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The
Organic Farming Unit is one of the youngest sections within
the Agricultural Services and Rural Development Division. It
was set up in October 2003, after recommendations by two
Italian experts on Organic Farming, Dr Damiano Petruzzella and
Dr Vincenzo Verrastro, from the Mediterranean Agronomic
Institute of Bari. They were commissioned to carry out a study
on the situation and future of Organic Farming in Malta,
through a Framework contract within the 2002 National Program
for Malta.
One of
the outcomes of this study, was the Organic Faming Unit
itself. Its task was to organise the Maltese organic farming
sector and promote the subject. Originally this unit consisted
of only one person, but three months later it doubled, and now
is made up of a two-man team. Below is a list of some of the
tasks of the organic farming unit:
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To promote and
increase awareness of organic farming in the Maltese
Islands.
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To create a set-up
where organic farming can become feasible. Introduce
legislation which will allow certification in the Maltese
Islands for the first time.
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To deal with the
European Commission, in particular fulfilments expected by
the community regulation 2092/91.
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To supervise the
inspection and certification bodies.
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Controlling
importation of organic products from third countries.
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To grow an experimental plot of land with organic products
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