With COVID-19 continuing to have far reaching effects on agriculture and the organic sector, IFOAM EU is calling on the European Commission, Council and Parliament to consider delaying the new EU Organic Regulation.
Europe’s lead organic body believes delaying application of the new regulation by a year (it is currently due to apply from January 2021) would allow organic producers and the organic control system to “focus on responding to the COVID-19 crisis”.
However, the group believes delays in implementing other key EU food and farming initiatives – specifically the Farm to Fork Strategy and EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – would be counterproductive.
In a letter to members IFOAM EU director, Eduardo Cuoco (pictured), says: “The COVID-19 crisis should not be used for weakening current environmental requirements and pushing for the postponement of the European Green Deal as well as related strategies.”
Cuoco says the impact of the corona virus on the organic sector varies across countries and sectors. “As for the food market as whole, many of our members have reported an increase in their product sales. However, others are severely impacted by the corona crisis, especially those who depend on the catering sector, are not part of bigger supermarket chains or have not switched to online marketing.”
Cuoco identifies the dairy and beef sectors as among those experiencing the toughest challenges. In the UK, for example, the increased number of milking cows being sent to slaughterhouses has resulted in a “drastic decrease in the beef price”. By comparison, the situation in the same sectors in Germany is reported to be relatively stable.
A common issue in all countries is the potential lack of work force in the coming harvesting periods due to closed borders. Here, Cuoco notes some countries are now urging citizens to volunteer and fill this gap. Others, notably the UK, are flying in some of their workers from abroad.