Agreed: that the Committee would wait for the result of the Department's consultation on the proposed Rule before giving their opinion.

4.3.1 The Committee welcomed Mr Liam McKibben (Grade 5, DARD), Chair of the Organic Farming Liaison Group, Mr Ian McKee, Head of Crops and Environmental Policy Division (DARD) and Dr Sam Kennedy, Head of Crops and Horticulture at Greenmount to the meeting at 11.00 am.

4.3.2 Mr McKibben made a short statement on the Rule which revoked and replaced previous EU legislation that expired on 31 December 1999 and provided for the payment of aid to farmers in order to bring the Organic Farming Scheme into effect. The proposed new legislation introduced an arbitration procedure, which improved the farmers' right to appeal.

4.3.3 Mr McKibben then answered questions put to him by the Committee.

4.3.4 The Members were informed that, although only 4 out 8 responses were received in reply to the Consultation letter, the proposals were widely accepted within the industry.

4.3.5 Resolved: that the Committee was content for DARD to proceed with the proposed legislation but members would continue to press for the following:

• that support will continue to be provided to farmers undertaking the switch to organic farming for a number of years
• that specialist assistance will be given, particularly with regard to marketing strategy/business planning
• that training and assistance in terms of technical/science issues will be provided

5.1 DARD Officials remained at the meeting to discuss further the implications of Organic Farming as an opportunity for Northern Ireland Farmers.

5.2 There followed a question and answer session and a number of issues were raised including:

• The need for a reasonable period of familiarisation with the Code of Good Farming Practice - it should not be so restrictive as to put off farmers entering organic farming.
• Ensure organic farming activities do not have an adverse effect on the farming industry in general
• Appointments to the Organic Farm Liaison Group
• Long term opportunities for small Northern Ireland farmers as niche market exporters
• Need for a long term strategy to assist farmers after the initial 5 year aid is reached

5.3 Agreed: to meet with the consultants, who are carrying out the study into organic farming, during the meeting to be held on 26 February in order to establish the stage reached by the consultants, issues which have been raised and to offer opinions to the consultants.

6.1 Members considered a consultation paper to be issued by Fisheries Department in the UK.

6.2 Resolved: that the Committee could await a report from DARD once consultation was complete but in the meantime seek the views of the fish producers organisations.

7.1 The Committee considered a fax from Alan McCulla on the EU nephrops quotas declaration and the decommissioning scheme.

Resolved: that the Chairman should write to the Minister, seeking an urgent written update on the two issued and putting these two items on the Agenda for the proposed meeting on 23 February.