News
POULTRY FARMERS
ADVICE ON FEATHER PECKING
For your information and guidance this is the DEFRA advice on feather pecking prior to the Regulation changes 1st January 2011. http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/documents/featherpecking.pdf
ORGANIC FOOD FEDERATION NEW CERTIFICATION CODE IS:
GB – ORG – 04
Summary
The new EU logo will become compulsory on organic products from 01 July 2010. There is a transition period during which current packaging designs may be used until 01 July 2012. Already packed products may continue to be sold until stocks run out
Logo
Operators will be able to use the logo on packaging, labels and advertising once the regulation comes into force and do not have to wait until 01 July 2010.
It is still the last body
to check the product whose code should be used. After the code number it is
possible to add additional information.
The code for the Organic Food Federation is: GB – ORG – 04
and must appear on labels in exactly that format.
The following website shows the logo
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/files/eu-policy/logo/user_manual_logo_en.pdf
The logo
will appear in Green Pantone 376 but may also appear in black and white
where a colour form is not practical.
On dark packaging the logo may appear in negative format using the packaging colour instead of white.
If packaging is in a
single colour then the logo may also appear in that colour rather than in
green or black and white.
If a symbol is used in colour on a coloured background, which makes it
difficult to see, a delimiting outer line around the symbol can be used to
improve contrast with the background colours.
The Organic logo of the EU
shall comply with the
model below:
The minimum height is 9mm. The height/width ration is 1:1.5 so minimum width is 13.5mm. For exceptionally small packaging such as small sweets the logo may be used with a height of 6mm. In such cases other logos should not appear larger than the EU logo, such use would be seen as evidence of misuse of the exception.
Other graphical or textual elements may be used along with the logo, i.e. national or private logos but they must not interfere with the logo or any of the required indications.
If a national or private
logo is green then that colour green may be used for the European logo as
well.
Wording
Where the Community logo is used, an indication of the place where the agricultural raw materials were farmed should accompany it. It should be indicated that the raw materials originate from:
'EU Agriculture', where the agricultural raw material has been farmed in the
EU;
'non-EU Agriculture' where the agricultural raw material has been farmed in
third countries; or
'EU/non-EU Agriculture' where part of the agricultural raw materials has
been farmed in the Community and a part of it has been farmed in a third
country.
If all raw materials have
been farmed in only one country, the name of this specific country, in or
outside the EU, can be indicated instead.
New Fairtrade spices from Steenbergs Organic
Steenbergs Organic has launched three new spices carrying the Fairtrade Mark – organic Fairtrade curry powder, organic Fairtrade garam masala and organic Fairtrade cardamom pods.
Steenbergs was the first company to launch spices carrying the Fairtrade Mark back in 2005 and has continued to innovate in this area.
For more information see: www.steenbergs.co.uk or email: enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk
CHANGES TO ANIMAL FEED REGULATIONS FOR PIG & POULTRY
From 1st January 2010 the annual non organic feed allowance for pigs & poultry has been reduced from 10% down to 5%. It will continue at this % until 31st December 2011.
This figure needs to be calculated annually as a % of dry matter from agricultural origin. The maximum non organic feed to be fed in any one day remains at 25% dry matter.
Wednesday 9 December 2009
This new requirement under EU legislation comes into force from 1 January 2010 and will apply to all slaughter animals, whether sent directly to a slaughterhouse or sold through a livestock market.
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2009/dec/foodchain
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster today announced that Glenarm Organic Salmon has re-established itself as the preferred choice of top international chefs.
For full story see http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-deti/news-deti-030909-foster-welcomes-first.htm
REMINDER - REVOCATIONS OF ALL PRODUCTS CONTAINING PARAQUAT
The effect of the judgement is that plant protection products containing paraquat have been withdrawn from use and can no longer be advertised, sold, supplied for use in Northern Ireland.
APRIL 2009: The team at the Organic Food Federation are pleased to say congratulations to Monmouth Coffee who have been voted one of the top 20 retailers in the World. To see article follow link below. http://www.thelondonpaper.com/thelondonpaper/news/london/worlds-best-london%E2%80%99s-rough-trade-east-monmouth-coffee-and-oliver-spencer