Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

CHAPTER II OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION

Article 4 Objectives

Organic production shall pursue the following general objectives:

(a)

contributing to protection of the environment and the climate;

(b)

maintaining the long-term fertility of soils;

(c)

contributing to a high level of biodiversity;

(d)

substantially contributing to a non-toxic environment;

(e)

contributing to high animal welfare standards and, in particular, to meeting the species-specific behavioural needs of animals;

(f)

encouraging short distribution channels and local production in the various areas of the Union;

(g)

encouraging the preservation of rare and native breeds in danger of extinction;

(h)

contributing to the development of the supply of plant genetic material adapted to the specific needs and objectives of organic agriculture;

(i)

contributing to a high level of biodiversity, in particular by using diverse plant genetic material, such as organic heterogeneous material and organic varieties suitable for organic production;

(j)

fostering the development of organic plant breeding activities in order to contribute to favourable economic perspectives of the organic sector.

Article 5 General principles

Organic production is a sustainable management system that is based on the following general principles:

(a)

respect for nature’s systems and cycles and the sustainment and enhancement of the state of the soil, the water and the air, of the health of plants and animals, and of the balance between them;

(b)

the preservation of natural landscape elements, such as natural heritage sites;

(c)

the responsible use of energy and natural resources, such as water, soil, organic matter and air;

(d)

the production of a wide variety of high-quality food and other agricultural and aquaculture products that respond to consumers’ demand for goods that are produced by the use of processes that do not harm the environment, human health, plant health or animal health and welfare;

(e)

ensuring the integrity of organic production at all stages of the production, processing and distribution of food and feed;

(f)

the appropriate design and management of biological processes, based on ecological systems and using natural resources which are internal to the management system, using methods that:

(i)

use living organisms and mechanical production methods;

(ii)

practice soil-related crop cultivation and land-related livestock production, or practice aquaculture which complies with the principle of the sustainable exploitation of aquatic resources;

(iii)

exclude the use of GMOs, products produced from GMOs, and products produced by GMOs, other than veterinary medicinal products;

(iv)

are based on risk assessment and the use of precautionary measures and preventive measures, where appropriate;

(g)

the restriction of the use of external inputs; where external inputs are required or the appropriate management practices and methods referred to in point (f) do not exist, the external inputs shall be limited to:

(i)

inputs from organic production; in the case of plant reproductive material, priority shall be given to varieties selected for their ability to meet the specific needs and objectives of organic agriculture;

(ii)

natural or naturally-derived substances;

(iii)

low solubility mineral fertilisers;

(h)

the adaptation of the production process, where necessary and within the framework of this Regulation, to take account of the sanitary status, regional differences in the ecological balance, climatic and local conditions, stages of development and specific husbandry practices;

(i)

the exclusion from the whole organic food chain of animal cloning, of rearing artificially induced polyploid animals and of ionising radiation;

(j)

the observance of a high level of animal welfare respecting species-specific needs.

Article 6 Specific principles applicable to agricultural activities and aquaculture

As regards agricultural activities and aquaculture, organic production shall, in particular, be based on the following specific principles:

(a)

the maintenance and enhancement of soil life and natural soil fertility, soil stability, soil water retention and soil biodiversity, preventing and combating loss of soil organic matter, soil compaction and soil erosion, and the nourishing of plants primarily through the soil ecosystem;

(b)

the limitation of the use of non-renewable resources and external inputs to a minimum;

(c)

the recycling of waste and by-products of plant and animal origin as input in plant and livestock production;

(d)

the maintenance of plant health by preventive measures, in particular the choice of appropriate species, varieties or heterogeneous material resistant to pests and diseases, appropriate crop rotations, mechanical and physical methods and protection of the natural enemies of pests;

(e)

the use of seeds and animals with a high degree of genetic diversity, disease resistance and longevity;

(f)

in the choosing of plant varieties, having regard to the particularities of the specific organic production systems, focussing on agronomic performance, disease resistance, adaptation to diverse local soil and climate conditions and respect for the natural crossing barriers;

(g)

the use of organic plant reproductive material, such as plant reproductive material of organic heterogeneous material and of organic varieties suitable for organic production;

(h)

the production of organic varieties through natural reproductive ability and focussing on containment within natural crossing barriers;

(i)

without prejudice to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 and to the national plant variety rights granted under Member States’ national law, the possibility for farmers to use plant reproductive material obtained from their own farms in order to foster genetic resources adapted to the special conditions of organic production;

(j)

in the choosing of animal breeds, having regard to a high degree of genetic diversity, the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their breeding value, their longevity, their vitality and their resistance to disease or health problems;

(k)

the practice of site-adapted and land-related livestock production;

(l)

the application of animal husbandry practices which enhance the immune system and strengthen the natural defence against diseases, including regular exercise and access to open air areas and pastures;

(m)

the feeding of livestock with organic feed composed of agricultural ingredients resulting from organic production and of natural non-agricultural substances;

(n)

the production of organic livestock products derived from animals that have been raised on organic holdings throughout their lives since birth or hatching;

(o)

the continuing health of the aquatic environment and the quality of surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;

(p)

the feeding of aquatic organisms with feed from sustainably exploited fisheries in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 or with organic feed composed of agricultural ingredients resulting from organic production, including organic aquaculture, and of natural non-agricultural substances;

(q)

avoiding any endangerment of species of conservation interest that might arise from organic production.

Article 7 Specific principles applicable to the processing of organic food

The production of processed organic food shall be based, in particular, on the following specific principles:

(a)

the production of organic food from organic agricultural ingredients;

(b)

the restriction of the use of food additives, of non-organic ingredients with mainly technological and sensory functions, and of micronutrients and processing aids, so that they are used to a minimum extent and only in cases of essential technological need or for particular nutritional purposes;

(c)

the exclusion of substances and processing methods that might be misleading as regards the true nature of the product;

(d)

the processing of organic food with care, preferably through the use of biological, mechanical and physical methods;

(e)

the exclusion of food containing, or consisting of, engineered nanomaterials.

Article 8 Specific principles applicable to the processing of organic feed

The production of processed organic feed shall be based, in particular, on the following specific principles:

(a)

the production of organic feed from organic feed materials;

(b)

the restriction of the use of feed additives and processing aids, so that they are used to a minimum extent and only in cases of essential technological or zootechnical needs or for particular nutritional purposes;

(c)

the exclusion of substances and processing methods that might be misleading as regards the true nature of the product;

(d)

the processing of organic feed with care, preferably through the use of biological, mechanical and physical methods.