Soil Association Production standards November 2016

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ORGANIC FOOD FEDERATION
PRODUCTION STANDARDS
November 2016
These standards are the copyright © 2016 of the Organic Food Federation

Organic Food Federation Production Standards
INDEX
November 2016
Page 1 of 116
1. How to use this standard
1.1 Use of sections
1.2 Specific terms used
1.3 Our website
2. Introduction
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Organic principles
2.3 Free movement
3. General standards
3.1 Aims and scope
3.2 Requirements
3.3 Confidentiality
3.4 Inspection
3.5 Certificates of conformity
3.6 Reports
3.7 Testing
3.8 Fees
3.9 Exchange of information
3.10 Non compliances
3.11 Genetically modified organisms
3.12 Training
3.13 Product approval
3.14 Other statutory requirements
3.15 Use of our and EU logo
3.16 Labelling
3.17 Complaints
3.18 Appeals
3.19 Sales, purchases and record keeping
3.20 Transport
4. Organic farming overview
4.1 Specific principles
4.2 Unit descriptions
4.3 Annual audit
4.4 Storage
4.5 Addition of land
4.6 Labelling in conversion crops
4.7 Record keeping
4.8 Horses on organic land
4.9 Pest control
4.10 Catastrophic circumstances

INDEX
November 2016
Page 2 of 116
4.11 Hydroponic production
4.12 On farm processing
5. Crops and land husbandry
5.1 Converting land and crops to organic production
5.2 Planning conversion
5.3 Parallel cropping and organic separation
5.4 General farm and environmental management
5.5 Soil management
5.6 Farm waste management
5.7 Imported fertiliser materials
5.8 Weed control methods
5.9 Pest and disease control
5.10 Pesticides and plant protection products
5.11 Crop harvesting and storage including cleaning
6. Crop rotations
6.1 Arable and horticultural crop rotations
6.2 Seeds, transplants and vegetative materials
7. Grassland and forage
7.1 Grassland management
7.2 Forage production
8. Specialist operations
8.1 Mushrooms
8.2 Wild
8.3 Section not in use
8.4 Yeast
9. General livestock husbandry requirements
9.1 Management and welfare of organic livestock
9.2 Conversion
9.3 Bringing in livestock
9.4 Parallel production of livestock and organic separation
9.5 Livestock management plans
9.6 Veterinary treatments
9.7 The control of specific ailments
9.8 Grazing and feeding of livestock
9.9 Compound feed production
9.10 General housing requirements of livestock

INDEX
November 2016
Page 3 of 116
9.11 Handling and transporting livestock
9.12 Livestock movement
9.13 Identification
9.14 Cleaning and disinfection
10. Poultry
10.1 General
10.2 Conversion
10.3 Laying hens
10.4 Table birds
10.5 Housing
10.6 Range and pasture
10.7 Feed
10.8 Indoor areas
10.9 Stocking rate
10.10 Slaughter
11. Pigs
11.1 General
11.3 Feed
11.4 Housing
11.5 Stocking rate
11.6 Conversion of land
12. Not in use
13. Not in use
14. Beef and dairy
14.1 General
14.2 Tethering
14.4 Feed
14.5 Housing
14.6 Stocking rate

INDEX
November 2016
Page 4 of 116
15. Sheep and goats
15.1 General
15.3 Feed
15.4 Housing
15.5 Stocking rate
16. Aquaculture
16.1 General standards
16.2 Principles
16.3 Management and control
16.4 Conversion
16.5 Breeding and youngstock
16.6 Local and environmental impact
16.7 Water and holding facilities
16.8 Diet and nutrition
16.9 Feed for carnivorous aquaculture animals
16.10 Feed for fish in inland waters
16.11 Fish welfare and stock management
16.12 Health control
16.13 Harvesting
16.15 Records
16.16 Specific production standards for individual species
16.17 Seaweed
16.18 Molluscs
17. Deer
17.1 Origin of animals
17.2 Conversion of animals
17.3 Health and welfare
17.4 Grazing
17.5 Feeding
17.6 Housing
17.7 Handling and transporting
17.8 Slaughtering
18. Bees
18.1 Bee keeping
18.2 Origin of bees

INDEX
November 2016
Page 5 of 116
18.3 Conversion
18.4 Use of non organic bee wax
18.5 Replacement of bees
18.6 Feed
18.7 Health
18.8 Siting of apiaries
18.9 Managing your apiaries
18.10 Harvesting
18.11 Housing
18.12 Pollination
Glossary

SECTION 1
November 2016 Page 6 of 116
HOW TO USE THIS STANDARD AND OTHER GUIDANCE
1.1 Use of sections
1.1.1 This Standard has been written in sections to enable you to easily reference the parts
required.
1.1.2 Sections 1 – 3 are applicable to all operators.
1.1.3 Section 4 is specific to your individual operation and is a general section of requirements.
These points must be followed for all operations you undertake.
1.1.4 Section 5 onwards gives a breakdown of detailed points relating to your operation, some of
which might not be applicable.
1.1.5 At the end of this Standard is the glossary that should explain any terms which need
clarification.
1.1.6 This Standard will be amended from time to time and you must ensure that changes
effecting your operation are implemented. This will include amendments made via
communications from the Federation.
1.2 Specific terms used
1.2.1 This Standard has been laid out for ease of use.
1.2.2 Where the term “must” is used this point is a mandatory requirement to meet this Standard
and must be followed by you.
1.2.3 Where the term “should” is used it is recommended that you fully comply with it to help
ensure organic integrity, codes of conduct or good practice.
1.2.4 The term “may” in most cases means you must obtain prior permission, in writing, from us to
carry out this specific operation or practice. This is usually in the form of a derogation.
1.3 Our website
1.3.1 www.orgfoodfed.com
1.3.2 Our website is easy to use and has lots of useful information on it.
1.3.3 Contact details, standards, forms, updates and links.

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INTRODUCTION
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 The Organic Food Federation has been overseeing organic standards since 1986 and
is registered with Department for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) under the
EU code of GB-ORG-04.
This is our Standard. Please take time to familiarise yourself with the various sections
which cover production, processing, importing, trading, warehousing, non foods and
aquaculture. They relate to the certification standard operated by the Federation for
the purpose of determining conformity.
2.2 Organic principles
2.2.1 Organic production is an overall system of farm management and food production that
combines best environmental practices, a high level of biodiversity, the preservation of
natural resources, the application of high animal welfare standards and a production
method in line with the preference of certain consumers for products produced using
natural substances and processes.
2.3 Free movement
2.3.1 We believe in the principle of free movement for organically produced products. This
means if a product is produced in accordance to this Standard under EC 834/2007 and
889/2008 we accept it as being equivalent to our Standard. This allows free movement
within the UK and the European Union without the need to impose further restrictions or
higher requirements.
2.3.2 Products brought in from outside the EU must be accompanied with a certificate of
inspection (COI) issued by an EU recognised certification body which must be included
on the EUR-lex website for the required category.

Organic Food Federati on Production Standards
SECTION 3
GENERAL STANDARDS
3.1 Aims and scope
3.1.1 This Standard provides the basis for the sustainable development of organic production
while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market, guaranteeing fair competition,
consumer confidence and protecting consumer interests.
3.1.2 It establishes common objectives and principles to underpin the rules set out in this
Standard concerning:
i. All stages of production, preparation and distribution of organic products and their
control;
ii. The use of indications referring to organic production in labelling and advertising.
3.1.3 This Standard shall apply to the following products originating from agriculture, including
aquaculture, where such products are placed on the market or are intended to be placed on
the market:
i. Live or unprocessed agricultural products;
ii. Processed agricultural products for use as food or food ingredients;
iii. Aquaculture products and seaweeds;
iv. Feed;
v. Vegetative propagating material and seeds for cultivation.
3.1.4 The products of hunting and fishing of wild animals shall not be considered as organic
production.
3.1.5 This Standard shall also apply to yeasts used as food or feed.
3.1.6 This Standard ensures fair competition and a proper functioning of the internal market in
organic products, and of maintaining and justifying consumer confidence in products
labelled as organic. It should further aim at providing conditions under which the organic
sector can progress in line with production and market developments.
3.1.7 This Standard provides rules with regard to plant, livestock, and aquaculture production,
including rules for the collection of wild plants and seaweeds, rules on conversion, as well
as rules on the production of processed food, including wine, feed and organic yeast.
3.1.8 Organic farming should primarily rely on renewable resources within locally organised
agricultural systems in order to minimise the use of non renewable resources, wastes and
by products of plant and animal origin should be recycled to return nutrients to the land.
3.1.9 Organic stock farming should respect high animal welfare standards and meet animals'
species specific behavioural needs while animal health management should be based on
disease prevention. In this respect, particular attention must be paid to housing conditions,
husbandry practices and stocking densities. Moreover, the choice of breeds should take
account of their capacity to adapt to local conditions.
3.1.10 Organic processed products must be produced by the use of processing methods which
guarantee that the organic integrity and vital qualities of the product are maintained through
all stages of the production chain.
3.1.11 For the sake of consumer protection and fair competition, the terms used to indicate organic
products are protected from being used on non organic products throughout the Community

