Main Conclusions, Key Messages and Recommendations

In 2003, the concerted action network project ‘Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming’ (SAFO) was initiated with the central aim of improving food safety and animal health in organic livestock production systems in existing and candidate member countries of the European Union. This was primarily met through exchange and communication of research results and conclusions between researchers, policy makers, farmers and the wider stakeholder community.

The intermediate objectives of the project were to identify important food quality characteristics linked to organic livestock products and improve food quality, including food safety, with regard to zoonoses, drug residues and the development of anti-microbial resistance in the food chain. This objective also includes aspects of food processing quality with regard to animal health and welfare in organic livestock production systems.

A further aim was to develop strategies for implementing and harmonising organic livestock production standards in existing and candidate member countries, and to improve the interaction between researchers, farmers, certification bodies and policy makers so as to guarantee that the development of organic livestock standards was driven by inputs from all stakeholders in the EU.

The main themes, conclusions and future challenges identified through this process are presented and discussed in:

• The SAFO project: Outcomes, conclusions and challenges for the future (PDF)

Recommendations on legislation are presented and discussed in the review on:

• Current and proposed EU legislation on organic livestock production, with a focus on animal health, welfare and food safety (PDF)