Section 6:

Standards for organically produced animals and products thereof

(1)   Organically produced animals shall be produced from the following:

(a)     Organic livestock when available, and in the choice of breeds or strains account must be taken of the capacity of the animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality and resistance to disease, and specific diseases or health problems associated with some breeds or strains used in intensive production must be avoided.  Preference is to be given to indigenous breeds and strains.

(b)     Breeds that can both copulate and give birth naturally.

(c)     Artificial insemination is allowed.

(d)     Embryo transfer techniques and other forms of assisted reproduction are not allowed.

(e)     When a herd or flock is constituted for the first time, or with high mortality of animals caused by catastrophic circumstances, and organic livestock is not avai­lable, permission may be given for allowing brought-in conventional animals according to the following age limits:
(i)      Chickens for the production of eggs and meat less than three days old.
(ii)     Two week old birds for any other poultry.
(iii)     Piglets as soon as they are weaned and up to six weeks of age.
(iv)    Lambs and kids as soon as they are weaned and must be less than sixty days old, with the additional requirement that the animals must be reared under organic management for at least six months
(iv)    Calves, which have received colostrums and are fed a diet consisting mainly of full milk, as soon as they are weaned and must be less than six months old, and must then be reared under organic management for at least 12 months, which must also be at least three quarters of their lifetime.
(vi)    Horses as soon as they are weaned and must be less than six months old, and must then be reared under organic management for at least 12 months, which must also be at least three quarters of their lifetime.
 (vii)  Young buffalo for breeding purposes must be less than six months old.

(f)      Permission may be given for bringing in breeding stock from conventional operations when organically reared animals are not available, with a yearly maximum of 10% of adult equine, bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine livestock: 
(i)      provided that for breeding units with less than ten equine or bovine animals or less than five porcine, ovine or caprine animals, a maximum of one animal per year may be allowed;
(ii)     provided that females are nulliparous (being a female that has not borne offspring);
(iii)     provided that males are subsequently reared and always fed in accordance with the rules laid down in this Section.

(g)     The percentages mentioned in Subsection (1)(f) may be increased up to 40% following the opinion and agreement of Ecocert-Afrisco, in the following special cases --
(i)      when a major extension to the stockfarm is undertaken;
(ii)     when a breed is changed; 
(iii)     when a new livestock specialisation is developed;  or
(iv)    when breeds are in danger of being lost to farming.  Animals of those breeds must not necessarily be nulliparous (derogation from 6.1.e and f).
(h)     The brought-in conventional animals mentioned in Subsection (1)(e), (f) and (g) shall be subject to the conversion periods prescribed for the animals in Subsection (3)(c).

(i)      All brought-in conventional animals must come from extensive husbandry practices.

(j)      Special attention must be paid to animal health measures for all brought-in conventional animals.  Depending on local circumstances, Ecocert-Afrisco may apply special measures such as screening tests and quarantine periods.

