Section 5:

Standards for organically produced products from plant origin

(1)     Organically produced products from plant origin shall be produced from the following:

(a)     Seed and plant material shall be sourced in the following sequence:
(i)      organically propagated seed and plant materials of appropriate varieties and quality.  If imported, these shall be accompanied by appropriate phytosanitary certificates.
(ii)     non-organic seed and plant materials treated with products listed in Annexure III and in compliance with the use thereof may be used after obtaining permission from Ecocert-Afrisco. 
(iii)     non-organic, untreated seed and plant materials may be used after obtaining permission from Ecocert-Afrisco. 
(iii)     minimum proof of non-availability of organic seed and plant material shall include three letters from registered seed companies confirming the non-availability of organic seed. 
(iv)    similarly proof of treatment / non-treatment shall be obtained from the supplier of the seed and plant material obtained under (ii) and / or (iii) above.

(b)     Breeding of a new organic variety shall take place according to the principles set in these standards and all steps of propagation (except in-vitro-culti­vation) shall be under organic management.
(c)     An existing variety shall be regarded as organic after at least three years of main­tenance under organic management.
(d)     Conventional seed and plant propagation material shall be regarded as organic if it has been under organic management for –
(i)      one generation for annuals;  and
(ii)     two growing periods (thus at least 18 months) for perennials.

(2)     Organically produced products from plant origin shall comply with the following pro­duction practices:

(a)     Diversity in plant production shall be assured by:

(i)         for annual crop production, a minimum crop rotation and / or variety of crop plantings.  Minimum rotations shall be established unless the operator demonstrates diversity in plant production by other means.  Operators are required to manage pressure from insects, weeds, diseases and other pests, while maintaining or increasing soil organic matter, fertility, microbial activity and general soil health.

(ii)        for perennial crop production the orchard / plantation floor shall not be bare soil, there being a diverse range of weeds and / or other plants include refuge plantings within the orchard / plantation.

(b)     Biodegradable material from microbial, plant or animal origin shall form the basis of the fertilisation programme and the fertility and biological activity of the soil shall be maintained or increased, in the first instance, by --

(i)         cultivation of legumes, green manures or deep rooting plants in an appropriate rotation programme;

(ii)        incorporation of livestock manure from organic livestock production and not exceeding 170 Kg N/Ha/year;  and/or

(iii)       incorporation in the soil of biodegradable material, composted or not, produced under organic conditions.

(c)     Local conditions and the specific nature of crops shall be taken into conside­ration in determining the amount of biodegradable material from an outside source allowed onto an operation in order to restrict the risk of pollution.

(d)     The substances allowed for use in fertilisation and soil conditioning are indi­cated in Annexure II:  Provided that --

  1. the organic and mineral fertilisers mentioned in Annexure II may exceptionally be applied as a complement only:
    1. where adequate nutrition of the crop or soil con­ditioning are not possible by the methods set out under Subsection (2)(b);
    2. the limit of 170 Kg N/Ha/year from manure and/or animals excrements refers to the total amount of Nitrogen from sources referred to in Subsection (2)(b)(ii) and the products listed in Annex II that are also from manure and/or animal excrements, irrespective of original source;
    3. Annexure VI shall be used for the calculation of the 170 Kg N/Ha/year equivalents;
    4. the total amount of introduced Nitrogen shall be calculated and recorded on an annual basis.

 

(ii)      mineral fertilizers shall only be used in a program addressing long-term fertility needs together with the techniques set out under Subsection (2)(b).

(iii)     mineral fertilizers shall be applied in the form in which they are naturally composed and extracted and shall not be rendered more soluble by chemical treatment, other than addition of water and mixing with other naturally occurring, permitted inputs.

