in the light of the fact that conversion leads to a drop of approximately 20 % in productivity, thus helping both to alleviate over-production and to improve quality?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside(1) promotes the use of farming practices which reduce the polluting effects of agriculture. The programmes launched by Member States also include aid for farmers who undertake to introduce or continue with organic farming methods. The aid granted to farmers is cofinanced by the Community at a level of 75 % in objective 1 areas and 50 % in non-objective 1 areas.

Depending on the economic situation of the organic sector compared to the conventional farming practices, Member States grant aid for the introduction of organic farming methods during the period of conversion or support as well as the continuation of organic farming. The financial data available does not differentiate between introduction and maintenance. Within the European agriculture and guiidance fund (EAGGF) budget granted for agri-environmental measures under Regulation (EEC) 2078/92 (which in 1998 was 1 727 million), about 8 % to 11 % are spent on organic farming.

As in the past, financial support for farmers is to be calculated on the basis of lost income and the additional expenditure generated by special environmental requirements. In the next financing period the upper ceilings on Community support for agri-environmental measures have been raised from those laid down for measures accompanying the 1992 reform to 600 per hectare for annual crops, 900 per hectare for perennial special crops and 450 for other forms of land use.

In addition the Community provides funding for a variety of investment aids for farmers in general either under Council Regulation (EC) No 950/97 of 20 May 1997 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures(2) or regional measures for diversification in objective 1, 2 and (5b) regions. The Commission does not have detailed information on the use of such aids by organic farmers.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2) OJ L 142, 2.6.1997.