Tài liệu GUIDELINES FOR THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, LABELLING AND MARKETING OF ORGANICALLY PRODUCED FOODS pdf

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3 GL 32-1999



b) processed agricultural crop and livestock products
2
intended for human consumption derived from (a)
above.
1.2 A product will be regarded as bearing indications referring to organic production methods where, in the
labelling or claims, including advertising material or commercial documents, the product, or its ingredients, is
described by the terms “organic”, “biodynamic”, “biological”, “ecological”, or words of similar intent including
diminutives which, in the country where the product is placed on the market, suggests to the purchaser that
the product or its ingredients were obtained according to organic production methods.
1.3 Paragraph 1.2 does not apply where these terms clearly have no connection with the method of production.
1.4 These guidelines apply without prejudice to other Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) provisions
governing the production, preparation, marketing, labelling and inspection of the products specified in
paragraph 1.1.
1.5 All materials and/or the products produced from genetically engineered/modified organisms (GEO/GMO) are
not compatible with the principles of organic production (either the growing, manufacturing, or processing) and
therefore are not accepted under these guidelines.

SECTION 2. DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITIONS
2.1 Description
Foods should only refer to organic production methods if they come from an organic farm system employing
management practices which seek to nurture ecosystems which achieve sustainable productivity, and provide
weed, pest and disease control through a diverse mix of mutually dependent life forms, recycling plant and
animal residues, crop selection and rotation, water management, tillage and cultivation. Soil fertility is
maintained and enhanced by a system which optimizes soil biological activity and the physical and mineral
nature of the soil as the means to provide a balanced nutrient supply for plant and animal life as well as to
conserve soil resources. Production should be sustainable with the recycling of plant nutrients as an essential
part of the fertilizing strategy. Pest and disease management is attained by means of the encouragement of a
balanced host/predator relationship, augmentation of beneficial insect populations, biological and cultural
control and mechanical removal of pests and affected plant parts. The basis for organic livestock husbandry is
the development of a harmonious relationship between land, plants and livestock, and respect for the
physiological and behavioural needs of livestock. This is achieved by a combination of providing good quality
organically grown feedstuffs, appropriate stocking rates, livestock husbandry systems appropriate to
behavioural needs, and animal management practices that minimize stress and seek to promote animal health
and welfare, prevent disease and avoid the use of chemical allopathic veterinary drugs (including antibiotics).

2.2 Definitions
For the purpose of these guidelines:
Agricultural product/product of agricultural origin means any product or commodity, raw or processed,
that is marketed for human consumption (excluding water, salt and additives) or animal feed.
Audit is a systematic and functionally independent examination to determine whether activities and related
results comply with planned objectives.
3

Certification is the procedure by which official certification bodies, or officially recognized certification bodies,
provide written or equivalent assurance that foods or food control systems conform to requirements.
Certification of food may be, as appropriate, based on a range of inspection activities which may include
continuous on-line inspection, auditing of quality assurance systems and examination of finished products.
4

Certification body means a body which is responsible for verifying that a product sold or labelled as “organic”
is produced, processed, prepared handled, and imported according to these guidelines.
Competent authority means the official government agency having jurisdiction.
Genetically engineered/modified organisms. The following provisional definition is provided for
genetically/modified organisms.
5
Genetically engineered/modified organisms, and products thereof, are

2
Until lists of ingredients of non agricultural origin and processing aids permitted in the preparation of products of livestock origin are
elaborated, competent authorities should develop their own lists.
3
CAC/GL 20-1995.
4
CAC/GL 20-1995.
5
In the absence of a definition of genetically engineered/modified organisms agreed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, this definition has
been developed in order to provide initial guidance for governments in the application of these guidelines. This definition is therefore to remain
under review in the light of other considerations by the Commission and its Committees. In the interim, member countries may also apply
national definitions.
4 GL 32-1999



produced through techniques in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur
naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.
Techniques of genetic engineering/modification include, but are not limited to: recombinant DNA, cell
fusion, micro and macro injection, encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling. Genetically engineered
organisms will not include organisms resulting from techniques such as conjugation, transduction and
hybridization.
Ingredient means any substance, including a food additive, used in the manufacture or preparation of a food
and present in the final product although possibly in a modified form.
6

Inspection is the examination of food or systems for control of food, raw materials, processing, and
distribution including in-process and finished product testing, in order to verify that they conform to
requirements.
7
For organic food, inspection includes the examination of the production and processing
system.
Labelling means any written, printed or graphic matter that is present on the label, accompanies the food, or
is displayed near the food, including that for the purpose of promoting its sale or disposal.
8

Livestock means any domestic or domesticated animal including bovine (including buffalo and bison), ovine,
porcine, caprine, equine, poultry and bees raised for food or in the production of food.
9
The products of
hunting or fishing of wild animals shall not be considered part of this definition.


