(1)
Organically produced products from plant origin shall be produced from
the following:
(a)
Organically propagated seed and plant materials:
Provided that when organically propagated seed and plant materials
are not available, chemically untreated conventional material may be used
after obtaining permission from the approved certifying organisation.
(b)
Breeding of a new organic variety shall take place according to the
principles set in these regulations 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 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)
Sufficient diversity must be obtained in a manner that takes into
account the impact of insects, weeds, diseases and other pests, while
maintaining or increasing soil organic matter, fertility, microbial activity
and general soil health.
(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, where appropriate, 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/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 in
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 I: Provided
that --
(i)
the use of the organic and mineral fertilisers mentioned in Annexure I
shall be applied only where adequate nutrition of the crop or soil conditioning
is not possible by the methods set out under subregulation (2)(b);
(ii)
certain restrictions should be placed on the use of the substances in
Annexure I 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)
the use of the substances in Annexure I 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; and
(iv)
the criteria in Annexure II must be used to amend Annexure I or
determine the need for use of the substances in Annexure I.
(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 I.
(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)
Pests, diseases and weeds shall be controlled by a combination of the
following measures --
(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 a 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 use of the substances mentioned in Annexure III shall be applied
only in cases of immediate threat to the crop when control by the measures set
out under subregulation (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; and
(iii)
Annexure III may be amended using the criteria in Annexure II.
(l) Products used for pest, disease and weed management, prepared on the
farm from local plants, animals and micro-organisms are allowed:
Provided that these products comply with the criteria in Annexure II.
(m)
All equipment from conventional operations shall be properly cleaned and
free from residues before being used on organically managed areas: Provided
that dedicated equipment is preferred.
(n)
The use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
are prohibited, with the exception of those listed in Annexure III.
(o)
Clearing of land by means of burning organic matter shall be restricted
to a minimum and permission must be obtained from the certifying organisation.
(p)
Clearing of primary forest is prohibited.
(q)
Relevant measures shall be taken to prevent soil erosion.
(r)
Excessive exploitation and depletion of water resources is not allowed.
(s)
Appropriate stocking rates which do not lead to land degradation and
pollution of ground and surface water shall be followed.
(t)
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 production 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 in subregulation (3)(a), (b) and (c) can be
extended by the certifying organisation depending on past conditions of the
land and environment.
(e)
The conversion periods prescribed in subregulation (3)(a), (b) and (c)
can be reduced by the certifying organisation if guarantees/proof can be
obtained that the conversion practices have been met.
(4)
Organically produced products from plant origin shall comply with the
following contamination control:
(a)
Only products based on polyethylene and polypropylene or other polycarbonates
are allowed for protective structure coverings, plastic mulches, fleeces,
insect nettings and silage wrapping, it shall be removed after use and may not
be burned on the farm land.
(b)
In case of reasonable suspicion of contamination relevant products and
possible sources of pollution shall be analysed to determine the level of
contamination.
(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
regulations for a period of three years before collection.