Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008Show full title

CHAPTER 1 Plant Production

Article 3 Soil management and fertilisation

1. Where the nutritional needs of plants cannot be met by measures provided for in Article 12(1)(a), (b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, only fertilisers and soil conditioners referred to in Annex I to this Regulation may be used in organic production and only to the extent necessary. Operators shall keep documentary evidence of the need to use the product.

2. The total amount of livestock manure, as defined in Council Directive 91/676/EEC(1) concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, applied on the holding may not exceed 170 kg of nitrogen per year/hectare of agricultural area used. This limit shall only apply to the use of farmyard manure, dried farmyard manure and dehydrated poultry manure, composted animal excrements, including poultry manure, composted farmyard manure and liquid animal excrements.

3. Organic-production holdings may establish written cooperation agreements exclusively with other holdings and enterprises which comply with the organic production rules, with the intention of spreading surplus manure from organic production. The maximum limit as referred to in paragraph 2, shall be calculated on the basis of all of the organic-production units involved in such cooperation.

4. Appropriate preparations of micro-organisms may be used to improve the overall condition of the soil or the availability of nutrients in the soil or in the crops.

5. For compost activation appropriate plant-based preparations or preparations of micro-organisms may be used.

Article 4 Prohibition of hydroponic production

Hydroponic production is prohibited.

Article 5 Pest, disease and weed management

1. Where plants cannot be adequately protected from pests and diseases by measures provided for in Article 12 (1)(a), (b), (c) and (g) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, only products referred to in Annex II to this Regulation may be used in organic production. Operators shall keep documentary evidence of the need to use the product.

2. For products used in traps and dispensers, except pheromone dispensers, the traps and/or dispensers, shall prevent the substances from being released into the environment and prevent contact between the substances and the crops being cultivated. The traps shall be collected after use and disposed off safely.

Article 6 Specific rules on mushroom production

For production of mushrooms, substrates may be used, if they are composed only of the following components:

(a)

farmyard manure and animal excrements:

(i)

either from holdings producing according to the organic production method;

(ii)

or referred to in Annex I, only when the product referred to in point (i) is not available; and when they do not exceed 25 % of the weight of total components of the substrate, excluding the covering material and any added water, before composting;

(b)

products of agricultural origin, other than those referred to in point (a), from holdings producing according to organic production method;

(c)

peat not chemically treated;

(d)

wood, not treated with chemical products after felling;

(e)

mineral products referred to in Annex I, water and soil.

(1)

OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1.