Amen­de­menten Hazekamp op ontwerp­re­so­lutie over het EU actieplan voor biolo­gische landbouw

Motion for a resolution on the EU action plan on Organic Agriculture of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Amendment 1
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

Motion for a resolution

A. whereas the Commission communication on an action plan for the development of organic production (organic action plan, OAP) emphasises that the Green Deal is the key to managing the transition towards a more sustainable food system;

Amendment

A. whereas the Commission communication on an action plan for the development of organic production (organic action plan, OAP) emphasises that the Green Deal is the key to managing the transition towards a more sustainable food system, in particular strengthening the farmer’s efforts to tackle climate change, protect the environment and preserve biodiversity;

Amendment 2
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Motion for a resolution

B. whereas Europe’s food system should deliver food and ensure food security in a way that contributes to social well-being, maintains ecosystem health and ensures a fair living for farmers;

Amendment

B. whereas Europe’s food system should deliver food and ensure food security in a way that ensures a healthy society and a healthy planet, contributes to social well-being, improves
ecosystem health and ensures a fair living for farmers, instead of its current influence on our climate, the environment, biodiversity and the health of humans and animals worldwide;

Amendment 3
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Motion for a resolution

C. whereas organic agriculture offers many environmental benefits and has the potential to help the agricultural sector play its part in the fight against
climate change and in addressing key challenges such as soil fertility and biodiversity loss;

Amendment

C. whereas organic agriculture offers many environmental benefits and has the potential to reduce the role of the agricultural sector in climate change and key challenges such as soil fertility and biodiversity loss;

Amendment 4
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Amendment

C a. whereas agricultural diversity and shorter chains between farmer and consumer are the foundation of a healthy and sustainable food system;

Amendment 5
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

Motion for a resolution

D. whereas it is essential to ensure that consumers are in a position to make informed choices when purchasing food;

Amendment

D. whereas it is essential to ensure that consumers are in a position to make informed choices when purchasing food and to take action against food manufacturers who deliberately mislead consumers with their labels, packaging and advertising;

Amendment 6
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Amendment

F a. whereas there are big differences between Member States concerning the total EU agricultural land under organic farming, varying from 0.5% to 25.3%^1a;

^1a European Commission, Factsheet organic farming in the EU, 25 March 2021.

Amendment 7
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Amendment

F b. whereas the retail sales of organic products increased by over 145% from €18 billion to €41 billion in the period 2009-2019^1b;

^1b European Commission, Factsheet organic farming in the EU, 25 March 2021.

Amendment 8
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)

Amendment

F c. whereas organic farmland has 30% more biodiversity, is beneficial to pollinators, limits the use of artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, and plays an important role in improving animal welfare^1c;

^1c European Commission, Factsheet organic farming in the EU, 25 March 2021.

Amendment 9
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)

Amendment

F d. whereas organic food should be made affordable and accessible to everyone, regardless of their income;

Amendment 10
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)

Amendment

F e. whereas consumers in Europe are insufficiently informed about the origin of food and the human and animal (un)friendly and (un)sustainable production of food products;

Amendment 11
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F f (new)

Amendment

F f. whereas knife and fork are our mightiest weapons against climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, hunger and animal suffering;

Amendment 12
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F g (new)

Amendment

F g. whereas consumers should be rewarded instead of punished for choosing and buying sustainable, organic products;

Amendment 13
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Recital F h (new)

Amendment

F h. whereas animal welfare is an essential part of sustainability;

Amendment 14
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

1. Welcomes the Commission’s recognition of organic farming as one of the important components on the EU’s path towards more sustainable food systems and the ambition of increasing the EU’s agricultural area under organic farming by 2030; recognises, at the same time, the potential for other sustainable farming methods to contribute to the Green Deal’s objectives;

Amendment

1. Welcomes the Commission’s recognition of organic farming as one of the important components on the EU’s path towards more sustainable food systems and the ambition of increasing the EU’s agricultural area under organic farming to 25% by 2030; recognises, at the same time, the potential for other sustainable farming methods to contribute to the Green Deal’s objectives;

Amendment 15
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

Amendment

1 a. Welcomes the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies' targets to reach 25% organic land in the EU by 2030; highlights that the development of organic farming will contribute to many of the objectives of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies;

Amendment 16
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

Amendment

1 b. Expresses its concern over the low share of the total EU agricultural land under organic farming in several Member States, with Malta (0.5%), Ireland (1,6%), Bulgaria (2,3%), Romania (2,9%), Poland (3,5%), The Netherlands (3,7%), Luxembourg (4,4%) and Cyprus (5%) having the lowest share^1d;

^1d European Commission, Factsheet organic farming in the EU, 25 March 2021.

