Organic Foods: Authenticity

House of Lords written question – answered at on 21 March 2001.

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Photo of Lord Vinson Lord Vinson Conservative

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 28 February (WA 143), as the regulatory bodies have no universal method of differentiation between organic foodstuffs and that grown conventionally, whether any safeguards exist to ensure the authenticity of organic foods.

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health)

The principal safeguard of the authenticity of organic food lies in the organic certification system, established by Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 and administered by the UK Register of Organic Food Standards, for which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has responsibility. It is the responsibility of local authorities to verify organic claims at the retail level.

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