(iv)    certain restrictions should be placed on the use of the substances in Annexure II where use could result in, or contribute to, unacceptable effects on, or contamination of, the environment, soil organisms and the quality and safety of the final product;

(v)     the use of the substances in Annexure II for the production of plant products and pastures and meadows shall be managed to limit the potential for microbial, chemical, physical and parasite contamination of the products and pastures and meadows; 

(vi)    the operator regularly evaluates the 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;  and

(vii)    the criteria in Annexure I must be used to amend Annexure II or determine the need for use of the substances in Annexure II.

(e)     Manures containing human excrement (faeces and urine) shall not be used.

(f)      Mineral fertilisers shall be applied in their natural composition (without che­mical treatment to render it more soluble), with the exception of those listed in Annexure II.

(g)     Plant based preparations or preparations of micro-organisms such as "bio­dynamic preparations" from stone meal, farmyard manure or plants may be used for compost activation or to improve the overall condition and nutrients of the soil.

(h)     Chilean nitrate and all synthetic nitrogenous fertilisers, including urea, are prohibited.

(i)      Significant pests, diseases and weeds shall be controlled under normal circumstances by a combination of the following positive processes and mechanisms --

(i)      choice of appropriate species and varieties;

(ii)     appropriate rotation programmes;

(iii)     mechanical cultivation procedures;

(iv)    protection of natural enemies of pests through provisions favourable to them;  and

(v)     flame weeding.

(j)       Thermic sterilisation of soils to combat pests and diseases is restricted to cir­cumstances where proper rotation or renewal of soil cannot take place.

(k)     The substances allowed for plant pest and disease control, weed manage­ment and growth regulation are indicated in Annexure III:  Provided that --

(i)      the substances mentioned in Annexure III may be applied only in cases of immediate threat to the crop when control by the measures set out under Subsection (2)(i) are not adequate;

(ii)     certain restrictions should be placed on the use of the substances in Annexure III where use could result in, or contribute to, unacceptable effects on, or contamination of, the environment, soil organisms and the quality and safety of the final product; 

(iii)     any formulated input shall have only active ingredients listed in Annexure III.  All other ingredients shall not be carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens or neurotoxins.

(iv)    the operator regularly evaluates the 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;  and

(iv)    Annexure III may be amended using the criteria in Annexure I.

(l)      Products used for pest, disease and weed management, prepared on the farm from local plants, animals and micro-organisms may be applied when control by the measures set out under Subsection (2)(i) are not adequate:  Provided that the operator regularly evaluates the products 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.  The evaluation process shall be documented.
           
(m)    The use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are prohibited, with the exception of those listed in Annexure III.

(n)     Clearing of land by means of burning organic matter shall be restricted to a minimum and permission must be obtained from Ecocert-Afrisco.

(o)     Clearing of primary ecosystems is prohibited.

(p)     Relevant measures shall be taken to prevent soil erosion.

(q)     Water resources shall be used with the application of the following principles:

(i)      Excessive exploitation and depletion of water resources is not permitted.  Water extraction from natural resources shall be monitored.

(ii)     Water quality shall be preserved.

(iii)     Where possible rainwater shall be recycled.

(r)      Appropriate stocking densities which do not lead to land degradation and pollution of ground and surface water shall be followed.

(s)     Relevant measures shall be taken to prevent salination of soil and water.

(3)     Organically produced products from plant origin shall be subjected to the following conversion practices:

(a)     Plant products from annual plants can be certified organic when the re­quirements have been met for a minimum of 24 months before the start of the production cycle.

(b)     Perennial plants (excluding pastures and meadows) can be certified organic at the first harvest after the requirements have been met for at least 36 months.

(c)     Pastures, meadows, land and their products used for feed or grazing can be certified organic after the requirements have been met for 24 months.

(d)     The conversion periods prescribed in Subsection (3)(a), (b) and (c) can be extended by Ecocert-Afrisco depending on past conditions of the land and environment.

(e)     The conversion periods prescribed in Subsection (3)(a), (b) and (c) can be reduced by Ecocert-Afrisco if guarantees/proof can be obtained that the conversion practices have been met.