Marketing means holding for sale or displaying for sale, offering for sale, selling, delivering or placing on the
market in any other form.
Official accreditation is the procedure by which a government agency having jurisdiction formally recognizes
the competence of an inspection and/or certification body to provide inspection and certification services.
For organic production the competent authority may delegate the accreditation function to a private body.
Officially recognized inspection systems/officially recognized certification systems are systems which
have been formally approved or recognized by a government agency having jurisdiction.
10

Operator means any person who produces, prepares or imports, with a view to the subsequent marketing
thereof, products as referred to in Section 1.1, or who markets such products.
Plant protection product means any substance intended for preventing, destroying, attracting, repelling, or
controlling any pest or disease including unwanted species of plants or animals during the production,
storage, transport, distribution and processing of food, agricultural commodities, or animal feeds.
Preparation means the operations of slaughtering, processing, preserving and packaging of agricultural
products and also alterations made to the labelling concerning the presentation of the organic production
method.
Production means the operations undertaken to supply agricultural products in the state in which they occur
on the farm, including initial packaging and labelling of the product.
Veterinary drug means any substance applied or administered to any food-producing animal, such as meat
or milk-producing animals, poultry, fish or bees, whether used for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic
purposes or for modification of physiological functions or behaviour.
11


SECTION 3. LABELLING AND CLAIMS
General provisions
3.1 Organic products should be labelled in accordance with the Codex General Standard for the Labelling of
Prepackaged Foods.
12

3.2 The labelling and claims of a product specified in Section 1.1(a) may refer to organic production methods only
where:
a) such indications show clearly that they relate to a method of agricultural production;
b) the product was produced in accordance with the requirements of Section 4 or imported under the
requirements laid down in Section 7;
c) the product was produced or imported by an operator who is subject to the inspection measures laid down
in Section 6, and
d) the labelling refers to the name and/or code number of the officially recognized inspection or certification
body to which the operator who has carried out the production or the most recent processing operation is
subject.
3.3 The labelling and claims of a product specified in paragraph 1.1(b) may refer to organic production methods
only where:

6
General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods, Section 4 – Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985).
7
CAC/GL 20-1995.
8
CODEX STAN 1-1985.
9
Provisions for aquaculture will be elaborated at a future date.
10
CAC/GL 20-1995.
11
Codex Alimentarius Commission Procedural Manual, Definitions.
12
CODEX STAN 1-1985.
5 GL 32-1999



a) such indication show clearly that they relate to a method of agricultural production and are linked with the
name of the agricultural product in question, unless such indication is clearly given in the list of
ingredients;
b) all the ingredients of agricultural origin of the product are, or are derived from, products obtained in
accordance with the requirements of Section 4, or imported under the arrangements laid down in Section
7;
c) the product should not contain any ingredient of non-agricultural origin not listed in Annex 2, Table 3;
d) the same ingredients shall not be derived from an organic and non-organic origin;
e) the product or its ingredients have not been subjected during preparation to treatments involving the use
of ionizing radiation or substances not listed in Annex 2, Table 4;
f) the product was prepared or imported by an operator subject to the regular inspection system as set out
in Section 6 of these guidelines; and
g) the labelling refers to the name and/or the code number of the official or officially recognized certification
body or authority to which the operator who has carried out the most recent preparation operation is
subject.
3.4 By way of derogation from paragraph 3.3(b),
– certain ingredients of agricultural origin not satisfying the requirement in that paragraph may be used,
within the limit of maximum level of 5% m/m of the total ingredients excluding salt and water in the final
product, in the preparation of products as referred to in paragraph 1.1(b);
– where such ingredients of agricultural origin are not available, or in sufficient quantity, in accordance with
the requirements of Section 4 of these guidelines;
3.5 Pending further review of the guidelines, Member Countries can consider the following with regard to products
referred to in paragraph 1.1(b) marketed in their territory:
– the development of specific labelling provisions for products containing less than 95% ingredients of
agricultural ingredients;
– the calculation of the percentages in 3.4 (5%) and in 3.5 (95%) on the basis of the ingredients of
agricultural origin (instead of all ingredients excluding only salt and water);
– the marketing of product with in transition/conversion labelling containing more than one ingredient of
agricultural origin.
3.6 In developing labelling provisions from products containing less than 95% of organic ingredients in accordance
with the paragraph above, member countries may consider the following elements in particular for products
containing 95% and 70% of organic ingredients:
a) the product satisfies the requirements of paragraphs 3.3(c), (d) (e), (f) and (g);
b) the indications referring to organic production methods should only appear on the front panel as a
reference to the approximate percentage of the total ingredients including additives but excluding salt and
water;
c) the ingredients, appear in descending order (mass/mass) in the list of ingredients;
d) indications in the list of ingredients appear in the same colour and with an identical style and size of
lettering as other indications in the list of ingredient.

