In this Brussels Briefing on Agriculture, AGRA FACTS  journalists Rose O’Donovan & Ed Bray provide an update on the latest developments in EU agricultural policy.

– Organic reform: at the Informal Farm Council in Riga (May 31-June 2), Ministers edged closer to a common position, but remained split over how to regulate the presence of traces of non-authorised substances such as pesticide residues.

• The Latvian Presidency pledged to table a revised compromise text ahead of the Farm Council on June 16.
• MEPs in the Committee for Agriculture & Rural Development have until June 12 to table amendments to their draft position.

– Opposition is growing towards Commission plans that would allow national bans on farmers’ use of genetically modified animal feed: MEPs in the Environment Committee met with Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis on June 8, before deciding on their next move. Coordinators from the political groups will meet on June 9, to decide whether or not to reject the proposal.

Featuring a statement from Jānis Dūklavs, Latvian Minister for Agriculture.