(f)      In the case of parcels which have already been converted to or were in the process of conversion to organic farming, and which were treated with a product not listed in Annex II and Annex III, Ecocert-Afrisco may reduce the length of the conversion period to less than the period laid down in Subsection (3)(a), (b) and (c) in the following two cases:

(i)      parcels treated with a product not listed in Annex III as part of a compulsory disease or pest control measure imposed by the Government for a specific crop production;

(ii)     parcels treated with a product not listed in Annex II or Annex III as part of scientific tests approved by the Government.          

          In these cases the length of the conversion period shall be fixed taking into account all of the following:

  1. the process of degradation of the plant protection product concerned must guarantee, at the end of the conversion period, an insignificant level of residues in the soil and, in the case of a perennial crop, in the plant;
  2. the harvest following the treatment may not be sold with reference to organic production methods;
  3. the affected producer must have on file official notification from the Government of the reasons for such compulsory treatments, the product/s used, application rate, period of degradation of the product to guarantee insignificant levels of residues in the soil and, in the case of a perennial crop, in the plant.

 

(4)     Organically produced products from plant origin shall comply with the following conta­mination control:

(a)     The operator shall employ measures including barriers and buffer zones to avoid potential contamination and limit contaminants in organic products.

(b)     In case of reasonable suspicion of contamination Ecocert-Afrisco shall ensure that an analysis of the relevant products and possible sources of pollution (soil, water, air and inputs) is undertaken to determine the level of contamination and shall make the appropriate responses, such as detection of contamination sources, considering background contamination and other relevant factors.

(c)     Only products based on polyethylene and polypropylene or other polycar­bonates are allowed for protective structure coverings, plastic mulches, fleeces, insect nettings and silage wrapping:  Provided that it shall be removed after use and may not be burned on the farm land.

(d)     All equipment from non-organic farming systems shall be thoroughly cleaned of potentially contaminating materials before being used on organically managed areas.   The use of dedicated equipment is preferred.

(5)     Organically produced products from plant origin can be non-cultivated material or honey collected as follows:

(a)     Must be derived from a stable and sustainable growing environment:  Provi­ded that harvesting or gathering shall not exceed the sustainable yield of the ecosystem or affect the stability of the natural habitat or the maintenance of the species in the collecting area.

(b)     The collecting area must be clearly defined and may not be exposed to pro­hibited substances.

(c)     The collecting area must be an appropriate distance from conventional farming, pollution and contamination.

(d)     The harvesters (persons) in the collecting area shall be familiar with the boun­daries of the collecting area.

(e)     The area shall have received no treatments with products not allowed by these standards for a period of three years before collection.

(f)      Operators shall present a map to the certifier indicating both the positions of the hives, and the suitability of the area for bee activity.  If the hives are moved, the maps must be presented annually, showing all hive positions through the year, retroactively, and as anticipated in the year ahead. 

(g)     Operators shall take measures to ensure that wild, sedentary aquatic species are collected only from areas where the water is not contaminated by substances prohibited in these standards.

  1. (6)     For production of mushrooms, only the following substrates may be used:

 

  1. Farmyard manure and animal excrements including the first four products listed in Annex II (farmyard and poultry manure; slurry or urine; composted animal excrements including poultry manure; and dried farmyard manure and dehydrated poultry manure),
  1. either from holdings producing according to the organic production method;

 

(ii)     or satisfying the requirements referred to in Annex II for the listed products, and up to 25 % (by weight of total components of the substrate, excluding the covering material and added water before composting), and only when the product under 6.a.i is not available.

  1. Products of agricultural origin, other than those covered under point 6.a (e.g. straw), from holdings producing according to organic production method.

 

(c)     Peat not chemically treated.

  1. Wood, not treated with chemical products after felling.

 

Mineral products listed in Annex II, water and soil.