Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Ministers accept recommendations on the future of the Advisory Committee on Organic Standards following an independent review
Information Bulletin
Ministers have accepted the recommendations of an independent review of the Advisory Committee on Organic Standards (ACOS).
The review, which was announced in August last year and undertaken by Drew Associates Ltd, looked at the future development and governance of ACOS, the quality and impact of its advice and its working methods as well as its resources and how they are managed.
The main recommendations following the review are that ACOS continues to be used for securing authoritative advice from the organic sector, but more reliance should be placed on the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) in respect of controlling the organic inspection bodies.
Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Farming, Food and Animal
Welfare said:
"The recommendations made will ensure ACOS
continues to play a highly effective role in the delivery of
advice on the organic sector while achieving greater clarity and
efficiency in the control of the organic inspection bodies."
The recommendations will now be taken forward with a view to the new control system for the organic inspection bodies coming into place in early 2009.
The recommendations can be found in the report by Drew Associates Ltd that followed their review of ACOS. This can be accessed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic/index.htm
Notes to editors
1. ACOS is a non-executive, non-departmental
public body that advises Government on the development and
implementation of organic standards, approval of organic
certifying bodies and research and development. In agreement with
the Devolved Administrations, organic standards are implemented by
Defra, which acts as the Competent Authority for the UK as a whole
for the purposes of European Council Regulation 2092/91. ACOS
therefore covers the UK as a whole in its provision of advice to Defra.
2. The independent review was carried out by Drew Associates Ltd in accordance with Government recommendations that public bodies are subjected to periodic and detailed study to ensure that they are still delivering high quality services and are adequately resourced.
3. Drew Associates Ltd were appointed to undertake the review following a competitive tender exercise.
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