Labelling of products in transition/conversion to organic
3.7 Products of farms in transition to organic production methods may only be labelled as “transition to organic”
after 12 months of production using organic methods providing that:
a) the requirements referred to in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 are fully satisfied;
b) the indications referring to transition/conversion do not mislead the purchaser of the product regarding its
difference from products obtained from farms and/or farm units which have fully completed the conversion
period;
c) such indication take the form of words, such as “product under conversion to organic farming”, or similar
words or phrase accepted by the competent authority of the country where the product is marketed, and
must appear in a colour, size and style of lettering which is not more prominent than the sales description
of the product;
d) foods composed of a single ingredient may be labelled as “transition to organic” on the principal display
panel;
e) the labelling refers to the name and/or the code number of the official or officially approved certification
body or authority to which the operator who has carried out the most recent preparation is subject.

Labelling of non-retail containers
3.8 The labelling of non-retail containers of product specified in paragraph 1.1 should meet the requirements set
out in Annex 3, paragraph 10.
6 GL 32-1999



SECTION 4. RULES OF PRODUCTION AND PREPARATION
4.1 Organic production methods require that for the production of products referred to in paragraph 1.1(a):
a) at least the production requirements of Annex 1 should be satisfied;
b) in the case where (a) (above) is not effective, substances listed in Annex 2, Tables 1 and 2 or substances
approved by individual countries that meet the criteria established in Section 5.1, may be used as plant
protection products, fertilizers, soil conditioners, insofar as the corresponding use is not prohibited in
general agriculture in the country concerned in accordance with the relevant national provisions.
4.2 Organic processing methods require that for the preparation of products referred to in paragraph 1.1(b):
a) at least the processing requirements of Annex 1 should satisfied;
b) substances listed in Annex 2, Tables 3 and 4 or substances approved by individual countries that meet
the criteria established in Section 5.1 may be used as ingredients of non-agricultural origin or processing
aids insofar as the corresponding use is not prohibited in the relevant national requirements concerning
the preparation of food products and according to good manufacturing practice.
4.3 Organic products should be stored and transported according to the requirements of Annex 1.
4.4 By derogation of the provisions of paragraphs 4.1 (a) and 4.2 (a), the competent authority may, with regard to
the provisions on livestock production at Annex 1, provide for more detailed rules as well as for derogations for
implementation periods in order to permit gradual development of organic farming practices.

SECTION 5. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF SUBSTANCES IN ANNEX 2 AND CRITERIA
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LISTS OF SUBSTANCES BY COUNTRIES
5.1 At least the following criteria should be used for the purposes of amending the permitted substance lists
referred to in Section 4. In using these criteria to evaluate new substances for use in organic production,
countries should take into account all applicable statutory and regulatory provisions and make them available
to other countries upon request.
Any proposals for the inclusion in Annex 2 of new substances must meet the following general criteria:
i) they are consistent with principles of organic production as outlined in these Guidelines;
ii) use of the substance is necessary/essential for its intended use;
iii) manufacture, use and disposal of the substance does not result in, or contribute to, harmful effects on the
environment;
iv) they have the lowest negative impact on human or animal health and quality of life; and
v) approved alternatives are not available in sufficient quantity and/or quality.

