Breaking news: Organic pig meat operators have received clearence to continue operating

Breaking news: Irish organic pig meat operators have received clearence to continue operating, despite the current recall of irish pigmeat products.

This is subject to their adhering to the rules outlined below ,which will be posted on the departmental website tomorrow (Wed)

BEGINS

Please find below the conditions that need to be satisfied by organic pigmeat producers to allow retailing of existing and new product:

Conditions needing to be satisfied by Organic Pigmeat Producers to Allow Retailing of Existing and New Product



An Organic producer must provide documentary evidence to prove to DAFF or Local Authority Veterinary Officers that:

1. No contaminated animal feed material from the Millstream Recycling Plant, Clohamon Mills, Co. Carlow was procured and consumed by animals on the particular farm from September 1st 2008.



2. No pigs which had consumed contaminated material had been introduced onto that particular organic farm. Proof of the herd of origin must be supplied, which shows that no pigs originated from any holding restricted by DAFF.



3. The pigs were not slaughtered and processed in premises which also handle pigs from farms where the contaminated animal feed material was used.

The organic pigmeat producers will need, in consultation with the OCB, to compile the necessary documentation and provide same to DAFF/LA veterinary inspector for clearance of the product(s).

ENDS

Analysis:

We are in the midst of a major agri-food situation. When problems happen to conventional agriculture, certified organic produce can often get lumped into the mix. This is despite the obvious, fully demarked and legally binding differentiation between the two systems.

So when a product recall happens, even organic product gets recalled, even though it is produced under a system that would never have allowed it to come into contact with the contaminated conventional feed.

This is unacceptable to many in the organic sector. However, the above (re)approval of organic pork operators is good news for the organic sector, all things considered.