New EU organic rules a huge opportunity for Irish farmers - Harkin

Intro:

The EU now has its first EU-wide regulations for organic farming products, and they are set to make it easier for Irish farmers to get into the organics business, says independent member of the European Parliament Marian Harkin. Imports, which account for 50% of the organic market in the EU, now must meet the same standards as organic products grown in the EU, putting them on a level playing field with imports.

Right now there are about 1,800 organic farmers in Ireland - about half the average level in the EU. But the new standards will make it wasier and more interesting for Irish farmers to get involved in this area, she says.

Outro:

"...there's a real opportunity to grow."