Amendment 17
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)

Amendment

1 c. Welcomes the contribution of organic farming to the re-vitalisation of rural areas in the EU;

Amendment 18
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)

Amendment

1 d. Welcomes organic farming systemic approach to sustainability, which delivers benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, for biodiversity protection, for soil protection, for water quality, for pesticides and antibiotics reduction, while ensuring higher animal welfare standards; stresses that sustainability labelling initiatives should not undermine the organic logo and should be based on methodologies that encompass all aspects of environmental

Amendment 19
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

3. Points out that for an EU action plan to succeed, it must stimulate and mobilise the Member States; expresses the view, therefore, that Member States should be encouraged to develop their own national OAPs with concrete, time-bound actions;

Amendment

3. Points out that for an EU action plan to succeed, it must stimulate and mobilise the Member States; expresses the view, therefore, that Member States should be encouraged to develop their own national OAPs with concrete, time-bound actions; adds that regional and local OAPs must also play a role in the development of the organic sector;

Amendment 20
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

4. Stresses that Member States should engage all stakeholders, especially organic farmers and associations, local and regional authorities, consumer and private sector representatives and the hospitality industry, in a consultative process when adopting their national OAPs to achieve the best possible synergies;

Amendment

4. Stresses that Member States should engage all stakeholders, especially organic farmers and associations, local and regional authorities, consumer and private sector representatives and the hospitality industry, as well as citizens, in a consultative process when adopting their national OAPs to achieve the best possible synergies;

Amendment 21
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

5. Acknowledges that organic production often involves higher production costs and, therefore, needs higher market prices to recover those costs; points out that higher prices may
represent a barrier to expansion but that they are necessary to ensure the continuation of organic farming and its further uptake;

Amendment

5. Acknowledges thatorganic production often involves higher production costs and, therefore, needs higher market prices to recover those costs; points out that true cost accounting reveals that organic production comes closer to the true cost of food compared to other production methods; stresses that a tax on harmful pesticides, a reduced tax on organic products, or other true cost accounting measures will
represent a step forward to putting a price on environmental and social externalities;

Amendment 22
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

Amendment

5 a. Underlines the importance of exempting healthy food products, such as organic fruit and vegetables, from VAT and to introduce a higher VAT rate for unhealthy food products; Expresses its support for the introduction of a zero rate on organic fruit and vegetables;

Amendment 23
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

6. Recognises the importance of speeding up the development of organic aquaculture in the EU;

Amendment

6. Underlines the importance of rapidly speeding up the development of organic aquaculture in the EU;

Amendment 24
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2 a (new)

Amendment

Expresses its concern about misleading labels, packaging and advertising that makes it difficult for consumers to distinguish conventional products from organic products; Emphasizes that the terms 'locally produced' or 'regionally produced' should only be used if the main ingredients of the food product concerned are actually from that region, and that the terms 'authentic' or 'natural' should never be allowed for industrially processed foods;

Amendment 25
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

7. Supports the Commission in further promoting the EU organic logo among consumers, including through organic school schemes; emphasises that it is of paramount importance that consumer surveys on organics are followed by actions to further raise awareness of organic farming;

Amendment

7. Supports the Commission in further promoting the EU organic logo among consumers, including through organic school schemes for fruit and vegetables; emphasises that it is of paramount importance that consumer surveys on organics are followed by actions to further raise awareness of the benefits organic farming;

Amendment 26
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

Amendment

7 a. Recalls that the new sustainable food labelling should not conflict with existing environmental frameworks such as the EU ecolabel or the organic logo; highlights that many unsubstantiated and even misleading environmental claims and advertising methods are currently being used and recalls the need to introduce a regulatory framework establishing a clear, swift and efficient pre-approval procedure for all sustainability claims and labels; stresses that such a framework would protect consumers from untruthful sustainability claims while ensuring that businesses that genuinely strive for more environmentally friendly operations are duly rewarded for their efforts; stresses the need for inspections by public control authorities of any label allowed on food products;

Amendment 27
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

8. Believes that increasing green public procurement (GPP) in the Member States can serve as a strong stimulus for action towards the organic target; believes that the EU institutions should lead by example; calls on the Commission to research current structural and logistical barriers and to promote the use of GPP criteria in the Member States;