The above criteria are intended to be evaluated as a whole in order to protect the integrity of organic
production. In addition, the following criteria should be applied in the evaluation process:
a) if they are used for fertilization, soil conditioning purposes:
– they are essential for obtaining or maintaining the fertility of the soil or to fulfil specific nutrition
requirements of crops, or specific soil-conditioning and rotation purposes which cannot be satisfied by
the practices included in Annex 1, or other products included in Table 2 of Annex 2; and
– the ingredients will be of plant, animal, microbial, or mineral origin and may undergo the following
processes: physical (e.g., mechanical, thermal), enzymatic, microbial (e.g., composting, fermentation);
only when the above processes have been exhausted, chemical processes may be considered and
only for the extraction of carriers and binders;
13
and
– their use does not have a harmful impact on the balance of the soil ecosystem or the physical
characteristics of the soil, or water and air quality; and
– their use may be restricted to specific conditions, specific regions or specific commodities;
b) if they are used for the purpose of plant disease or pest and weed control:
– they should be essential for the control of a harmful organism or a particular disease for which other
biological, physical, or plant breeding alternatives and/or effective management practices are not
available; and
– their use should take into account the potential harmful impact on the environment, the ecology (in
particular non-target organisms) and the health of consumers, livestock and bees; and
– substances should be of plant, animal, microbial, or mineral origin and may undergo the following
processes: physical (e.g. mechanical, thermal), enzymatic, microbial (e.g. composting, digestion);
– however, if they are products used, in exceptional circumstances, in traps and dispensers such as
pheromones, which are chemically synthesized they will be considered for addition to lists if the

13
The use of chemical processes in the context of these Criteria is an interim measure and should be reviewed.
7 GL 32-1999



products are not available in sufficient quantities in their natural form, provided that the conditions for
their use do not directly or indirectly result in the presence of residues of the product in the edible
parts;
– their use may be restricted to specific conditions, specific regions or specific commodities;
c) if they are used as additives or processing aids in the preparation or preservation of the food :
– these substances are used only if it has been shown that, without having recourse to them, it is
impossible to:
– produce or preserve the food, in the case of additives, or
– produce the food, in the case of processing aids
in the absence of other available technology that satisfies these Guidelines;
– these substances are found in nature and may have undergone mechanical/physical processes (e.g.
extraction, precipitation), biological/enzymatic processes and microbial processes (e.g. fermentation),
– or, if these substances mentioned above are not available from such methods and technologies in
sufficient quantities, then those substances that have been chemically synthesized may be considered
for inclusion in exceptional circumstances;
– their use maintains the authenticity of the product;
– the consumer will not be deceived concerning the nature, substance and quality of the food;
– the additives and processing aids do not detract from the overall quality of the product.

In the evaluation process of substances for inclusion on lists all stakeholders should have the opportunity to be
involved.

5.2 Countries should develop or adopt a list of substances that meet the criteria outlined in Section 5.1.

SECTION 6. INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS
14

6.1 Inspection and certification systems are used to verify the labelling of, and claims for, organically produced
foods. Development of these systems should take into account the Principles for Food Import and Export
Inspection and Certification
15
, the Guideline for the Design, Operation, Assessment and Accreditation of Food
Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems.
16,17

6.2 Competent authorities should establish an inspection system operated by one or more designated authorities
and/or officially recognized inspection/certification
18
bodies to which the operators producing, preparing or
importing products as referred to in paragraph 1.1 should be subject.
6.3 The officially recognized inspection and certification systems should comprise at least the application of the
measures and other precautions set out in Annex 3.
6.4 For the application of the inspection system operated by the official or officially recognized certification body or
authority, countries should identify a competent authority responsible for the approval and supervision of such
bodies:
– the identified competent authority may delegate, while maintaining the responsibility for the decisions and
actions taken, the assessment and supervision of private inspection and certification bodies to a private or
public third party hereafter referred to as its “designate”. If delegated, the private or public third party
should not be engaged in inspection and/or certification;
– for this purpose an importing country may recognize a third party accrediting body when the exporting
country lacks an identified competent authority and a national program.
6.5 In order to attain approval as an officially recognized certification body or authority, the competent authority, or
its designate, when making its assessment should take into account the following:
a) the standard inspection/certification procedures to be followed, including detailed description of the
inspection measures and precautions which the body undertakes to impose on operators subject to
inspection;
b) the penalties which the body intends to apply where irregularities and/or infringements are found;