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and independently of the language used. The protection should also apply to the usual
derivatives or diminutives of those terms, whether they are used alone or combined.
The term “organic” must only be used on produce and products that have been certified as
such by an approved organic certification body.
3.2 Requirements
3.2.1 You must comply with this Standard and keep an up to date copy on site at all times.
3.2.2 If you are planning to produce, prepare, store, import, trade or place on the market organic
products you must notify us of your activity and submit your plans.
3.2.3 You must document and keep up to date operating procedures in accordance with the
requirements of this Standard.
3.2.4 You must make available to us copies of all or any part of the documented system should
we or Defra require them.
3.2.5 You must draw up and maintain:
i. A full description of your unit / premises;
ii. A full description of the operational activities at the above unit / premises;
iii. Precautionary measures to be taken in order to reduce the risk of contamination by
non organic products or substances.
iv. Documentary evidence of NOP production methods if required.
3.2.6 If you no longer require organic certification you must inform us in writing with a minimum of
three months’ notice.
3.2.7 You must not deliver or knowingly permit the delivery or sale of non organic products as
organic products.
3.2.8 You must not conduct operations in a manner that may have an adverse effect on the
integrity and reputation of organics.
3.2.9 You must inform us of any current court orders or pending prosecutions against you or your
operations that have a bearing on your organic activities.
3.2.10 In the event that you are prosecuted and it leads to a conviction, we reserve the right to
reconsider our certification decision.
3.3 Confidentiality
3.3.1 During the course of your inspection and certification process we require you to supply us
with information which might be of a confidential nature.
3.3.2 We treat all information given to us as confidential and it will not be disclosed to third parties
unless it is in the public domain.
3.3.3 We are however obliged by law to pass information to authorised government bodies, local
authorities and other certification bodies.
3.4 Inspection
3.4.1 Our inspectors are all approved and experienced in your type of operation. We will carry out
an annual physical inspection.

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3.4.2 The inspections we carry out fall into four categories:
i. Assessment is the initial approval inspection carried out by us;
ii. Surveillance is your annual inspection;
iii. Interim inspections are carried out for the following reasons:
➢ You wish to move or change your premises;
➢ You wish to add a new operation to your certificate;
➢ You make a major change in your operation.
iv. Spot inspections are carried out if:
➢ We receive a complaint in writing regarding you;
➢ If we have to make sure of corrective action for a serious non compliance.
➢ As part of our risk assessment procedure.
➢ Random selection.
➢ We are also required to spot inspect at least 10% of our operators.
3.4.3 You must give our representatives access during normal working hours to your holding and
premises, with or without prior notice, for the purpose of carrying out inspections or
collection of samples of production operations, which are subject to this Standard.
3.4.4 Sites that only handle pre packaged products may be able to be audited under a light touch
approach.
3.5 Certificates of conformity
3.5.1 When you satisfy our requirements to this Standard you will receive a certificate.
3.5.2 Your certificate will remain our property and you may be requested to return it in extreme
circumstances.
3.5.3 Initially certificates are valid for 12 calendar months:
i. For producers from date of application;
ii. For all other operations from date of certification decision post inspection.
3.5.4 Certificates are renewable annually subject to satisfactory inspection and will run
concurrently from the date of the previous certificate.
3.5.5 We reserve the right to shorten the period of certificates issued.
3.5.6 We are responsible for authorising or withholding certificates. Our certification panel is
responsible for adjudicating on matters of interpretation and in cases where operators
appeal against judgements made by us.
3.5.7 Our certification panel / officers are independent of our members and management
committee when making decisions regarding certification.
3.5.8 You must not make alterations to the system of production, formulation (recipe), processing
or manufacture under which the certificate is issued during the period of its validity unless
agreed by us in writing.
3.5.9 If you fail to comply with these Standards, we will, as appropriate:
i. Withdraw the certificate or reduce its scope;

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ii. Refuse to grant or renew the certificate or extend its scope;
iii. Communicate such decisions and the grounds for them to you and Defra.
3.5.10 If your business threatens to bring the Federation into disrepute we may withdraw or refuse
to grant or renew your certificate. Such a decision and the grounds for it will be
communicated to you in writing. We are required to inform Defra in these instances.
.
3.5.11 Extension certificates are only issued for 28 days after the date of inspection.
3.5.12 The word organic can only be used in respect of the production and supply of products that
are listed on the certificate or schedule.
3.5.13 An electronic copy of your valid certificate may be found on the BioC website
https://www.bioc.info/ . Please note that the certificate is based on the Eu model and will
there look different to the certificate that we issue.
3.6 Reports
3.6.1 After inspection we will issue a report stating compliance or non compliance to this
Standard.
3.6.2 A notice will be raised for any non compliances identified at the inspection and a timescale
agreed to complete the necessary corrective actions. This notice must be countersigned by
you at the time of inspection.
3.7 Sampling and testing
3.7.1 Where organic integrity, production techniques or unauthorised products are suspected we
will request the operator to take samples and / or our representative to obtain any such
samples as deemed necessary.
3.7.2 We are required to take samples every year from 5% of our operators based on a general
evaluation of the risk of non compliance with the organic production rules.
3.7.3 You must inform us of any positive results on tests of analysis for GM or pesticide residuals
that you have received.
3.7.4 You may have to pay any costs relating to the samples taken and analysis performed by the
Federation.
3.7.5 You must inform us in all cases where samples have returned positive results and provide
copies of these results.
3.8 Fees
3.8.1 You will be charged a fee for inspection and certification which must be paid within 30 days
of the date of our invoice.
3.8.2 Your certificate will not be issued until all fees have been paid.
3.8.3 A cancellation fee will be charged for postponing a pre arranged audit if you give less than
four working days notice.
3.8.4 A fee will also be charged for certificates of inspection, export certificates or other
documentation required showing our official stamp.
3.8.5 Additions to certificates can be added at time of the annual surveillance audit and up to 14
days after the date of inspection free of charge. This is not the case with spot inspections.

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3.8.6 A fee will be charged for any modifications to the certificate, including additions of recipes or
land.
3.8.7 Extension certificates that are required due to an audit being delayed at your request will not
be issued beyond 28 days from the original audit date without incurring a fee.
3.9 Exchange of information
3.9.1 Information may be exchanged to guarantee that operations are carried out in accordance
with this Standard.
3.9.2 Information may be passed to the European Commission, Defra, other government
departments and certification bodies.
3.9.3 No information will be given to anyone outside of this group without written permission from
yourself.
3.9.4 If you leave us for an alternative certification body, we will transfer information that we hold
on your operation to another certification body upon request in writing from yourself.
3.9.5 We are required to inform Defra of:
i. Withdrawals from certification;
ii. Deletions;
iii. Manifest or critical infringements;
iv. Positive test results.
3.10 Infringements / non compliances
3.10.1 A non compliance is any point which is at variance to our Standards.
3.10.2 Non compliances fall into five categories:
i. Observation: something noticed at inspection that may affect legality or food
safety, and therefore requires attention;
ii. Minor: does not directly compromise the integrity of the product but needs
correcting;
iii. Major: may compromise the integrity of the product if not corrected, or may result
from not correcting a previous minor non compliance. A number of major non
compliances may lead to suspension of certification for the products or enterprises
affected where there are concerns over integrity of the product or system;
iv. Critical: directly affects the integrity of the product or may result from not correcting
a previous major non compliance. A critical non compliance will normally result in us
suspending certification for the products or enterprises affected or the whole
certificate;
v. Manifest infringement: one in which organic integrity has been irrevocably lost as
a result of fraud or failure to act to prevent the loss of integrity. It may also result
from not correcting a previous critical non compliance. This will most likely result in
termination of your certification and Defra being informed.

