3.1 General criteria and indicators
4.1.1 Comparative table
LABEL ‘SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’
theme ORGANIC PRODUCTION
mandatory criteria optional criteria Soil structure and fertility
Farm management practices must promote the conservation and recuperation of the soil's fertility, quantity and quality of organic material, biological activity, and structure.
The use of organic fertilizer and composted organic waste is preferred to chemical fertilizer.
The fertility and biological activity of the soil must be maintained or increased by green manuring, crop rotation and incorparation of organic material, without use of chemical fertlizers.
The fertilizers and soil conditioners in list A are permitted.
The company should take measures to preserve the soil structure and to prevent erosion.
Losses and drainage of the fertilizers and pesticides through leaching into the soil should be kept at a minimum.
Pest and weed control
Parasites, plant pests or diseases and weeds must be controlled by means of suitable varieties, mechanical cultivation methods, natural enemies and thermal weed control.
Synthetic crop protection agents must not be used. Only the means in list B are permitted.
The use of chemicals for weed control should be thoroughly prepared and planned and reduced wherever possible. Preventive use of chemicals can cause overuse. Curative action is preferred.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is favoured, emphasising physical, cultural, mechanical, and biological practices to control pests. The most appropriate combination of organic, cultural, mechanical and chemical methods is used. Organic methods should replace agrochemical treatment wherever possible. Choosing the appropriate product is extremely important and synthetic products should be used strictly to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Integrated Weed Management (IWM) must be employed. In order to control weeds cultural practices instead of chemicals should be used as much as possible.
Any chemical products banned or not registered in the country or prohibited by national or international agreements may not be used. This includes pesticides in WHO class 1 a+b, pesticides in the Pesticide Action Network’s “dirty dozen” list and pesticides in FAO/UNEP's Prior Informed Consent. Also persistent chemicals used in vegetal and animal production must be strictly avoided.
Agrochemicals that are toxic or whose derivatives remain biologically active and accumulate in the food chain beyond their intended use are prohibited as well.
Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) GMO’s and/or any product derived from such organisms must not be used.
GMO’s and/or any product derived from such organisms must not be used.
General production activities
quality The product should be of good quality
comparable to non-labelled goods.
Compliance with the sustainability criteria should not have repercussions on product quality or consumer comfort.
On an organic farm, it is not allowed to grow organic as well as common (not organic) crops of the same variety, as to rule out mistaking of non organic for organic products.
labelling Organic products must be labelled and packed appropriately, as to guarantee their traceability.
The presence of comprehensive consumer information on the product package. the organic production method is used. Exceptionally, common seed can be used during a transition period expiring on 31 December 2003.
Conversi on period
The principles of organic production must normally have been applied on the parcels during a conversion period of at least 2 years before sowing or, in the case of perennial crops, at least 3 years before harvest. During this period the products cannot be called
‘organic’. However, products harvested 1 year after the start of the conversion period, can be sold as ‘produced during conversion to
organic production’.
risks The production activities of the
company should not imply/cause serious environmental risks.
energy The consumption of energy must be
kept at a minimum. Wherever possible the most environmentally friendly energy sources should be used.
Objectives and targets should be set for reduction of raw material use.
materials
Hazardous materials should be substituted with less hazardous alternatives wherever possible, taking into account environmental and health related issues.
The company must implement a water management system, which minimizes water consumption and conserves ground and surface water.
Water irrigation must be done with methods and systems minimizing water consumption as far as possible and adapted to the needs of the local situation (e.g. drip irrigation, water application direct to the root zone etc.).
water
Water contamination should be avoided. All used waters are
appropriately filtered or treated before returning them to nature.
soil The company should take measures to
prevent and remedy soil contamination.
air The company should take measures to
minimise air contamination and unpleasant smells.
waste The company should take measures to
minimise waste, and to optimise reuse and recycling.
transport Objectives and targets should
be set for organisation-related transport. Transport should be minimized and set out as environmentally friendly as
Attention should be given to the protection of the fauna and flora inside and surrounding the company.
4.1.1.2 Livestock and livestock products
LABEL ‘SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’
theme ORGANIC PRODUCTION
mandatory criteria optional criteria Manure
Organic stockfarming is a land-related activity. The number of livestock must be closely related to the area available to allow for the spreading of livestock manure.
Annex 3f is a guideline for the maximum number of animals per ha.
When the producer owns more animals than mentioned in these guidelines, arrangements can be made with other organic producers for the spreading of livestock manure.
Stock-farming should be land-related as much as possible.
The number of livestock must be closely related to the area available to allow for the spreading of livestock manure. Annex 3f is a guideline for the maximum number of animals per ha.
When the producer owns more animals, arrangements can be made with other producers for the spreading of livestock manure.
Animal health
All animals must have access to sufficient free-range or grazing area and sufficient indoors housing area. The minimum surface areas are listed in Annex 3f.
All animals must have access to sufficient free-range or grazing area and sufficient indoors housing area. The minimum surface areas are listed in Annex 3f.
Animal health problems should be limited and controlled mainly by prevention. If despite all preventive measures, an animal becomes sick or injured, it must be treated immediately.
Phytotherapeutic and homeopathic products shall be used in
preference to chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products. The latter can be used under the responsibility of a veterinarian.
Animal health problems should be limited and controlled mainly by prevention. If despite all preventive measures, an animal becomes sick or injured, it must be treated immediately.
Operations such as taildocking, cutting of teeth, trimming of beaks, dehorning or castration are subject to stringent conditions.
Operations such as tail-docking, cutting of teeth, trimming of beaks, dehorning or castration are subject to stringent conditions.
Artificial insemination and natural reproduction methods are permitted. Other forms of assisted reproduction (e.g. embryo transfers) are prohibited.
Animal fodder
Livestock must be fed on
organically produced feedingstuffs,
preferably grown by the producer himself. Feedingstufs can also be purchased from a recognised trader or from another organic farmer. Under stringent conditions, a limited amount of non-organically grown feedingstuffs are permitted.
General production activities Livestock must come from
production units, which comply with the rules of organic production.
Under stringent conditions, a number of non-organically reared livestock may be brought into an organic production unit.
It is not permitted to rear organic as well as non-organic livestock of the same animal species.
Before a producer is allowed to label his livestock or livestock products ‘organic’, the principles of organic production must have been adopted during a conversion period of 2 years for bovins and 6 months for pigs and poultry.
All criteria listed under ‘general production activities’ for plant and plant products are also applicable to livestock and livestock products.
All criteria listed under
‘general production activities’
for plant and plant products are also applicable to livestock and livestock products.