ORGANIC FOOD
Many shops and supermarkets offer organic food for sale, but how does
the consumer know that the food sold really is organic? Producers
could argue that all food is organic because it comes from plants and
animals. However, for the past fifty years or so, the term has
been used to describe food grown without most artificial fertilizers or
pesticides and in a way that makes the most of natural fertilizers,
thus ensuring the life and good condition of the soil.
Animals are kept in humane ways which minimize the need for medicines
and hormone treatments.
As consumers, we're entitled to expect that everything in our diet has
been produced with the minimum of interference from man. But it
would be naive to expect the use of artificial fertilizers and
pesticides to cease when their use increases production and thus
profits for the producers.
There are a number of terms which can be used to describe food which
has been grown in a traditional or environmentally friendly way.
However, 'organic' is the only one subject to a European Community and
national regulation.
DEFINITION OF ORGANIC FARMING
> Organic production systems are designed to produce optimum
quantities of food of high nutritional quality by using management
practices which aim to avoid the use of agro-chemical inputs and which
minimize damage to the environment and wildlife=.
The principle includes:-
Working with natural systems rather than seeking to dominate them.
The encouragement of biological cycles involving micro-organisms, soil
flora and fauna, plants and animals.
The maintenance of valuable existing landscape features and adequate
habitats for the production of wildlife with particular regard for
endangered species.
Careful attention to animal welfare considerations
The avoidance of pollution.
Consideration for the wider social and ecological impact of the farming
system:-
Extract from the UK Register Of Organic Food Standards. UKROFS
Standards Of Organic Food Production.
In 1993 European Regulation governing the term AOrganic@ farming became
effective. This describes the inputs and practices which may be
used in organic farming and growing and the inspection system which
must be put in place to ensure this.
The regulation also applies to processing aids and all ingredients in
organic foods. So all food grown as organic must come from
growers, processors, or importers who are registered and subject to
regular inspection.
In the United Kingdom the regulation is administered by the United
Kingdom Register Of Organic Food Standards - UKROFS. Which
consists of an independent Board appointed by Agriculture Ministers
which is assisted by a
small Secretariat provided by the Ministry Of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food.
It's job is to ensure that the EC Regulation is
properly applied in the UK by the various bodies which register organic
farmers and processors.
It is illegal to offer food for sale as organic unless it has been
produced in full conformity with the EC Regulation by registered
producers. So the word 'organic' on the label or used by the
shopkeeper is your guarantee that it has been organically
produced. Source:- Ministry Of Agriculture Fisheries and
Food.
If you want to know more contact:-
United Kingdom Register
Of Organic Food Standards
Room 320c
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
LONDON
SW1P 3JR
Tel 0171 238 5781
|