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3.10.3 Acceptable evidence for correction of non compliances:
i. Copies of records;
ii. Written confirmation of changes;
iii. Photographic evidence;
iv. Additional inspection (spot inspection);
v. Third party audit report (if this is relevant).
3.10.4 When non compliances are discovered (either during inspection or as a result of a complaint
etc) a non compliance notice will be served on the spot by the inspector or by us whichever
is appropriate.
3.10.5 This notice will be served regardless of the non compliance being due to ignorance of this
Standard. The date of discovery, location and nature of the non compliance, products
affected, quantities involved (if possible) and the corrective action required will be recorded
in the report and summarised in the non compliance notice.
3.10.6 You must agree a time scale for correction of the non compliance, and sign and retain a
copy of the notice. It is expected that all non compliances are resolved in a maximum of 28
days. Failure to do so could lead to your certification being suspended or terminated.
3.10.7 You must take immediate steps to prevent any further sales of non conforming stock (if
necessary by recalling stock in trade and holding stock in hand) and to correct the non
compliance.
3.10.8 Non compliances must be corrected before certification can be granted or renewed. When
non compliances do not affect the organic integrity of a product, we may at our discretion
issue a certificate before the non compliance has been cleared. This may be for a limited
period until satisfactory evidence has been provided to correct the non compliance
concerned and steps have been taken to prevent recurrences.
3.10.9 Your certification might be suspended until appropriate corrective action has taken place.
3.10.10 Our certification system allows suspension or deletion if no responses have been received
to letters or if there has been a critical, manifest infringement or relevant prosecution against
you. If this happens you must inform all of your customers that your certificate has been
suspended or deleted.
3.10.11 If you have been suspended, deleted or withdrawn it is illegal to sell or trade in organic
products.
3.11 Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
3.11.1 Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products produced from or by GMOs are
incompatible with the concept of organic production and consumers' perception of organic
products. They must therefore not be used in organic farming or in the processing of organic
products.
3.11.2 GMOs and products produced from or by GMOs shall not be used as food, feed, processing
aids, plant protection products, fertilisers, soil conditioners, seeds, vegetative propagating
material, micro-organisms and animals in organic production.
3.11.3 The use of GMOs is prohibited. It is not possible to label a product as organic where it has
to be labelled as containing GMOs, consisting of GMOs or produced from GMOs.
3.11.4 In the case of products to which the GMO labelling rules apply, proof of compliance is the
declaration on the labelling of inputs that they do not contain GMOs.

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3.11.5 For products to which the GMO labelling rules do not apply vendor declarations that the
product has not been produced by or from GMOs are required from all of your suppliers.
Visit our website www.orgfoodfed.com for a model of a GMO statement.
3.11.6 For a guide to products that are subject to GMO labelling see:
http://www.food.gov.uk/gmfoods/gm/gm_labelling
3.11.7 Where it is not specifically mentioned or is in question a statement of non GMO inclusion
must be obtained for all products purchased from your suppliers.
3.11.8 Organic production must not take place for at least five years on land which has been
planted with genetically modified crops.
3.11.9 You must not grow any GM crops on your holding.
3.12 Training
3.12.1 To help maintain organic integrity it is necessary to ensure that all staff involved with
producing and processing have:
i. A basic training in the task that they are performing;
ii. Have been made aware of the Standard relating to the task;
iii. Understand how their tasks relate to organic integrity and separation and the need
to maintain them.
3.12.2 This training must be documented for all personnel involved in organics.
3.13 Product approval
3.13.1 All products and recipes must be approved by us and placed on your certificate and trading
schedule before manufacture. For details on the requirements and permitted additives
please see the relevant sections in this Standard.
3.13.2 All livestock and crops must be inspected, approved and placed on your certificate and
trading schedule by us before sale.
3.14 Other statutory requirements
3.14.1 You must comply with all relevant legislation that applies to your unit and operation over and
above this Standard. Examples can include:
i. Health and safety legislation
ii. Environmental;
iii. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH);
iv. Employment law;
v. Labelling;
vi. HACCP;
vii. Notification to local authority of business activity.

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3.15 Use of our logo and the EU logo
3.15.1 You must submit copies of all label artwork and proofs to us for approval before printing and
use and if required to do so stop using any claims, statements or logos that are
unacceptable or considered misleading by us.
3.15.2 You must immediately discontinue using our logo and the EU logo on related artwork and
advertising material on withdrawal of your certificate. Any reference to organic accreditation
by us must be removed from all documents in your possession.
3.15.3 You must discontinue use of our logo and the EU logo or any claim of compliance to our
Standard with immediate effect if you are temporarily unable to comply with this Standard.
3.15.4 You must not use our logo and the EU logo in relation to products unless listed on your valid
certificate and trading schedule.
3.15.5 You may only use our logo and the EU logo on products you have manufactured, including
animal feeds, if the content is 95% organic or over.
Organic Food Federation logo
3.15.6 Our logo is a mark of recognition showing compliance to our Standards but is not a
mandatory requirement. We will send copies of our logo to you on request.
3.15.7 You may only use our logo on products you have manufactured, including animal feeds, if
they comply with this Standard.
3.15.8 You may, in addition, use our logo on your advertising material, company stationery,
promotional literature and your website subject to our approval.
3.15.9 You must ensure our logo is not larger than the EU logo when used together.
3.15.10 If your product is approved for use in organic systems by us you are eligible to use our
approved product logo.
The EU Logo
3.15.11 You must use the EU logo for all pre packaged food with over 95% organic content.
3.15.12 You must not use the logo if less than 95% of the content of agricultural ingredients of a
product has been produced organically.
3.15.13 You may use the EU logo on a voluntary basis on non pre packaged 95% organic products
that originate from outside the EU or that are imported from third countries.
3.15.14 For further information on the use of the EU logo and for copies of the logo please see the
two websites listed below:
The website below shows the logo:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/files/eu-policy/logo/user_manual_logo_en.pdf
Frequently asked questions document can be downloaded from:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/files/eu-policy/logo/FAQ_logo_en.pdf

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EU logo design specification
3.15.15 You must comply with the following points and the model shown when using the EU logo.
i. The logo should appear in light green pantone 376, CMYK 50/0/100/0 and RGB
169/201/56 but may also appear in black and white where a colour form is not
practical.
ii. You may also use the black and white symbol as shown only where it is not practical
to apply in colour.
iii. On dark packaging the logo may appear in negative format using the packaging
colour instead of white.
iv. If packaging is in a single colour then the logo may also appear in that colour rather
than in green or black and white.
v. If a symbol is used in colour on a coloured background, which makes it difficult to
see, a delimiting outer line around the symbol can be used to improve contrast with
the background colours.
vi. The Organic logo of the EU shall comply with the model below:
vii. The minimum height is 9mm. The height/width ration is 1:1.5 so minimum width is
13.5mm. For exceptionally small packaging such as small sweets the logo may be
used with a height of 6mm. In such cases other logos should not appear larger than
the EU logo, such use would be seen as evidence of misuse of the exception.
viii. Other graphical or textual elements may be used along with the logo, i.e. national or
private logos but they must not interfere with the logo or any of the required
indications.
ix. If a national or private logo is green then that colour green may be used for the
European logo as well.
x. You must ensure that the logo and our certification code are placed together. You
may place them anywhere on the pack provided they are in a conspicuous place that
is easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.
Required Wording
i. All products packed and or labelled by our operators must carry our code.
ii. The code for the Organic Food Federation is: GB – ORG – 04.
iii. Our code must appear on labels in exactly that format in the same visual field as the
EU logo.
iv. You must indicate where the raw materials originate from where the Community logo
is used as follows:
➢ 'EU Agriculture', where the agricultural raw material has been farmed in the EU;
➢ 'non-EU Agriculture' where the agricultural raw material has been farmed in third
countries;
➢ 'EU/non-EU Agriculture' where part of the agricultural raw materials has been
farmed in the Community and a part of it has been farmed in a third country;

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v. If all raw materials have been farmed in only one country, the name of this specific
country, in or outside the EU, can be indicated instead.
vi. Examples of the use of the logo:
GB-ORG-04 GB-ORG-04 GB-ORG-04 GB-ORG-04 GB-ORG-04
EU Agriculture Non-EU Agriculture EU/non-EU Agriculture UK Agriculture France Agriculture

