Tsiaras: Audits on OPEKEPE and organic programs

The Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, announced sweeping audits on OPEKEPE and organic programs. The audits are also extended to certification bodies.

According to the minister, the audits started with the large recipients and will continue in all categories. It was found that approximately 50% of those audited in the organic programs do not meet the requirements.

Kostas Tsiaras spoke of exaggerations and inaccuracies, such as in Crete, where 93,000 hectares were declared for organic livestock farming, while the next region had 16,000 hectares. At the same time, there is a significant withdrawal from organic programs and phenomena of avoiding audits.

The minister stressed that it will be examined whether the certification bodies operated according to the prescribed procedure. He clarified that the audit will be universal.

Regarding OPEKEPE, Kostas Tsiaras pointed out that the phenomenon has timeless characteristics and constitutes a chronic pathology.