Organic feed and pullet requirement delayed

Organic poultry farmers have been granted a derogation, delaying the implementation of new EU standards that would have required 100% organic diets for poultry and changes to what constitutes an organic pullet.

The proposed changes were due to take effect on 1 January, but the EU Commission has said it will publish new rules regarding organic diets and organic pullets on its website at a later date.

“I am delighted that the EU has listened to the NFU and those in the poultry sector who have made representations to the EU Commission and DEFRA on the important matter of organic diets,” said Martin Humphrey, NFU poultry board member and organic feed compounder.

“While we await confirmation from the proposed text for the legislation, it looks clear that the EU will allow producers to continue with the current 95% diets for a limited amount of time.”

The changes to organic rules would also have meant organic poultry would have had to source a large amount of their feed from their own land or the nearby area, as well as increasing the amount of organic ingredients up to 100%.

Also the rules would have mandated conventional pullets be converted to organic during their first days of life, being bred and raised organically.

“With 95% diets, producers are able to ensure that the bird’s nutrition is satisfied and that their welfare is not compromised, whereas with 100% diets bird welfare is challenged,” said Mr Humphrey.

“We now need to turn our attention towards guiding the EU towards implementing a sustainable course for organic poultry which pragmatically addresses bird-feeding requirements.”

In June the NFU sent representatives from across the organic poultry sector to Brussels to lobby the EU Commission against implementing the proposed changes.