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3.16 Labelling
3.16.1 You must label products produced to this Standard as organic and use our code GB-ORG-
04.
3.16.2 You must clearly label organic products at all times with an accurate description of the
product and the label must not be misleading.
3.16.3 You must ensure that labelling is clear, concise and complies with all relevant UK legislation.
3.16.4 You must only describe products as organic and market them as organic products if the
composition of the product is 95% organic or over.
3.16.5 You must ensure that your organic products are labelled stating:
i. Your name and address and, where different, the owner or seller of the product;
ii. The name of the product or a description of the compound feeding stuff
accompanied by a reference to the organic production method;
iii. Our name and / or the code number;
iv. Where relevant the product should be labelled with an identification mark to enable
traceability of the product to its manufacturer eg batch code, or use by / best before
date.
3.16.6 If less than 95% of the content of agricultural ingredients has been produced organically the
term organic can only be used to refer to the ingredients which have been organically
produced in the list of ingredients on the product label. The ingredients list must also carry a
declaration of the proportion of the content of organic agricultural ingredients.
3.16.7 You must use the reference GB-ORG-04 on all labels for products certified by us. This
includes dispatch, transport and delivery documents.
3.16.8 You must not use our code if you import from the EU without breaking bulk. However, in
these circumstances you may use our logo. Your labels must include the code of the
certifier who licences the last process within the EU, for example EcoCert, AB Cert, etc.
3.16.9 You must use our code if you import and break bulk or carry out a further processing
operation. You may also use our logo.
Feed Labelling
3.16.10 Animal feed products can be labelled organic as long as at least 95% of the dry matter
content is comprised of organic ingredients. All ingredients of plant or animal origin
contained in the processed feed must be from the organic production method.
3.16.11 Your labels for animal feeds should be:
i. Printed with the same colour, format and character font so as not to draw more
attention to the organic reference than to the description or name of the feed;
ii. Accompanied, in the same field of vision, by an indication by weight of dry matter
referring:
a) To the percentage of feed material from the organic production method;
b) To the percentage of feed material from products in conversion to organic
farming;
c) To the percentage of feed material not organic or in conversion;
d) To the total percentage of animal feed of agricultural origin;

SECTION 3
iii. Accompanied by a list of names of feed materials from the organic production
method;
iv. Accompanied by a list of names of feed materials from products in conversion to
organic production.
3.16.12 Where feed is comprised of in conversion and / or non organic ingredients as well as
organic ingredients you may sell it with the designation “may be used in organic production
in accordance with Regulations (EC) 834/2007 and (EC) 889/2008”, provided that it
complies with this Standard.
3.16.13 Organic feed labelling must show the respective total percentages in the product of feed
materials which are organic, in conversion and from non-organic production as well as the
total percentage of the feed comprised of agricultural ingredients. The labelling must also list
the ingredients which are organic and those which are in conversion products.
Under conversion
3.16.14 You may label products with the designation “product under conversion to organic farming”,
provided that:
i. When it was harvested the land on which it was grown had completed at least
twelve months of its conversion period;
ii. The designation must not be more prominently displayed than any other indications
the product is required to carry;
iii. It is comprised only of one crop ingredient;
iv. It bears our code number.
3.17 Complaints
3.17.1 We will inform you of any complaints in writing which concern your operations.
3.17.2 You are required to investigate and respond to us on any complaints that we receive.
3.17.3 You must have a procedure on how you handle complaints made against your business or
products. You must also keep records of any complaints you receive and actions you have
taken to resolve them.
3.18 Appeals
3.18.1 From the date of a certification decision you have 14 clear days to appeal.
3.18.2 You must notify us in writing of your decision to appeal stating your grounds.
3.18.3 Once we receive your appeal request we will send you a copy of the appropriate procedure
which shows how we will process your appeal.
3.19 Sales, purchases and record keeping
3.19.1 You must keep records relating to all products, chemicals, additives, seeds, livestock and
raw materials that you sell or purchase.
3.19.2 When selling products, you must ensure all documentation that you supply with the product
clearly states that the products are either organic or in certain cases in conversion. These
products must also be listed on your current certificate of conformity and trading schedule
issued by us.

SECTION 3
3.19.3 When purchasing products, you must ensure not only the documentation supplied (delivery
note) is marked organic but that it is also accompanied by a valid certificate of conformity
and trading schedule issued by an EU recognised certification body.
3.19.4 On receipt of organic product, you must check that the items are fully packaged and that the
packaging is sealed and intact so as not to risk contamination with non organic products.
3.19.5 Imported products from outside the EU must be certified by an EU recognised certification
body.
3.19.6 Records of quantities sold and purchased must be kept and made available at your annual
audit as part of your reconciliation.
3.19.7 You must ensure that verification of the status of organic goods is undertaken at reception
and recorded.
3.20 Transport
3.20.1 Where simultaneous collection of organic and non organic products takes place you must
ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent any possible mixture or exchange with
non organic products and to ensure the identification of the organic products. You must also
keep information relating to collection days, hours, circuit and date and time of receipt.
3.20.2 You must ensure that organic products are transported to other units, including wholesalers
and retailers, only in appropriate packaging, containers or vehicles closed in such a manner
that substitution of the content cannot be achieved without manipulation or damage of the
seal.
3.20.3 The closing of packaging, containers or vehicles is not required where:
i. Transportation is direct between two certified organic operators.
ii. You must ensure that documentation accompanying the delivery meets the
requirements of labelling.
3.20.4 You must keep records on any transport operations, goods received or sent, and make sure
they are available at our inspection.
3.20.5 You must ensure during transport that organically produced feed, in conversion feed, and
non organic feed are effectively physically separated.
3.20.6 You must ensure that transport used for movement of products is clean, pest free and in
suitable condition for its use especially where non organic products have been transported
previously. This transport must be cleaned between loads, checked and records kept.
3.20.7 You must ensure organic products are separated physically or in time from non organic
products during transport.
3.20.8 You should ensure vehicles used to transport chilled or frozen goods are not only clean and
suitable but are the correct temperature for the goods that you are transporting.
3.20.9 You must keep detailed records of:
i. Products transported;
ii. Date transported;
iii. Haulier or vehicle;
iv. Cleaning between loads;
v. Packaging integrity checks;
vi. Correct documentation sent and received;
vii. Products clearly labelled and identified.

SECTION 4
ORGANIC FARMING OVERVIEW
4.1 Specific principles
4.1.1 The specific principles to be followed for crop and livestock production are set out below.
4.1.2 For crops they emphasise the importance of maintaining soil health and fertility, the principle
that the use of external inputs should be reduced to the minimum necessary, the importance
of minimising waste and the need for production methods to be in harmony with the local
environment.
4.1.3 For livestock they emphasise the importance of using breeds and strains of livestock
appropriate to organic systems and the location of the holding, the importance of using
management practices as the primary support for animal health and welfare, the principle
that the use of external inputs should be reduced to the minimum necessary, minimising
waste and the need for production methods to be in harmony with the local environment.
4.1.4 Organic production principles are:
i. Maintaining and enhancing of soil life and natural soil fertility, soil stability and soil
biodiversity preventing and combating soil compaction and soil erosion, and the
nourishing of plants primarily through the soil ecosystem;
ii. Minimising the use of non renewable resources and off farm inputs;
iii. Recycling of wastes and by products of plant and animal origin as an input in plant
and livestock production;
iv. Taking account of the local or regional ecological balance when taking production
decisions;
v. Maintaining animal health by encouraging the natural immunological defence of the
animal, as well as the selection of appropriate breeds and husbandry practices;
vi. Maintaining plant health by preventative measures, such as choosing appropriate
species and varieties resistant to pests and diseases, appropriate crop rotations,
mechanical and physical methods and the protection of natural enemies or pests;
vii. Practicing site adapted and land related livestock production;
viii. Observing a high level of animal welfare respecting species specific needs;
ix. Producing products from animals that have been raised on organic holdings since
birth or hatching and throughout their life;
x. Choosing breeds having regard to the capacity of animals to adapt to local
conditions, their vitality and their resistance to disease or health problems;
xi. Feeding livestock with organic feed composed of agricultural ingredients from
organic farming and of natural non agricultural substances;
xii. Applying animal husbandry practices, which enhance the immune system and
strengthen the natural defence against diseases, in particular including regular
exercise and access to open air areas and pasture where appropriate;
xiii. Excluding the rearing of artificially induced polyploid animals.

