EU Enhances Support for Organic Farmers

BRUSSELS - Jun 10/04 - SNS -- The European Union hopes to improve consumer awareness of organic farm products and help producers through its newly adopted "European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming".

The European Commission says the document "puts forward a list of 21 concrete policy measures to be implemented, such as improving information about organic farming, streamlining public support via rural development, improving production standards or strengthening research.

"This plan comes in response to a rapid increase in the number of farmers producing organically and to a strong demand from consumers during the last years."

Commenting on the Action Plan, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries said: "Promoting environmentally friendly quality products is one major objective of the new, reformed Common Agricultural Policy. This is why we want to boost organic farming by stepping up information for consumers, strengthening the control system and improving research."

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