14
The systems conducted by certification bodies may in some countries be equivalent to those systems conducted by inspection bodies.
Therefore, the term “inspection and certification” has been used wherever these systems may be synonymous.
15
CAC/GL 20-1995.
16
CAC/GL 26-1997.
17
See also other agreed international standards, e.g. ISO65.
18
In organic approval processes reference is frequently made to certification performed by either a ‘certification body’ or an ‘inspection body’.
Where these functions are conducted by the same body there must be clear separation of the inspection and certification roles.
8 GL 32-1999



c) the availability of appropriate resources in the form of qualified staff, administrative and technical facilities,
inspection experience and reliability;
d) the objectivity of the body vis-à-vis the operators subject to inspection.
6.6 The competent authority or its designate should:
a) ensure that the inspections carried out on behalf of the inspection or certification body are objective;
b) verify the effectiveness of inspections;
c) take cognizance of any irregularities and/or infringements found and penalties applied;
d) withdraw approval of the certification body or authority where it fails to satisfy the requirements referred to
in (a) and (b) or, no longer fulfils the criteria indicated in paragraph 6.5 or, fails to satisfy the requirements
laid down in paragraphs 6.7 to 6.9.
6.7 Official and/or officially recognized certification bodies or authority referred to in paragraph 6.2 should:
a) ensure that at least the inspection measures and precautions specified in Annex 3 are applied to
undertakings subject to inspection; and
b) not disclose confidential information and data obtained in their inspection or certification activities to
persons other than the person responsible for the undertaking concerned and the competent authorities.
6.8 Official or officially recognized inspection and/or certification bodies or authority should:
a) give the competent authority or its designate, for audit purposes, access to their offices and facilities and,
for random audit of its operators, access to the facilities of the operators, together with any information
and assistance deemed necessary by the competent authority or its designate for the fulfilment of its
obligations pursuant to these guidelines;
b) send to the competent authority or its designate each year a list of operators subject to inspection for the
previous year and present to the said authority a concise annual report.
6.9 The designated authority and the official or officially recognized certification body or authority referred to in
paragraph 6.2 should:
a) ensure that, where an irregularity is found in the implementation of Sections 3 and 4, or of the measures
referred to in Annex 3, the indications provided for in paragraph 1.2 referring to the organic production
method are removed from the entire lot or production run affected by the irregularity concerned;
b) where a manifest infringement, or an infringement with prolonged effects is found, prohibit the operator
concerned from marketing products with indications referring to the organic production method for a
period to be agreed with the competent authority or its designate.
6.10 The requirements of the Guidelines for the Exchange of Information between Countries on Rejections of
Imported Food
19
should apply where the competent authority finds irregularities and/or infringements in the
application of these guidelines.

SECTION 7. IMPORTS
7.1 Products as specified in paragraph 1.1 which are imported may be marketed only where the competent
authority or designated body in the exporting country has issued a certificate of inspection stating that the lot
designated in the certificate was obtained within a system of production, preparation, marketing and inspection
applying at least the rules provided for in all sections and annexes of these guidelines and satisfy the decision
on equivalency referred to under 7.4.
7.2 The certificate referred to in paragraph 7.1 above should accompany the goods, in the original copy, to the
premises of the first consignee; thereafter the importer should keep the transactional certificate for not less
than two years for inspection/audit purposes.
7.3 The authenticity of the product should be maintained after import through to the consumer. If imports of
organic products are not in conformity with the requirements of these guidelines due to treatment required by
national regulations for quarantine purposes that is not in conformity with these guidelines they loose their
organic status.
7.4 An importing country may:
a) require detailed information, including reports established by independent experts mutually agreed
between competent authorities of the exporting and importing countries, on the measures applied in the
exporting country to enable it to make judgements and decisions on equivalency with its own rules
provided that these rules of the importing country meet the requirements of these guidelines, and/or

19
CAC/GL 25-1997.
9 GL 32-1999



b) arrange together with the exporting country for site visits to examine the rules of production and
preparation, and the inspection/certification measures including production and preparation itself as
applied in the exporting country.
c) require, in order to avoid any confusion to the consumer, that the product is labelled in accordance with
the labelling requirements applied, in accordance with the provisions of section 3, in the importing country
for the products concerned.

