Consumer protection 166 • ORGANIC FARMING

To be accepted by the public and the operators, the implementation of the EEC regulation should be in clear accordance with the four principal objectives of this regulation protection of the consumer, fair competition, transparency in the marketplace and encouragement of organic farming. Standards for organic production must be simple and transparent. While the call for simplicity becomes more and more popular, authorities must still be convinced that this is the best approach. Member states should learn to accept that interpretation... 

Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (2004b) Organic Farming in Germany. Accessed 29 March 2005. Available at... 

This is where we stand as we enter the next phase of organic standards. We are completing our debate on the choice of words and it is time for fanners to state how well we have captured the essence of their best efforts for replication across the land. Every farm presents a different picture, although our standards are a common marketing language and seek to protect consumers. If these standards fulfil their promise, they will be flexible enough to accommodate individual iterations and evolutions in knowledge. 

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