Amendment

8. Believes that increasing green public procurement (GPP) in the Member States can serve as a strong stimulus for action towards the organic target; believes that the EU institutions should lead by example; calls on the Commission to research current structural and logistical barriers and to promote the use of GPP criteria in the Member States, and believes that any targets on GPP, such as quotas, must also encompass products derived from animals;

Amendment 28
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

10. Highlights that the success of the OAP will depend on stronger involvement of the private sector to stimulate
demand, especially in countries with less developed organic markets and production;

Amendment

10. Highlights that market development capacity in national and regional NGOs has played a crucial role in Member States that have successfully developed their organic market; points out that stronger involvement of the private sector will contribute to the success of the OAP, for instance by stimulating demand, especially in countries with less developed organic markets and production;

Amendment 29
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

Amendment

10 a. Invites the European Commission and Member States to actively contribute to a better structuration of organic supply chains and to the capacity-building of organic producers' organisations;

Amendment 30
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

11. Underlines that it is essential for the Commission, the Member States and stakeholders to engage actively in identifying ways in which the existing certification and control mechanisms can be made more robust to prevent fraud in organic production and trade, both in the EU and in non-EU countries, as well as to prevent additional administrative burdens and costs for farmers, including by using IT solutions;

Amendment 31
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

12. Considers that concrete action to promote exports of EU organic products is needed; requests that the Commission report regularly on forthcoming negotiations with the EU’s trading partners to inform Parliament about the potential for expansion of the organic market;

Amendment

12. Considers concrete action to support the global transition to sustainable and organic food systems; requests that the Commission report regularly on forthcoming negotiations with the EU’s trading partners to inform Parliament about the potential for global transition to sustainable and organic food systems;

Amendment 32
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

Amendment

12 a. Recalls that a population-wide shift in consumption patterns is needed towards more healthy foods, diets and lifestyles, including increased consumption of sustainably and regionally produced plants and plant-based foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and to address the overconsumption of meat and ultra-processed products, as well as products high in sugars, salt and fats, which will also benefit the environment and animal welfare;

Amendment 33
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

Amendment

12 b. Stresses that the capacity of organic producers to guarantee consumers that no genetically modified organisms have been used in their production process depends on the mandatory traceability and labelling system established by Regulations 1829/2003 and 1830/2003; Calls on the Commission and Member States to guarantee that EU legislation will maintain the capacity of organic breeders, producers, processors, retailers to ensure that no genetically modified organism, including novel genomic techniques, has been used in their production process;

Amendment 34
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

13. Considers that an adequate common agricultural policy (CAP) budget should be provided to create incentives for farmers to convert to and maintain organic farming practices at national level, through rural development measures or newly introduced eco-schemes, or a combination of the two; calls on the Member States to support generational renewal in organic farming;

Amendment

13. Considers that the existing common agricultural policy (CAP) budget should be used to create incentives for farmers to convert to and maintain organic farming practices at national level, through rural development measures or newly introduced eco-schemes, or a combination of the two provided that attention is paid to potential double funding that could limit the budget for organic farmers; calls on the Member States to support generational renewal in organic farming;

Amendment 35
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

Amendment

13 a. Emphasizes that organic, regional and sustainable agriculture should be the norm, and that the Common Agricultural Policy should be used to help farmers in their transition to organic and sustainable agriculture;

Amendment 36
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

Amendment

13 b. Calls for CAP National Strategic Plans to fully contribute to the Farm to Fork targets and ambition, and to include a national target for organic land based on an analysis of the organic sector’s current development and potential in each Member State; calls on the European Commission to only approve CAP National Strategic Plans if they demonstrate their contribution to European Green Deal objectives, given Member States respective baselines, and to make sure that all CAP National Strategic Plans together meet the Union wide targets;

Amendment 37
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

Amendment

13 c. Considers that national CAP Strategic Plans should set payments rates proportionate to the ambition and benefits of the farming systems and standards they support and should ensure these payments rates provide a comparative advantage to organic conversion and maintenance, compared to less ambitious standards or single practices that deliver fewer environmental benefits;

Amendment 38
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

Amendment

13 d. Stresses that the environmental benefits of organic farming should not be supported only by consumers of organic products willing to pay a higher price, and that national CAP Strategic Plans should properly reward organic farmers for the public goods that they deliver, through the protection of the environment and of natural resources, through the reduction of inputs and higher animal welfare standards;

