New draft of the amendment to the EU Organic Regulation to follow shortly

In April there is to be a new basis for discussion of the EU Organic Regulation.

Florence, Ecor and B’IO at Terra Futura

Ecor Spa, the largest Italian distributing company of organic products and B’io, an association of more than 200 specialized stores in Italy, were present at the national Fair of Sustainability “Terra Futura”.

Slovak Republic: Organic Food Retailers Lack an Adequate Product Range

While four years ago only a few health/natural food shops existed in Slovakia, today there are more than forty such shops.

Organic Rainforest Ingredients achieve organic certification

The company Beraca Ingredients has been granted Ecocert organic certification for its personal care ingredients.

Less Organic Farms, more Organic Land in Switzerland

The number of organic farms in Switzerland has declined for the first time in 25 years according to the organic food organisation, Bio Suisse.

Real Pioneers: Whole Food Shops in Turkey

The whole food shop Ambar is only about 20 paces from the pedestrian area in Istanbul’s busy town centre (Beyoglu), and it is mainly regulars who shop in the 20 m² store.

New Zealand: Organic umbrella organisation gets $1.5m Government Funding

The organic umbrella organisation, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ), is to receive $1.5 million in government funding over the next three years.

Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM) forwards eco-tourism

Malta Organic Agriculture Movement in collaboration with the Mellieha Local Council organized an open public forum on Organic Farming, Ecotourism and Agritourism.

Children Facing High Risks from Pesticide Poisoning

Children are facing higher risks from pesticides than adults and need greater protection.

Basic goes into overdrive

This year, the German organic-supermarket chain Basic intends to pass the 20 store threshold.

GM-cotton in India

Following complaints of allergenic reactions among farmers growing genetically modified cotton, a three member panel was set up to investigate the matter.

The First IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production

Organic livestock production is growing rapidly throughout the world, and sales are anticipated to increase dramatically in the coming years.

Slovak Republic Organic Food Market

The Slovak market for organic products is just being born and the share of organic food in the turnover of food products was less than 0.1 % in 2004.

Strategies to support domestic organic markets in countries with emerging organic

A new study of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL).

Biotech foods: international safety laws agreed

United Nations talks on the global trade in genetically modified foods and crops ended with an agreement on the labelling of GM grains traded worldwide.

Trade Symposium at BioFach: Attracting Customers, International Models of Success

“Organic trade - reaching consumers with innovative ideas” was the title of this year’s specialist symposium that was held one day before BioFach opened in Nuremberg.

Commission forbids legislation concerning separate placement of GMO products in supermarket shelves

The European Commission has decided that the notification by the government of Cyprus of draft legislation requiring genetically modified (GM) foods to be displayed separately from non-GM foods in supermarkets is non-admissible.

Italy: The Wholesale Trade Operates Nationwide

In contrast to Germany’s regional wholesale trade, most of the specialist wholesale trade in Italy covers the whole country.

Agrosophia helps develop organic and biodynamic agriculture in Russia

So far, organic agriculture in Russia is not very developed.

Golden Salima Award and six Trends Awards for organic products

The results of the competition for the best products were ceremonially announced at a Gala evening at the food fair Salima in Brno, in the Czech Republic on Tuesday, March 7. 2006.