(2)   Organically produced animals shall comply with the following production practices:
(a)     Management of the animal environment shall take into account the beha­viour and needs of the animals and provides for:
(i)      Access to grazing appropriate to the type of animal and season:  Pro­vided that when grazing can't be provided the animals shall have access to open air appropriate to the type of animal and season, taking into account their age and condition. 
(ii)     Sufficient free movement in free-range, open-air exercise areas or open air runs, which may be partially covered.  This includes the fattening period.
(iii)     Sufficient fresh air and natural daylight according to the needs of the animals.
(iv)    Protection against excessive sunlight, temperatures, rain and wind according to the needs of the animals and the local weather con­ditions.
(v)     Stock densities in buildings shall be such as to allow adequate area according to the needs of the animals such as standing, lying, groo­ming, turning around, stretching and wing flapping.
(vi)    Natural materials shall be used for animals requiring bedding and ample dry bedding should be provided in the rest area.
(vii)   Ample access to water and feed according to the needs of the ani­mals.
(viii)   Adequate facilities for expressing behaviour in accordance with the biological and ethological needs of the species.
(ix)    No construction materials or production equipment shall be used in a way that may significantly harm human and animal health.
(x)     Poultry, rabbits and pigs shall not be kept in cages.
(xi)    Herd animals shall not be kept individually.
(xii)   Keeping livestock tethered is forbidden.
(xiii)   Housing construction must ensure that air circulation, dust level, tem­perature, relative humidity and gas concentration are kept within limits not harmful to the animals:  Provided that housing is not mandatory in areas with appropriate climatic conditions.
(xiv)  Where livestock are reared in groups, the size of the group must depend on their stage of development and the behavioural needs of the species concerned.  The keeping of livestock in conditions, or on a diet, which may encourage anaemia, is prohibited. 
(xv)   The minimum surface areas for perches, indoor housing and outdoor exercise areas are laid down in Annexure IV.
(xvi)  Herbivores must have access to grazing/pastures whenever condi­tions allows.
(xvii) At least half the floor area of livestock housing must be solid, not of slatted or of grid construction and the floors must not be slippery:  Provided that the area may be reduced to one third for poultry.
(xviii) Calves may not be housed in individual boxes after the age of one week.
(xix   Sows must be kept in groups except in the last stages of pregnancy and during the suckling period and piglets may not be kept on flat decks or in piglet cages.
(xx)   The exercise areas for pigs must permit dunging and rooting by the animals.
(xxi)  Water fowl must have access to a stream, pond or lake.
(xxii) Poultry houses/buildings must have exit/entry pop-holes of adequate size for the birds and the pop-holes must have a combined length of at least 4 m per 100 m² of the house/building.
(xxiii) Each poultry house/building may not contain more than 4 800 chickens, 3 000 laying hens, 5 200 guinea fowl, 4 000 female mus­covy and peking ducks, 3 200 male Muscovy or Peking ducks or other ducks, 2 500 capons, geese or turkeys and the total usable area of poultry houses/buildings for meat production on any single production unit must not exceed 1 600 m².
(xxiv)        Poultry buildings must be emptied of livestock between each batch of poultry reared, cleaned and disinfected and the open air runs must be left empty in order for the vegetation to grow back.
(xxv) If there are both organically and non-organically managed livestock on the same farm (split production) they must be reared on units where the buildings and parcels are clearly separated, and a different species is involved. 
(xxvi) Housing shall ensure that animals are protected from predation by wild and feral animals.

(b)     Landless animal husbandry operations shall not be allowed.

(c)     When natural day length is prolonged by artificial lighting maximum hours respective to species, geographical considerations and general health of ani­mals, shall be used:  Provided that for poultry a maximum of 16 hours light per day is permitted followed by a continuous nocturnal rest period without artificial lighting for at least eight hours.

(d)     Physical castration is allowed.

(e)     Mutilation shall not be allowed, with possible exceptions for castration, tail docking of lambs, dehorning, ringing and mulesing only for breeds that require mulesing:  Provided that all operations are carried out by qualified personnel, suffering shall be minimised, anaesthetics used where appropriate, operations are carried out at the most appropriate age, the treatments are intended to improve the health, welfare or hygiene of the animals, and that documented authorisation for these treatments has been obtained from Ecocert-Afrisco.

(f)      Feed is intended to ensure quality rather than maximum production, while meeting the nutritional requirements of the livestock at various stages of production.  Fattening practices are authorised in so far as they are reversible at any stage of the rearing process and that the requirements of Annexure IV are satisfied for the different species. 

(g)     The permitted feed and substances and their conditions of use, used in feeding stuffs as well as the fodder preservatives and processing aids for silage are indicated in Annexure V:  Provided that the operator regularly evaluates the feed and substances used on the operation against the criteria in Annexure I to re-confirm the organic status thereof or to identify possible alternatives that are of better organic status.

(h)     Animals should be fed 100% organic feed:  Provided that --
(i)      in the case of herbivores at least 50% of the feed shall come from the operation itself or be produced in co-operation with other organic operations in the region;
(ii)     up to 60% of the feed formula or rations on average may comprise of in-conversion feed if the feed comes from the same operation upon which the animals are produced;
(iii)     feed from conventional origin may be authorised by Ecocert-Afrisco, to a maximum of 5% dry matter for herbivores and 10% dry matter for other species (calculated on an annual basis), in situations where:

• organic agriculture is in early stages of development in clearly defined geographical areas;
• organic feed is of inadequate quantity and quality, as a result of:
• unforeseen severe natural events such as the outbreak of infectious diseases, or fire;
• extreme climatic or weather conditions;
• man-made events such as contamination with toxic substances.