Amendment 39
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)

Amendment

13 e. Stresses that CAP support for organic conversion and maintenance could be funded via rural development measures, via Eco-schemes or through a combination of both; insists that Eco-schemes should be designed to be compatible and complementary with agri-environmental and climate measures (AECMs), including organic farming measures, set in the second Pillar;

Amendment 40
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)

Amendment

13 f. Is deeply concerned that CAP funding is mainly used for agricultural systems that are detrimental to the climate, the environment, biodiversity and animal welfare;

Amendment 41
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

15. Welcomes the Commission’s support for the development of bio-districts within Member States, as they are multifunctional in nature and create synergies between farmers, consumers, the hospitality industry and cultural enterprises;

Amendment

15. Welcomes the Commission’s support for the development of bio-districts within Member States, as they are multifunctional in nature, promote short supply chains and create synergies between inter alia farmers, consumers, the hospitality industry and cultural enterprises;

Amendment 42
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution

17. Considers that the use of digital technologies, including precision farming and blockchain, can play a role in the development of organic farming;

Amendment

17. Considers that the use of digital technologies, including precision farming and blockchain, are used in the development of organic farming; Stresses however that these technologies cannot be considered as a substitute to the systemic sustainability approach implemented in organic farming;

Amendment 43
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

Amendment

17 a. Welcomes the contribution of organic farming to the reduction of the use of synthetic pesticides; calls on the Commission to increase the availability of biocontrol solutions and natural substances by improving and speeding up the evaluation and authorisation process for natural substances;

Amendment 44
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

Amendment

17 b. Supports working towards 100% organic meals in nurseries, kindergarten and school canteens, with meat and other animal products being the exception and not the standard on the menu;

Amendment 45
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)

Amendment

17 c. Emphasizes the important role that cities could play by focusing on sustainable, local and non-toxic cultivation of fruit and vegetables, and expresses its supports for the promotion of organic urban agriculture, such as the production of fruit and vegetables in yards, parks and gardens in and around cities, produced and consumed by residents;

Amendment 46
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)

Amendment

17 d. Points out that prevention is the basis of good health care, that healthy eating plays an important role when it comes to preventing illness and discomfort, that preventive healthcare reduces healthcare costs as a whole and that hospitals and nursing homes should therefore invest in organic, healthy and tasty food, with meat and other animal products being the exception and not the standard on the menu;

Amendment 47
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 e (new)

Amendment

17 e. Urges governments to lead by example and to ensure that food in the company restaurants of government buildings is purchased organically and regionally or fair trade, and that vegetarian and vegan options are offered by default;

Amendment 48
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

Amendment

19 a. Supports the stimulation or organic (traditional) crop breeding for the development of healthy and resilient varieties;

Amendment 49
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 - subparagraph 1 (new)

Amendment

More attention to animal welfare

Amendment 50
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

Amendment

20 a. Welcomes the statement of the Commission that organic farming should remain the model in terms of animal welfare protection and entail a guarantee for the consumer that animals were well treated along the chain and could fulfil their natural needs and behaviours whether at farm level or during transport, as animals should be spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering, including at the time of killing;

Amendment 51
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

Amendment

20 b. Welcomes that the Commission is working on improving animal welfare in organic farming, as society associates organic farming with the highest standards of animal welfare, and asks for specific attention to improving the welfare of offspring;

Amendment 52
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)

Amendment

20 c. Calls on the Commission to further develop rules on husbandry, mutilation, transport and slaughter for organic production, especially in light of its work on animal welfare labelling;

Amendment 53
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)

Amendment

20 d. Stresses that animal farming causes major negative impacts on public and animal health, the climate, the environment, nature and biodiversity, and thus calls on the Commission to ensure that its policies and funding programmes solely promote a shift to less and improved animal farming and reduced meat, dairy and eggs consumption in Europe;

Amendment 54
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)

Amendment

20 e. Emphasizes the urgent need to address animal welfare issues, on-farm, during transport and slaughter, and to enforce existing animal welfare rules in organic farming;

Amendment 55
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 f (new)

Amendment

20 f. Recalls that the market for animal products from cage-free, free range and organic systems, as well as the market for plant-based alternatives, is growing in the EU;

Amendment 56
Anja Hazekamp

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 g (new)

Amendment

20 g. Points out that reducing and replacing animal products by promoting a shift to more plant-based diets, should be considered as a solution to meet the Commissions' objective to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly;