Marketing of Organic Heterogeneous Material (OHM): consultation results
Consultation results on the proposed legislative options and scope of marketing organic heterogenous material (OHM) in Scotland.
Next steps
The consultation received majority support for introducing secondary legislation that will permit the marketing of OHM in Scotland, however, there are genuine concerns from industry (specifically in seed production) which must be addressed. Further engagement is planned with the relevant stakeholders whom have highlighted these issues.
However, it should be stressed that the proposed legislative changes only operate within the organic sector which is a very narrow and well-regulated band of the agricultural industry.
| Year | Total weight of certified seed (tonnes) | Total weight of certified seed for organic market (tonnes) | Total % of certified seed for organic market |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 53,852 | 247 | 0.46% |
| 2021/22 | 55,821 | 372 | 0.67% |
| 2020/21 | 52,939 | 222 | 0.42% |
| 2019/20 | 53,795 | 237 | 0.44% |
| 2018/19 | 51,995 | 212 | 0.41% |
* Organic seed certification figures are based upon the only organic seed certifier in Scotland - Dods of Haddington
The annual market share of certified organic seed in Scotland is estimated to be an average of 0.48% (after review of the previous 5 years).
At the time of the consultation period, British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) were unable to contribute due to recruitment for a policy officer. The vacancy has now been filled and Scottish Government is looking forward to working with BSPB on the development of OHM legislation into the future.
Additionally, further discussion with policy teams of UK governing bodies (Defra, DAERA and the Welsh Government) would be required to assess potential impacts of intra UK divergence using Scotland devolved legislative powers.
Contact
Email: sam.filippi@gov.scot
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