SECTION 4
4.2 Unit descriptions
4.2.1 A full description of your unit, premises and activity must be drawn up prior to first
inspection. This should include:
i. A map showing the boundaries of your total holding outlined in blue with the organic
area in green and any in transition land in red. Your map must also include
buildings.
ii. Field numbers including their size, cropping and whether in transition 1, 2, 3 or
organic.
iii. Livestock housing plans;
iv. The facilities used for the reception, preparation and storage of the products
intended for animal feed before and after the operations concerning them;
v. The facilities used for the storage of other products used to prepare feedingstuffs;
vi. The facilities used to store products for cleaning and disinfection;
vii. The description of the compound feeding stuff that you intend to produce, in
accordance with legislative requirements, and the livestock species or class for
which the compound feeding stuff is intended;
viii. The name of the feed materials that you intend to prepare.
ix. Details of the measures you take to guarantee compliance with this organic
Standard.
4.3 Annual audit
4.3.1 The purpose of your annual audit is to ensure that what you have done over the past year is
in line with our Standards and that all your purchases and sales are consistent with what
has occurred on the farm.
4.3.2 Before the inspector arrives, you should ensure that you have updated the following
information:
i. Farm map showing the organic area and farm plan showing the farm buildings;
ii. Rotational plan for the farm and a cropping plan by field or area;
iii. Details of seeds and transplants used including quantity purchased and their
organic status or derogation;
iv. Field records showing the dates of all the activities on that field, including details of
the quantities of all the inputs used (mineral fertilisers, pest and disease control
products, manure);
v. A livestock management plan including management of feeding, health and
reproduction;
vi. Records of livestock purchases, conversion period, all veterinary and treatment
details and identification. Details of the livestock sold, age, weight, identification
and destination. Details of animals lost and the reason;
vii. Records of animal feed purchased, the quantities fed to each type of stock and its
organic status;
viii. Details of any veterinary products used on farm detailing stock treated, products
used and withdrawal periods;

SECTION 4
ix. Records of when milk or egg production starts;
x. A waste management plan for the manure and / or where necessary details of the
organic unit where it is going;
xi. Complaints record;
xii. Details of the products sold, the quantities and the purchasers. If the sales are direct
to the final consumer then these must be kept on a daily basis;
xiii. Details of any conventional production and proof of separation;
xiv. Records of all derogations issued showing their start and end dates.
4.3.3 Failure to provide any of this information (if it is relevant to your operation) will result in a non
compliance. If the absence of information results in failure to carry out an acceptable
reconciliation it becomes a serious non compliance and your continued certification is at
risk. We will have to charge if further inspections are required due to a serious non
compliance.
4.4 Storage
4.4.1 You must manage storage areas in such a way as to ensure identification of lots and to
avoid any mixing with or contamination by products and / or substances not in compliance
with our Standards. Organic products shall be clearly identifiable at all times.
4.4.2 You must not store products other than those authorised in this Standard.
4.4.3 You may store allopathic veterinary medicinal products and antibiotics provided they have
been prescribed by a veterinarian in connection with treatment. They must be stored in a
controlled location and entered in the livestock record.
4.4.4 Where you store non organic and organic products in the same storage facility you must:
i. Store the organic products separate from the other agricultural products and / or
foodstuffs;
ii. Take every measure to ensure identification of consignments and avoid mixtures or
exchanges with non organic products;
iii. Prior to storage ensure suitable cleaning measures have been taken and the
effectiveness of them has been checked and recorded.
4.4.5 The use of ionising radiation and synthetic chemical treatments as an aid to preservation of
stored product is prohibited.
4.5 Addition of land
4.5.1 If you want to have land added to your certificate and schedule you must provide us with all
the details pertaining to the parcel of land concerned. This can be done by downloading
from our website the form for the addition of land to enter transition 1.
4.5.2 Where this land is rented from another farmer you should have a land rental agreement in
place. This agreement should provide you with an assurance that the owner will not treat
the land in any way as to invalidate the land’s organic status or conversion.

SECTION 4
4.6 Labelling in conversion crops
4.6.1 You can label crops as in conversion provided that:
i. A conversion period of at least 12 months before the harvest has been complied
with;
ii. The indication shall appear in a colour, size and style of lettering which is not more
prominent than the sales description of the product. The entire indication shall have
the same size of letters;
iii. The product contains only one crop ingredient of agricultural origin;
iv. Our certification code Organic Certification UK4 is marked clearly on the label.
v. You do not use the EU logo.
4.7 Record keeping
4.7.1 You must keep farm, activity and financial records on your unit or premises to enable us to
audit your operation to this Standard. These records will include but not exclusively as
applicable:
i. Derogations:
a) Derogation document issued by us or by Defra;
b) What the derogation is issued for;
c) Start and finish dates.
ii. Animal manure export and import details.
iii. Imported fertilizer details.
iv. Other authorised farm inputs.
v. Seed purchases and home saved seed.
vi. Farm plan, showing all buildings.
vii. Field records.
viii. Livestock management records.
ix. Purchase records (for example stock, feed).
x. Sales (for example grain, stock).
xi. Storage records.
xii. Veterinary medicine usage.
xiii. Pest control records.
xiv. Cleaning records.

SECTION 4
xv. Financial records.
xvi. Any sub contractor agreements.
xvii. Any land rental agreements.
xviii. Training records.
xix. Detailed descriptions of these records will be found in the relevant sections of this
Standard.
4.8 Horses on organic land
4.8.1 If you keep horses on organic land that are not being bred for meat production (when normal
organic rules would apply) then the following rules must be implemented to allow them to
stay on organic land without affecting its status.
4.8.2 You should feed any horses on organic land with organic or approved non organic feed. In
cases where this is not possible then feed must be GM free and records kept of purchases
and quantities.
4.8.3 If you have more than five horses you must carry out a faecal egg count prior to treating a
horse for worms.
4.8.4 If ivermectin based wormers are used the animals must be housed for two days or the dung
they produce during that period must be removed from the pasture.
4.8.5 Any manure produced by the animals will be classed as non organic and if it is to be
returned to the organic land it must be composted for at least 6 months.
4.8.6 You must provide a health plan for your animals showing how you intend to control worms
and diseases etc.
4.9 Pest control
4.9.1 You should maintain good housekeeping, cleanliness and regular turnaround of goods and
materials to ensure ways of minimising problems associated with rodents, insects and birds.
4.9.2 You should clear up all spillages surrounding waste storage facilities as soon as possible.
4.9.3 Pest control activities may be carried out by a licensed contractor or yourself having
completed an appropriate training course.
4.9.4 If you use a pest contractor you must make them aware your unit is organic and must obtain
a letter stating acknowledgement of your status.
4.9.5 General pest control should be maintained for areas of your farm including buildings, stores,
animal housing, yards and field boundaries where appropriate. You can use all legal
methods of controlling vermin.
4.9.6 You must keep an updated map to show the position of all baits and monitors as well as
electric fly killers and insect traps. All bait stations must be labelled to correspond with the
map.
4.9.7 You must keep records of all treatments carried out, detailing the date, type of infestation,
control method, materials used, the area receiving the treatment and the name of the person

SECTION 4
carrying out the treatment.
4.9.8 Traps can be used but their operation must be humane and not cause unnecessary
suffering to the animal.
4.9.9 For products used in traps and dispensers, except pheromone dispensers, the traps and
dispensers, should prevent the substances from being released into the environment and
prevent contact between the substances and the crops being cultivated. The traps should be
collected after use and disposed off safely.
4.9.10 You must clearly label all pest control chemicals and store in a controlled lockable area that
is adequately proofed.
4.9.11 You must keep COSHH safety sheets and material safety data sheets for all pest control
chemicals.
4.9.12 On farms where organic and conventional materials are stored or processed, you must only
use the methods permitted in this Standard.
4.9.13 You must not store insecticides and / or rodenticides inside food production or storage
areas.
4.9.14 No rodenticides should be used in on farm packing / processing areas, although non
poisonous monitoring baits may be used providing there is no risk of contamination
4.9.15 You must not use any synthetic insecticide in your premises where materials are stored.
Only natural pyrethrins can be used when the need arises. If you use any other insecticide
the organic materials in the vicinity will be de-classified to non organic, and no organic
materials can be brought into the vicinity where spaying took place for at least 7 days.
4.9.16 If fumigation of organic materials is necessary as a last resort to prevent further
contamination, they will lose their organic status and the event must be recorded, dated and
signed. You must inform us with full details of the proposed treatment, prior to the event.
4.9.17 Permitted materials
Name Description, compositional requirements, conditions for use
Freezing, heating &
vacuum, nitrogen and
carbon dioxide
For treatment of products and packaging.
Mechanical barriers,
sound and light, including
UV
Electrical insect killers
Licensed rodent baits For rodent control, tamper proof bait stations containing
legally approved pesticides.
In locations where there is no risk of contamination.
Pheromone traps and
sticky boards, not
containing pesticides
Where the latter are used for rodent control, they must be in
accordance with British Pest Control Association Code of
Practice.