In all instances the authorisation will be:

• for a limited period;
• in exceptional circumstances a higher percentage than stated above may be allowed;
• applied to individual operators;
• be fully documented.

 (iv)   at least 60% of the dry matter in daily rations of herbivores shall con­sist of roughage, fresh or dried fodder, or silage;
(v)     roughage, fresh or dried fodder, or silage must be added to the daily ration for pigs and poultry; and
(vi)    the feed formula used in the fattening stage of poultry must contain at least 65% cereals.

(i)      Animals may be fed minerals, trace elements, vitamins, enzymes and micro-organisms as defined in Annexure V.  Nature identical synthetic vitamins, minerals and supplements may be used when natural sources are not available in sufficient quantity and quality, provided that -- 
(i)      only nature identical synthetic vitamins A, D and E may be fed to ruminants;
(ii)     all nature identical synthetic vitamins may be fed to monogastric animals.

(j)      The following products may not be included in, nor added to the feed or in any other way be given to the animals:
(i)      Antibiotics, coccidiostatics, medicinal substances, growth promoters, synthetic appetisers or any other substance intended to stimulate growth or production.
(ii)     Preservatives, except when used as processing aids.
(iii)     Artificial colouring agents.
(iv)    Urea and other synthetic nitrogen compounds.
(v)     Farm animal by-products, including slaughter products and excrements, with the exception of those listed in Annexure V.2.
(vi)    Droppings, dung or other manure.
(vii)   Feed subjected to solvent extraction or the addition of other chemical agents.
(viii)   Pure amino acids.
(ix)    Substances such as antibiotics, coccidiostatics, medical substances, growth regulators for production, stimulation or suppression of natural growth.
(x)     Hormones for heat induction and heat synchronisation unless used for an individual animal against reproductive disorders, justified by vete­rinary indications.
(xi)    Feed, feed additives, processing aids for the feed and other products used in animal nutrition may not be produced with the use of GMO’s or products derived there from.

(k)     Force feeding is forbidden.

(l)      Young stock from mammals shall be raised on –

• maternal milk or organic milk from their own species;
• non-organic milk may be provided when organic milk is not available;
• milk replacements or other substitutes only in emergencies provided they do not contain antibiotics, synthetic additives or slaughter products.

(m)    Minimum weaning times shall be --
(i)      three months for bovines and equidae;
(ii)     45 days for sheep and goats; and
(iii)     40 days for pigs.

(n)     Disease prevention shall be based on the following:
(i)      The selection of appropriate breeds or strains of animals.
(ii)     The application of animal husbandry practices appropriate to the re­quirements of each species.
(iii)     The use of high quality feed, together with regular exercise and access to pasturage.
(iv)    Assuring an appropriate density of livestock.

(o)     The well-being of the animals is the primary consideration in the choice of illness treatment and a sick or injured animal must be treated immediately, if necessary in isolation and in suitable housing. 

(p)     The use of veterinary medicinal products shall comply with the following:
(i)      Phytotherapeutic, homeopathic and trace elements and other sub­stances listed in Part 3 of Annexure V, shall be used in preference to chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics.
(ii)     If the products in (n)(i) are not, or is unlikely to be, effective in com­bating illness or injury, chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics may be used under the responsibility of a veterinarian.
(iii)     The use of chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal pro­ducts or antibiotics for preventive treatment is prohibited.
(iv)    The use of substances to promote growth or production, the use of hormones and similar substances to control growth or reproduction, are prohibited:  Provided that the substances may be used for an individual animal against reproductive disorders, justified by veterinary indications.
(v)     When veterinary medicinal products are used it must be recorded together with the details of the diagnosis, method of administration, duration of treatment and legal withdrawal period.
(vi)    Livestock treated must be clearly identified, individually in the case of large animals and individually or by batch in the case of poultry and small animals.
(vii)   Vaccinations, treatments for parasites as well as legally required vete­rinary treatments to animals, buildings, equipment and facilities shall be allowed, including cases where a disease has been recognised as present in a specific area and these treatments, with the exception of vaccines, may include gene­tically modified organisms and products derived from such organisms.
(viii)   When allopathic veterinary medicinal products are used the with­drawal period shall be at least double the legal period or at least 48 hours when no withdrawal period is specified.
(ix)    With the exception of the treatments as indicated in (n)(vii), where an animal or a group of animals receive more than two courses of treat­ments with chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal pro­ducts or antibiotics within one year, (or more than one course of treatment if their productive lifecycle is less than one year) the animals must again undergo the prescribed conversion periods, and may not be sold as organic products.

