These standards cover the harvesting of plants, plant products and fungi from the wild (but not
These standards cover a wide range of products and geographical areas. The aim of our standards is to make sure that when you harvest wild products:
• the yields you take are sustainable for the long term preservation of the target species
• you protect the biodiversity of the area, and
• you prevent contamination.
You must also comply with the applicable standards in Chapter General standards for farming and growing Standards for organic land and crops
Standards Guidance
2.10.1 Scope
1. The following standards apply to the collection of wild plants, plant resources and fungi, growing naturally in natural areas, forests and agricultural areas
2. These standards do not apply to products from hunting and fishing wild animals.
(EC) 834/2007 Art. 1(2) Art. 12
2.10.2 Wild harvest plan
1. Before starting your organic enterprise you must write a plan detailing how you will comply with these organic standards. The plan must be updated when you make any significant changes to your activity.
2. The plan must include a full description of your premises, units and activities. Including;
a) storage and production premises, collection areas and, where applicable, processing and/or
packaging premises
b) the date of the last input on the collection area of any agrochemicals, artificial fertilisers and other materials which are not permitted in these organic standards.
You will need to provide:
• A map of the collection area which shows the target populations as well as other sensitive species and habitats
• A description of the species, Latin and local names, and collected parts/resources
• A management plan for sustainable wild harvest. For more information on requirements refer to standard 2.10.4 and 2.10.5.
• A management plan for assessment and regular monitoring of the target resources and habitats
• The planned harvesting quantities
• l collectors are well trained
and know the rules of collection
• How you ensure collectors are trained, knowledgeable and competent in the following aspects:
95 3. Where third parties are involved in the management or
control of the wild harvest collection area, you must provide guarantees from them which ensure that standards 2.10.3, 2.10.4 and 2.10.5 are complied with.
(EC) 889/2008 Art. 63(1)(a); Art. 70
i. Plant to be collected (including which parts, harvesting area, minimum quality requirements etc.)
ii. Sustainable collection methods
iii. Post-harvest handling of collected material
iv. Any annual written authorisation from local and national regulatory bodies or other authorities where available.
Your collection instructions must be regularly reviewed and revised if necessary based on site and species-specific monitoring of collection impacts. If you make any significant changes in your operation, inform your Certification Officer.
Significant changes are, for example, change of location of an activity, change of ownership, change of contact person or alteration of certified production.
2.10.3 Wild harvest land treated with prohibited products
The area which you use for wild harvesting must not have been treated with products which are not permitted in these organic standards during the last three years before harvest.
(EC) 834/2007 Art. 12(2)(a)
You must be able to demonstrate what effective measures are taken to ensure that any collection areas are not affected by contamination with prohibited products.
On a map of the collection area identify any areas or potential sources of contamination (towns, industry, landfills, intensive agriculture areas, etc.)
2.10.4 Maintaining wild plant resources
The wild harvesting of plant resources must maintain the species in the collection area.
(EC) 834/2007 Art. 12(2)(b)
You must hold information on:
1. The global and/or national/regional conservation status of the target species.
2. The collection methods and management practices including:
a. How target species are adequately identified e.g. voucher (reference) specimens provided from the collection site
b. A map of collection areas and location of target populations (preferably a 1:50,000 scale map or less)
c. Species-specific harvest methods, including collected parts, collection method and collection period
d. Minimum biological age/size class allowed for collection for each target species and collection site
e. Maximum allowed collection limits (quantities, frequency, periods) 3. How you ensure that the rate (intensity and frequency) of target resource
long term. To include:
a. Baseline information/inventory on target species in the collection area, including population size, distribution, population structure (size/age classes), rate of reproduction/growth/regeneration.
96 How you use species-specific baseline information, resource assessment and/or monitoring data on collection impacts to inform your maximum collection quantities, frequencies and periods.
Compliance to Principle 1 of the FairWild Standard demonstrates that you are meeting the requirements of this standard.
2.10.5 Preventing negative environmental impacts
The collection activities must not negatively impact the habitat and other wild species in the collection area.(EC) 834/2007 Art. 12(2)(b)
You must hold information about:
1. Anyrare, threatened or endangered species and habitats that are likely to be affected by collection of the target resource and how they are protected.
2. How the management activities supporting wild harvest of target species do not adversely affect ecosystem diversity, processes and functions. For
example, evidence from monitoring that such practices do not negatively affect sensitive species or the ecosystem structure, diversity and functions in the collection area.
Management practices to minimise competition with or promote growth of the target species are used, including how these practices do not adversely affect sensitive species, ecosystem structure, diversity and function in the collection area. For example, evidence from monitoring.
Compliance to Principle 2 of the FairWild Standard demonstrates that you are meeting the requirements of this standard.
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