SECTION 4
Diatomaceous earth and
amorphous silica
Dessicant dusts derived from naturally occurring sources.
Bait stations for crawling
insects containing
insecticides
4.9.18 Restricted materials
Pyrethrins, extracted from
a natural botanical source
and synergised using
Piperonyl butoxide (BPO)
derived from a natural
source eg oil and
sassafras.
These must not come into contact with any organic material
or packaging which must be removed or protected to form an
effective barrier to contact with the spraying agent.
This barrier is to remain in place for 24 hours after the
spraying has taken place.
Adequate ventilation and cleaning of product contact
surfaces must take place after the 24 hour withdrawal period
and prior to resumption of organic activities within the treated
area.
Synthetic pyrethroids. Band spraying wall / floor joints, machinery bases and
entrances.
4.9.19 Forbidden
Organo phosphorous
based products
These must not be used on site.
4.9.20 You must ask us permission to use restricted treatments under any other circumstance.
The application should detail reasons for use, substance and details of the procedures to
avoid product contamination. In exceptional circumstances, treatment may be carried out
and we must be notified within two working days.
4.9.21 No control substance can be used unless it is specifically permitted or there has been a
documented case of need to justify the use of a restricted substance.
4.9.22 For pest and disease control of crops see section 5.9.
4.10 Catastrophic circumstances
4.10.1 Defra may authorise measures, on a temporary basis, to allow organic production to
continue or recommence in the case of catastrophic circumstances as follows:
i. In the case of high mortality of animals caused by health or catastrophic
circumstances, the renewal or reconstitution of the herd or flock with non organic
animals, when organically reared animals are not available;
ii. In cases of high mortality of bees caused by health or catastrophic circumstances,
the reconstitution of the apiaries with non organic bees, when organic apiaries are
not available;
iii. The use of non organic feedingstuffs for a limited period and in relation to a specific
area by individual operators, when forage production is lost or when restrictions are

SECTION 4
imposed, in particular as a result of exceptional meteorological conditions, the
outbreak of infectious diseases, the contamination with toxic substances, or as a
consequence of fires;
iv. The feeding of bees with organic honey, organic sugar or organic sugar syrup in
case of long lasting exceptional weather conditions or catastrophic circumstances,
which hamper the nectar or honeydew production.
v. For grapes if the exceptional climatic conditions of a given harvest year deteriorate
the sanitary status of organic grapes in a specific geographical area because of
severe bacterial attacks or fungal attacks, which oblige the winemaker to use more
sulphur dioxide than in previous years to obtain a comparable final product up the
maximum content to be fixed in accordance with regulations.
4.10.2 In cases where Defra authorises a derogation for any of the above you must keep records
and details including a copy of the derogation.
4.11 Hydroponic production
4.11.1 Hydroponic Production is prohibited.
4.12 On farm processing
4.12.1 Whilst this section contains general rules for on farm processing you must consult our
processing Standard, which is available on line at www.orgfoodfed.com, prior to starting
processing.
4.12.2 You must complete a processing application form if you carry out simple on farm processing.
4.12.3 You may carry out simple processing on a dedicated organic site, once you have been
inspected for this operation. It is a separate inspection to your farm audit.
4.12.4 On farm processing is normally defined as where raw materials are processed in such a way
that traceability and reconciliation is not difficult to follow.
4.12.5 Examples of on farm processing are:
i. Cleaning;
ii. Peeling,
iii. Chopping and slicing;
iv. Packing (including bought in certified products) eg box schemes;
v. Blending (including bought in certified products) where the nature of the product is
not changed e.g. muesli;
vi. Processing of a single organic ingredient where nature is not changed eg flour
milling; simple butchery.

SECTION 5
CROP AND LAND HUSBANDRY
5.1 Converting land and crops to organic production
5.1.1 The essential elements of an organic plant production management system are soil fertility
management, choice of species and varieties, multiannual crop rotation, recycling organic
materials and cultivation techniques. Additional fertilisers, soil conditioners and plant
protection products should only be used if they are compatible with the objectives and
principles of organic production.
5.1.2 Your conversion will start from the date of application provided adequate records are
submitted.
5.1.3 You must follow this Standard throughout your conversion period to full organic status and
beyond.
5.1.4 Only crops planted on land which has completed its conversion period may be sold as
organic.
5.1.5 Your land must complete a conversion period prior to becoming fully organic of:
i. Not less than two years before sowing;
ii. For grassland at least two years before it can be harvested as feedingstuffs for
organic livestock;
iii. For perennial crops other than grassland at least three years before harvest of
products.
5.1.6 Where part of your holding is already organic and you are converting more land to organic
you must keep organically produced product and in conversion products separated and
keep records to prove this separation.
5.2 Planning conversion
Conversion Plan
5.2.1 You must submit a written conversion plan at the start of your conversion. This must cover
the period of a complete rotation and should include the following information.
i. Unit description showing operations covering your entire holding and any planned
expansion that you might undertake;
ii. Schedule of fields showing field numbers and size. This should also show
cropping and whether the field is in transition 1, 2, 3, organic or conventional and
areas which are not under agricultural crops;
iii. Cropping plan showing a complete rotation with the cultivation of legumes,
incorporation of livestock manure and other organic material to ensure the supply of
essential nutrients to the plants;
iv. Crop storage facility description showing the changes you will make to maintain
separation of organic, in conversion and non organic crops to avoid cross
contamination.
v. Livestock management plans for any livestock enterprise containing details of
conversion management and dates for proposed sales of animals / produce;

SECTION 5
vi. Map showing the boundaries of your total holding outlined in blue with the organic
area in green and any in transition land in red. Your map must also include any
buildings;
vii. Environmental conservation measures showing measures intended to increase
diversification and pest control through natural predators;
viii. Separation of buildings, equipment, access, cropping and livestock between
organic and non organic production. This is to include physical barriers.
ix. Soil management plan showing the use of organic manures, cultivation procedures
(eg soil aeration using subsoiler, avoidance of deep ploughing and early ploughing)
and use of winter cover crops;
x. Weed and pest control measures showing the programme for the control of
weeds, pests and diseases;
xi. Farm waste management showing storage and application of farmyard manure
and silage effluent to avoid pollution of water courses. This should also show
nitrogen production at the start of your conversion and proposed future production.
xii. Fertiliser records showing uses of permitted inputs and soil conditioners;
xiii. Records of how you manage these aspects of the plan must be kept up to date and
current and will form part of your annual audit.
5.2.2 Shortened conversion
Defra may decide to shorten conversion periods retroactively subject to satisfactory proof
being supplied allowing them to justify conditions have been met for a period of at least
three years:
i. Where land parcels have been previously subject to measures to ensure no
unauthorised inputs have been used;
ii. Where land parcels are natural or agricultural areas that have not been treated with
products not authorised for organic production;
iii. Your justification for a shortened conversion period must be supported by us and
include independently produced, verifiable documentary evidence that the required
conditions have been met. If we are able to support an application we will forward it
to Defra for decision. However, the maximum length of time that will be permitted to
be taken into account under these provisions is twelve months.
5.2.3 In cases where land has been contaminated or other incidents the conversion period might
be extended by either us or Defra.
5.2.4 Parcels of land which have already been converted or are in the process of being converted
that are treated with a non approved product might not have conversion time increased in
the following cases:
i. Where a compulsory disease or pest control measure has been imposed by Defra
and where degradation of the product concerned shall guarantee, at the end of the
conversion period, an insignificant level of residues in the soil and, in the case of a
perennial crop, in the plant;
ii. Where parcels of land have been authorised for treatment with non authorised
products as part of scientific tests approved by Defra the harvest following the
treatment may not be sold with reference to organic production methods.

SECTION 5
5.3 Parallel cropping and organic separation
5.3.1 Parallel production is the production of organic and non organic crops on the same unit.
5.3.2 As a general principle where there is parallel production of organic and non organic crops
the holding shall be entirely under organic management.
5.3.3 However as an exception to this general principle holdings that comprise both organic and
non organic units are allowed provided that there is effective separation between them as
follows:
i. Physical, financial and operational;
ii. Measures are in place to prevent cross contamination or substitution of non organic
products for organic products.
5.3.4 With our permission you may run organic and non organic production units in the same area
where:
i. Organic and non organic varieties of the same perennial crops, where varieties
cannot be easily differentiated provided the following conditions are met:
a) You must give a firm undertaking in your conversion plan that the non
organic area will take no longer than five years to convert. You must submit
this plan to us for approval and keep it updated at all times.
b) You must take appropriate measures to ensure the permanent separation of
the products concerned;
c) You must notify us at least 48 hours before harvest of each of the products
concerned;
d) Upon completion of the harvest you must inform us of the exact quantities
harvested and the measures applied to separate the products;
e) The conversion plan and control measures have been approved by us each
year after the start of the conversion plan;
ii. In the case of production of seed vegetative propagating material and transplants;
provided a, b, c, d and e above are met:
iii. Areas intended for agricultural research or formal education agreed by Defra;
iv. In the case of grassland exclusively used for grazing.
5.3.5 You must ensure a physical boundary or 10 meter buffer zone between organic and non
organic production in order to prevent cross contamination
5.4 General farm environmental management
5.4.1 Hedge and ditch maintenance
You should avoid cutting hedges and carrying out ditch maintenance between 1 March and
31 August. This is to encourage a diversity of wildlife and plants.
5.4.2 Members of any environmental schemes
You should inform us if you are a member of an agri environmental scheme.

