The Joint Committee on Agriculture has written a report endorsing a number of recommendations from the Organic Farmers Representative Body (OFB).

One of the report’s 17 recommendations is that DAFM investigate whether it would be more efficient to have one streamlined body granting organic status – preferably Bord Bia – and that the registration and inspection fees of same would be reduced.

There are currently five certification bodies in Ireland and, as private bodies, each charge different rates for registration and yearly inspection fees.

OFB chair Padraic Finnegan said he is “very happy” with the report.