(q)     Livestock housing, pens, equipment and utensils must be properly cleaned and disinfected to prevent cross-infection and the build-up of disease carrying organisms by means of the following:

• Faeces, urine, spoilt bedding, and uneaten or spilt food must be removed as often as necessary to minimise smell and to avoid attracting insects and rodents.
• Only products composed of substances listed in Annex III and Annex IX may be used for pest and disease control and cleaning and disinfection.

(r)      The outdoor stocking density of livestock kept on pasturage, veld, grassland, heathland, wetland, heather, and other natural or semi-natural habitats, must be low enough to prevent poaching of the soil and over grazing of vegetation.

(3)   Organically produced animals and the land and feed associated with their production are subject to the following conversion practices:
(a)     The conversion periods for products from plant origin, as prescribed in Section 5(3), shall apply to pastures, meadows, land and their products used for feed and grazing.
(b)     The conversion period shall be reduced to one year for pastures, open air runs and exercise areas used by non-herbivore species:  Provided that the conversion period can be reduced to six months by Ecocert-Afrisco if guarantees/proof can be obtained that the conversion practices have been met.
(c)     Animal products can be certified organic after the animals on the operation or relevant part thereof has been under conversion for at least --
(i)      twelve months in the case of equidae and bovines for meat production and in any case at least three quarters of their expected lifetime;
(ii)     six months in the case of small ruminants and pigs;
(iii)     six months in the case of animals for milk production;
(iv)    10 weeks for poultry for meat production, brought in before they are three days old; and
(v)     six weeks in the case of poultry for egg production.
(d)     If there is simultaneous conversion of the complete production unit, including livestock, pasturage and/or any land used for animal feed, the total combined conversion period for both livestock, pasturage and/or any land used for animal feed, shall be reduced to 24 months, and applies:
(i)      only to the existing animals and their offspring and at the same time also only to the land used for animal feed/pasturage before starting the conversion;
(ii)     if the animals are mainly fed with products from the production unit.

(4)   Organically produced animals shall be transported and slaughtered as follows:
(a)     The handling during transport and slaughter shall be gentle without the use of electric sticks and such instruments.
(b)     Slaughter and transportation standards shall take into consideration:
(i)      Stress caused to the animal.
(ii)     Fitness of the animal.
(iii)     Loading and unloading.
(iv)    Mixing different groups of animals or animals of different sex.
(v)     Quality and suitability of mode of transport and handling equipment.
(vi)    Temperature and relative humidity.
(vii)   Hunger and thirst.
(viii)   Specific needs of each animal.
(c)     No chemically or synthesised tranquillisers/sedatives or stimulants shall be given prior to or during transport.
(d)     Each animal or group of animals shall be identifiable during transport and slaughter.
(e)     Slaughterhouse journey times shall not exceed eight hours.
(f)      For poultry, the minimum age at slaughter shall be --
(i)      81 days for chickens;
(ii)     150 days for capons;
(iii)     49 days for Peking ducks;
(iv)    70 days for female Muscovy ducks;
(v)     84 days for male Muscovy ducks;
(vi)    92 days for Mallard ducks;
(vii)   94 days for guinea fowl;
(viii)   140 days for turkeys and roasting geese;  and
(ix)    where producers do not apply these minimum slaughter ages, they must use slow-growing strains.
(5)   Livestock manure shall be handled as follows:
(a)     Stocking density shall be such that the total amount of manure applied per hectare shall not exceed 170 kg of Nitrogen per year/hectare of agricultural area used.
(b)     The density of livestock equivalent to 170 kg of Nitrogen per year/hectare is given in Annexure VI to be used as a guideline.
(c)     Storage facilities for livestock manure must be of a capacity to prevent the pollution of water by direct discharge or by run-off or infiltration of the soil.
(d)     The capacity of the livestock manure storage facilities shall exceed the storage capacity required for the longest period of the year in which the application of manure is either inappropriate or prohibited according to Good Agricultural Practice or prohibited.
(6)   Organic livestock and livestock products shall be identified at all stages of their pro­duction, preparation, transport and marketing.