SECTION 5
5.5 Soil management
5.5.1 Organic plant production should contribute to maintaining and enhancing soil fertility as well
as to preventing soil erosion. Plants should preferably be fed through the soil eco system
and not through soluble fertilisers added to the soil.
5.5.2 The essential elements of an organic plant production management system are soil fertility
management, choice of species and varieties, multiannual crop rotation, recycling organic
materials and cultivation techniques. Additional fertilisers, soil conditioners and plant
protection products should only be used if they are compatible with the objectives and
principles of organic production and this Standard.
5.5.3 You should use tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or increase soil organic matter,
enhance soil stability and soil biodiversity, and prevent soil compaction and soil erosion.
5.5.4 You should maintain and increase the fertility and biological activity of the soil by
multiannual crop rotation including legumes and other green manure crops, and by the
application of livestock manure or organic material, both preferably composted, from organic
production.
5.5.5 You should use plant production techniques to prevent or minimise any contribution to the
contamination of the environment.
5.5.6 You should rely primarily on the protection by natural enemies, the choice of species and
varieties, crop rotation, cultivation techniques and thermal processes for the prevention of
damage caused by pests, diseases and weeds.
5.5.7 You must only use products for cleaning and disinfection in plant production if they are listed
in this Standard.
5.5.8 You may be asked for appropriate soil analyses to be taken the results of which must be
submitted to us.
5.6 Farm waste management
5.6.1 You must produce a farm waste management plan covering all aspects of use of manure
including storage, silage effluent, applications, treatments and the total produced.
5.6.2 Your plan for spreading manure must be agreed by us and you must keep it up to date. You
must record any applications including type of manure used, time of year and quantity.
5.6.3 You must ensure that storage facilities for livestock manure are large enough to manage the
greatest amount of manure that you will store in any one year to preclude the pollution of
water by direct discharge or by run off and infiltration into the soil.
5.6.4 Your waste management plan including storage must be developed in line with all current
legislation and codes of practice.
5.6.5 Manure produced on your organic holding must not be exported to a non organic holding.
5.6.6 The total amount of manure applied on your holding must not exceed 170 kg of nitrogen per
year, per hectare. Where necessary you will be asked to reduce your stocking density to
avoid exceeding this limit or you must export surplus manure to another organic holding.
5.6.7 You must keep records of any manure movements.

SECTION 5
5.7 Imported fertiliser materials
5.7.1 You may use fertilisers and soil conditioners listed below.
Substances of crop or animal origin
Name Description, compositional requirement,
conditions for use
Compound products or products
containing only materials listed
hereunder:
Δ Farmyard manure Product comprising a mixture of animal
excrements and vegetable matter (animal
bedding).
Factory farming origin forbidden.
Δ Dried farmyard manure and dehydrated
poultry manure
Δ Composted animal excrements,
including poultry manure and composted
farmyard manure included.
Δ Liquid animal excrements Use after controlled fermentation and/or
appropriate dilution
Δ Composted or fermented household
waste
Product obtained from source separated
household waste, which has been submitted
to composting or to anaerobic fermentation
for biogas production.
Only vegetable and animal household waste
Only when produced in a closed and
monitored collection system, accepted by the
Defra.
Maximum concentrations in mg/kg of dry
matter: cadmium: 0.7; copper: 70; nickel: 25;
lead: 45; zinc: 200; mercury: 0.4; chromium
(total): 70; chromium (VI): 0
Δ Peat Use limited to horticulture (market gardening,
floriculture, arboriculture, nursery)
Mushroom culture wastes Initial composition of the substrate shall be
limited to products in this Standard.
Dejecta of worms (vermicompost) and
insects
Guano
Δ Composted or fermented mixture of
vegetable matter
Product obtained from mixtures of vegetable
matter, which have been submitted to
composting or to anaerobic fermentation for
biogas production.
Biogas digestate containing animal by-
products co-digested with material of plant
or animal origin as listed in this Annex
Animal by-products (including by-products of
wild animals) of category 3 and digestive
tract content of category 2 (categories 2 and
3 as defined in Regulation (EC) No
1069/2009 of the European Parliament and
of the Council) (2) must not be from factory
farming origin. The Processes have to be in
accordance with Commission Regulation
(EU) No 142/2011 (3).

SECTION 5
Not to be applied to edible parts of the crop
Δ Products or by-products of animal origin
as below:
blood meal
hoof meal
horn meal
bone meal or degelatinised bone meal
fish meal
meat meal
feather, hair and “chiquette” meal
wool
fur (1)
hair
dairy products
Hydrolysed proteins (2)
(1) Maximum concentration in mg/kg of dry
matter of chromium (VI): 0
(2) Not to be applied to edible parts of the
crop.
Products and by-products of plant origin
for fertilisers
Examples: oilseed cake meal, cocoa husks,
malt culms
Seaweeds and seaweed products As far as directly obtained by:
a) physical processes including
dehydration, freezing and grinding.
b) Extraction with water or aqueous acid
and/or alkaline solution
c) Fermentation
Sawdust and wood chips Wood not chemically treated after felling
Composted bark Wood not chemically treated after felling
Wood ash From wood not chemically treated after felling
Soft ground rock phosphate Obtained in amorphous form by heat
treatment and grinding, containing aluminium
and calcium phosphates as essential
ingredients. Product as specified in point 7 of
Annex 1A.2 to Regulation EC No 2003/2003
of the European Parliament and of the
Council relating to fertilisers, 7
Aluminium-calcium phosphate Obtained in amorphous form by heat
Annex 1A.2 of Regulation 2003/2003.
Cadmium content less than or equal to 90
mg/kg of Phosphorous oxide
Use limited to basic soils (pH>7.5)
Δ Basic slag
- Thomas phosphates
- Thomas slag
Products as specified in point 1 of Annex
1A.2 of Regulation 2003/2003.
Obtained in iron-smelting by treatment of the
phosphorus melts and containing calcium
silicophosphates as its essential ingredients.
Δ Crude potassium salt or kainit Products as specified in point 1 of Annex
From crude potassium salts
Δ Potassium sulphate, possible containing
magnesium salt
Product obtained from crude potassium salt
by a physical extraction process, containing
possibly also magnesium salts.
Stillage and stillage extract Ammonium stillage excluded
Calcium carbonate
(chalk, marl, ground limestone, Breton
ameliorant, (maerl), phosphate chalk)
Only of natural origin

SECTION 5
Magnesium and calcium carbonate Only of natural origin eg magnesian chalk,
ground magnesium, limestone
Magnesium sulphate (kieserite) Only natural origin
Δ Calcium chloride solution Foliar treatment of apple trees, after
identification of deficit of calcium
Calcium sulphate (gypsum) Natural or industrial origin containing calcium
sulphate at various degrees of hydration.
Only of natural origin.
Products as specified in point 1 of Annex 1D
of Regulation 2003/2003
Δ Industrial lime from sugar production By-product of sugar production from
sugarbeet
Δ Industrial lime from vacuum salt
production
By-product of the vacuum salt production
from brine found in mountains.
Δ Elemental sulphur Comparatively refined natural or industrial
product.
Products as specified in Annex 1D3 of
Regulation 2003/2003
Trace elements as follows: Inorganic micronutrients listed in part E of
Ann1 to Regulation 2003/2003
➢ Boric acid Obtained by the action of an acid on a borate
➢ Sodium borate Chemically obtained product containing as its
essential component a sodium borate
➢ Calcium borate Product obtained from colemanite or
pandermite containing as its essential
ingredient calcium borate.
➢ Boron ethanol amine Obtained by reacting a boric acid with an
ethanol amine
➢ Borated fertiliser in solution Obtained by dissolving boric acid and/or
sodium borate and or boron ethanol amine.
➢ Borated fertiliser in suspension Obtained by suspending boric acid and/or
sodium borate and or boron ethanol amine in
water.
Sodium chloride Only mined salt
Stone meal and clays
Leonardite (Raw organic sediment rich in
humic acids)
Only if obtained as a by-product of mining
activities
Chitin (Polysaccharide obtained from the
shell of crustaceans)
Only if obtained from sustainable fisheries or
organic aquaculture
Organic rich sediment from fresh water
bodies formed under exclusion of oxygen
(e.g. sapropel)
Only organic sediments that are by-products
of fresh water body management or extracted
from former freshwater areas
When applicable, extraction should be done
in a way to cause minimal impact on the
aquatic system.
Only sediments derived from sources free
from contaminations of pesticides, persistent
organic pollutants and petrol like substances
matter: cadmium: 0,7; copper: 70; nickel: 25;
lead: 45; zinc: 200; mercury: 0,4; chromium
(total): 70; chromium (VI): not detectable