10 GL 32-1999



ANNEX 1
ANNEX 1
PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION
A. PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
1. The principles set out in this Annex should have been applied on the parcels, farm or farm units during a
conversion period of at least two years before sowing, or in the case of perennial crops other than grassland,
at least three (3) years before the first harvest of products as referred to in paragraph 1.1(a) of these
guidelines. The competent authority, or where delegated, the official or officially recognized certification body
or authority may decide in certain cases (such as idle use for two years or more) to extend or reduce that
period in the light of previous parcel use but the period must equal or exceed 12 months.
2. Whatever the length of the conversion period it may only begin once a production unit has been placed under
an inspection system as required by 6.2 and once the unit has started the implementation of the production
rules referred to in Section 4 of these Guidelines.
3. In cases where a whole farm is not converted at one time, it may be done progressively whereby these
guidelines are applied from the start of conversion on the relevant fields. Conversion from conventional to
organic production should be effected using permitted techniques as defined in these guidelines. In cases
where a whole farm is not converted at the same time, the holding must be split into units as referred to in
Annex 3, part A, paragraphs 3 and 11.
4. Areas in conversion as well as areas converted to organic production must not be alternated (switched back
and forth) between organic and conventional production methods.
5. The fertility and biological activity of the soil should be maintained or increased, where appropriate, by:
a) cultivation of legumes, green manures or deep-rooting plants in an appropriate multi-annual rotation
programme;
b) incorporation in the soil of organic material, composted or not, from holdings producing in accordance with
these guidelines. By-products from livestock farming, such as farmyard manure, may be used if they
come from livestock holdings producing in accordance with these guidelines;

Substances, as specified in Annex 2, Table 1 may be applied only to the extent that adequate nutrition of the
crop or soil conditioning are not possible by the methods set out in 5(a) and (b) above or, in the case of
manures, they are not available from organic farming.
c) for compost activation, appropriate micro-organisms or plant-based preparations may be used;
d) biodynamic preparations from stone meal, farmyard manure or plants may also be used for the purpose
covered by paragraph 5.
6. Pests, diseases and weeds should be controlled by any one, or a combination, of the following measures:
– choice of appropriate species and varieties;
– appropriate rotation programs;
– mechanical cultivation;
– protection of natural enemies of pests through provision of favourable habitat, such as hedges and
nesting sites, ecological buffer zones which maintain the original vegetation to house pest predators;
– diversified ecosystems. These will vary between geographical locations. For example, buffer zones to
counteract erosion, agro-forestry, rotating crops, etc.
– flame weeding;
– natural enemies including release of predators and parasites;
– biodynamic preparations from stone meal, farmyard manure or plants;
– mulching and mowing;
– grazing of animals;
– mechanical controls such as traps, barriers, light and sound;
– steam sterilization when proper rotation of soil renewal cannot take place.
7. Only in cases of imminent or serious threat to the crop and where the measures identified in 6. (above) are, or
would not be effective, recourse may be had to products referred to in Annex 2.
8. Seeds and vegetative reproductive material should be from plants grown in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4.1 of these guidelines for at least one generation or, in the case of perennial crops, two growing
11 GL 32-1999



seasons. Where an operator can demonstrate to the official or officially recognized certification body or
authority that material satisfying the above requirements is not available, the certification body or authority
may support:
a) in the first instance, use of untreated seeds or vegetative reproductive material, or
b) if (a) is not available, use of seeds and vegetative reproductive material treated with substances other
than those included in Annex 2.
The competent authority may establish criteria to limit the application of the derogation in 8 above.
9. The collection of edible plants and parts thereof, growing naturally in natural areas, forests and agricultural
areas, is considered an organic production method provided that:
– the products are from a clearly defined collection area that is subject to the inspection/certification
measures set out in Section 6 of these guidelines;
– those areas have received no treatments with products other than those referred to in Annex 2 for a
period of three years before the collection;
– the collection does not disturb the stability of the natural habitat or the maintenance of the species in the
collection area;
– the products are from an operator managing the harvesting or gathering of the products, who is clearly
identified and familiar with the collection area.
B. LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS
General principles
1. Where livestock for organic production are maintained, they should be an integral part of the organic farm unit
and should be raised and held according to these guidelines.
2. Livestock can make an important contribution to an organic farming system by:
a) improving and maintaining the fertility of the soil;
b) managing the flora through grazing;
c) enhancing biodiversity and facilitating complementary interactions on the farm; and
d) increasing the diversity of the farming system.
3. Livestock production is a land related activity. Herbivores must have access to pasture and all other animals
must have access to open-air runs; the competent authority may allow exceptions when the animals’
physiological state, inclement weather conditions, and state of the land so permit, or the structure of certain
`traditional` farming systems restrict access to pasture, providing the welfare of the animals can be
guaranteed.
4. Stocking rates for livestock should be appropriate for the region in question taking into consideration feed
production capacity, stock health, nutrient balance, and environmental impact.
5. Organic livestock management should aim to utilize natural breeding methods, minimize stress, prevent
disease, progressively eliminate the use of chemical allopathic veterinary drugs (including antibiotics), reduce
the feeding of animals with products of animal origin (e.g. meat meal), and maintain animal health and welfare.

