site.btaAgriculture, Food and Forestry Ministry Has Taken Measures in Respect of Organic Farming

107 ECONOMY-ORGANIC FARMING-CONTROL

Agriculture, Food and Forestry Ministry
Has Taken Measures in Respect of
Organic Farming


Loznitsa, Northeastern Bulgaria, August 11 (BTA) - The Agriculture, Food and Forestry Ministry has taken measures in respect of organic farming already at the end of 2017 and the start of 2018, head of the Plant Growing and Organic Farming Directorate in the Ministry Anton Velichkov said here on Friday. Velichkov's remarks came after on August 4 the National Audit Office released a report, saying that the system for control over the production and market of organic foods does not protect sufficiently the interests of consumers. The Office audited the control system in the period between January 2016 and June 2017.

Control over organic agricultural foods on the market is not efficient enough, as there is no information about all outlets that sell organically produced agricultural products and foods. In addition the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency does not control organic foods sold in eating establishment and online due to the lack of relevant legislation, the report said.

Velichkov noted the timeframe of the audit and said that all conclusions refer to the audited period. He said that the audit is not to be underestimated but in respect of organic farming, the Agriculture, Food and Forestry Ministry has taken measures by means of updates of the relevant control procedures. Velichkov said that a new ordinance for certifying organic producers has been drafted which will ensure better interaction and coordination among the Ministry, the State Agriculture Fund, and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency. He said that in 2018, for the first time there were 96 withdrawn certificates of organic producers for established irregularities. LY/ZH//