Organic sector to tighten regulation

ROGUE organic traders are to be clamped down on after the Minister for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargent gave his officials increased powers to enforce regulation in the sector.

The move has been warmly welcomed by organic regulatory bodies, which said it is vital to ensure the integrity of the organic sector.

Under the new amendment, producers and processors contravening organic regulations can now face fines of up to €5,000 or a term of imprisonment.