Organic production is an important part of Welsh farming and creates quality products with added value. It's popular with consumers and is one way in which people can know that the food they eat is safe, sustainable and ethical.

On top of the other benefits of eating organic food is the assurance that it is free from GMOs. Keeping organic products GM free is central both to the commercial future of the sector and the aims of the organic movement.

The European Commission has proposed a new system for organic farming which is meant to simplify regulations, set high standards across the EU and make it easier for consumers to identify organic foods.

However the Commission's rules say that a 0.9% level of GM contamination in organic food is 'acceptable' and it can still be labelled as organic.

How can a threshold such as 0.9% of contamination be acceptable? GM Free must mean no GMOs, not a low level of GMOs. Consumers have to be clear of this and be able to trust what they're buying and what it says on the label or the good reputation that the industry has built up for itself will be undermined.

The European Parliament has been piling pressure on the Council to change this position when they take the final decision, and protect the purity of organic farming, as well as other changes such as allowing national and regional 'organic' labels not just a 'EU' stamp, and regular consultation with stakeholders - those actually involved in the industry.

Although the Parliament doesn't have the power to change agricultural regulations as we'd like to, we've been blocking the Council from making a decision in order to make them take our views into account. Finally a few weeks ago they accepted some of our changes. However there is still no assurance that GMOs and chemical substances will be excluded from organic farming.

I hope that the governments of European countries will do the right thing when they meet later this month to finally adopt this law and will ensure the quality and reputation of organic food is not threatened.

I urge the Welsh farming community and everyone who appreciates good food to lobby government ministers in the run up to this meeting.