Livestock sources/origin
6. The choice of breeds, strains and breeding methods shall be consistent with the principles of organic farming,
taking into account in particular:
a) their adaptation to the local conditions;
b) their vitality and resistance to disease;
c) the absence of specific diseases or health problems associated with some breeds and strains (porcine
stress syndrome, spontaneous abortion etc).
7. Livestock used for products satisfying Section 1.1 (a) of these guidelines must come, from birth or hatching,
from production units complying with these guidelines, or have been the offspring of parents raised under the
conditions set down in these guidelines. They must be raised under this system throughout their life.
Livestock may not be transferred between organic and non-organic units. The competent authority can
establish detailed rules for the purchase of livestock from other units complying with these Guidelines.
Livestock existing on the livestock production unit, but not complying with these Guidelines, may be
converted.
12 GL 32-1999



8. When an operator can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the official or officially recognized
inspection/certification body that livestock satisfying the requirements indicated in the previous paragraph are
not available, the official or officially recognized inspection/ certification body may allow livestock not raised
according these guidelines under circumstances such as:
a) for considerable expansion of the farm, when a breed is changed or when new livestock specialization is
developed;
b) for the renewal of a herd, e.g., high mortality of animals caused by catastrophic circumstances;
c) males for breeding.
The competent authority may set the specific conditions under which livestock from non-organic sources may
be allowed or not allowed, taking into account that animals be brought in as young as possible as soon as they
are weaned.

9. These livestock qualified by the derogations indicated in the previous paragraph must comply with the
conditions set out in paragraph 12. These conversion periods must be observed if the products are to be sold
as organic according to Section 3 of these guidelines.

Conversion
10. The conversion of the land intended for feeding crops or pasture must comply with the rules set out in Part A
paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this Annex.
11. The competent authority may reduce the conversion periods or conditions established in paragraph 10 (for the
land) and/or paragraph 12 (for livestock and livestock products) in the following cases:
a) pasture, open-air runs and exercise areas used by non-herbivore species;
b) for bovine, equine, ovine and caprine coming from extensive husbandry during an implementation period
established by the competent authority or dairy herds converted for the first time;
c) if there is simultaneous conversion of livestock and land used only for feeding within the same unit, the
conversion period for both livestock, pasture and/or land used for animal feed, may be reduced to two
years only in the case where the existing livestock and their offspring are fed mainly with products from
the unit.
12. Once the land has reached organic status and livestock from a non-organic source is introduced, and if the
products are to be sold as organic, such livestock must be reared according to these Guidelines for at least
the following compliance periods:
Bovine and equine
Meat products: 12 months and at least ¾ of their life span in the organic management system;
Calves for meat production: 6 months when brought in as soon as they are weaned and less than 6 months
old;
Milk products: 90 days during the implementation period established by the competent authority, after that,
six months.
Ovine and caprine
Meat products: six months;
Milk products: 90 days during the implementation period established by the competent authority, after that,
six months.
Porcine
Meat products: Six months.
Poultry/laying hens
Meat products: whole of life span as determined by the competent authority;
Eggs: six weeks.

Nutrition
13. All livestock systems should provide the optimum level of 100% of the diet from feedstuffs (including ‘in
conversion’ feedstuffs) produced to the requirements of these guidelines.
14. For an implementation period to be set by the competent authority, livestock products will maintain their
organic status providing feed, consisting of at least 85% for ruminants and 80% for non-ruminants and
calculated on a dry matter basis, is from organic sources produced in compliance with these Guidelines.
15. Notwithstanding the above, where an operator can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the official or officially
recognized inspection/certification body that feedstuffs satisfying the requirement outlined in paragraph 13
above are not available, as a result of, for example, unforeseen severe natural or manmade events or extreme