SECTION 5
5.7.2 You must request a derogation form from us and have it authorised before you can use
any products marked above with Δ.
5.7.3 You may use biodynamic preparations.
5.7.4 You must not use mineral nitrogen fertilisers.
5.7.5 You must keep the following records:
i. Date of application;
ii. Type and amount of fertiliser;
iii. Fields
5.7.6 You may not store any fertilisers or inputs other than those listed in this section on your
agricultural holding.
5.8 Weed control methods
5.8.1 You must not use traditional herbicides and methods.
5.8.2 Weeds shall be controlled by a combination of the following measures:
i. Choice of appropriate species and varieties;
ii. Appropriate crop rotation programme;
iii. Mechanical cultivation procedures;
iv. Thermal weeding such as flame;
v. Manual control – hand weeding;
vi. Companion planting;
vii. Mulches;
viii. Under-sowing and intercropping;
ix. Livestock in orchards, etc.
5.8.3 All activities must be recorded.
5.9 Pest and disease control
5.9.1 The prevention of damage caused by pests, diseases and weeds shall rely primarily on the
protection by natural enemies, the choice of species and varieties, crop rotation, cultivation
techniques and thermal processes.
5.9.2 Where plants cannot be adequately protected from pests and disease only products listed in
this Standard can be used.
5.9.3 For products used in traps and dispensers, except pheromone dispensers, the traps and
dispensers, must prevent the substances from being released into the environment and
prevent contact between the substances and the crops being cultivated. The traps must be
collected after use and disposed off safely. You must keep records of this.

SECTION 5
5.9.4 When spraying records must be kept of each spray application including:
i. Date;
ii. Field;
iii. Crop;
iv. Stage of growth;
v. Reasons for application;
vi. Product;
vii. Permitted dose rates;
viii. Pesticide and water application rates;
ix. Start and finish times;
x. Wind speed and direction;
xi. Harvest interval;
xii. Operator.
5.9.5 You must ensure that any person conducting spray treatments is aware of your organic
status and is fully trained in accordance with UK law. Records must be kept of this training.
5.9.6 All equipment used for pest and disease control, with emphasis on spray equipment, must
be free of non permitted materials that may endanger your organic status. A full cleaning
record must be kept.
5.9.7 You must ensure that pesticides are stored in their original containers clearly labelled.
5.9.8 Pesticide storage areas should be dedicated, clearly labelled and secure. The storage area
must not allow accidental leakage of products to endanger the environment.
5.9.9 You must keep records of products and quantities purchased and all relevant material safety
data sheets and COSHH records.
5.10 Pesticides – plant protection products
5.10.1 Substances of crop or animal origin
conditions for use
Azadirachtin extracted from Azadirachta
indica (neem tree)
Basic substances Only those basic substances within the
meaning of Article 23(1) of Regulation (EC)
No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament
and of the Council(1) that are covered by the
definition of “foodstuff” in Article 2 of
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the
European Parliament and of the Council(2)
and have plant or animal origin. Substances
not to be used as herbicides, but only for the
control of pests and diseases.
Beeswax Only as pruning agent / wound protection
Hydrolysed proteins excluding gelatine

SECTION 5
Laminarin Kelp shall be either grown organically in
accordance with Article 6d or harvested in a
sustainable way in accordance with Article
6c.
Plant oils All uses authorised except herbicide
Pyrethrins extracted from Chrysanthemum
cinerariaefolium
Quassia extracted from Quassia amara Only as Insecticide, repellent
5.10.2 Micro-organisms used for biological pest and disease control
Micro-organisms Not from GMO origin
5.10.3 Substances produced by micro-organisms
Spinosad
5.10.4 Substances to be used in traps and / or dispensers
Pheromones Only in traps and dispensers
Pyrethroids (only deltamethrin or
lambdacyhalothrin)
Only in traps with specific attractants; only
against Bactrocera oleae and Ceratitis
capitata Wied.
5.10.5 Preparations to be surface-spread between cultivated plants
Ferric phosphate (iron (III) orthophosphate) Preparations to be surface-spread between
cultivated plants.’
5.10.6 Other substances from traditional use in organic farming
Δ Copper compounds in the form of copper
hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper
oxide, Bordeaux mixture, and tribasic
copper sulphate
Only uses as bactericide and fungicide up to
6kg copper per hectare per year
For perennial crops, Member States may, by
derogations from the previous paragraph,
provide that the 6kg copper limit can be
exceeded in a given year provided that the
average quantity actually used over a 5-year
period consisting of that year and of the four
preceding years does not exceed 6kg.
Ethylene
Fatty acid All uses authorised except herbicide
Δ Lime sulphur (calcium polysulphide)
Paraffin oil
Quartz sand
Sulphur
Repellents by smell of animal or plant
origin/sheep fat
Only on non-edible parts of the crop and
where crop material is not ingested by sheep
or goats.

SECTION 5
5.10.7 Other substances
Aluminium silicate (Kaolin)
Calcium hydroxide When used as a fungicide,
Only in fruit trees, including nurseries, to
control Nectria galligena
Carbon dioxide
Kieselgur (diatomaceous earth)
Potassium hydrogen carbonate (aka
potassium bicarbonate)
5.10.8 You must request a derogation form from us and have it authorised before you may use
any products marked above with Δ.
5.10.9 You must only use plant protection products that are listed in this Standard in the case of an
established threat to a crop.
5.11 Crop harvesting and storage – including cleaning
Harvest
5.11.1 You must keep records showing:
i. Harvest date;
ii. Crop harvested;
iii. Quantity harvested as organic or in conversion;
iv. Pre cleaning of machinery before harvesting.
5.11.2 You may if necessary dry crops using indirect heated air or other appropriate systems
Storage
5.11.3 Organic materials must be kept separated from non organic materials.
5.11.4 Stored products must be clearly labelled and identified in sufficient detail to allow correlation
between product and the harvest date and field data. Organic products must be clearly
identifiable at all times.
5.11.5 You must take every measure to ensure identification of consignments and avoid mixtures
or exchanges with non organic products.
5.11.6 Stores must be clean, dry, well ventilated and pest free.
5.11.7 You must ensure that machinery and equipment used in connection with storage facilities
and processes are clean and free of contaminants.
5.11.8 For cleaning and disinfection you may use:
i. Sweeping;
ii. Vacuuming;
iii. Steam cleaning
iv. High pressure water treatment;
v. Sodium hypochlorite (eg as liquid bleach). If this is used it must be rinsed with plain
water after application.

SECTION 5
5.11.9 You must keep records of all cleaning operations for stores, equipment and machinery.
Records should include:
i. Frequency of cleaning;
ii. Date of cleaning;
iii. Method of cleaning used;
iv. Operative responsible for cleaning and signed assurance of completion.
5.11.10 You must ensure that your stores are pest free and adequately proofed. All pest control
measures that are taken must be recorded and clearly documented in accordance with this
Standard.
5.11.11 All off site storage facilities must hold a current organic accreditation certificate and you
must have a copy for your records.

Organic Food Organic Food Feder ation Production Standards
SECTION 6
CROP ROTATIONS
6.1 Arable and horticultural crop rotations
6.1.1 Crop rotation is the cornerstone of your organic production. A balanced system will help
build fertility, vary the demands on the soil and provides nutrients for the crops whilst helping
limit the spread of disease and weeds.
6.1.2 You must supply us with a breakdown of crops produced on a field by field basis at your
annual inspection.
6.1.3 Soil analysis should be carried out to establish current nutrient levels and to help manage
the land effectively, ensuring that you do not build up excessively high nutrient indices (eg
phosphate, potash etc) or deplete the soil of nutrients.
6.1.4 Your crop rotation must be based on the principles outlined below and also be documented
to show proposed cropping for future years. It must include:
i. The use of fertility building crops (eg peas, clover), green manures and farmyard
manure to enhance the soil nutrient status;
ii. The soil must be managed to enhance structure and composition via the use of
crops with varying rooting characteristics ie deep rooting, shallow rooting and dense
root system.;
iii. Maintaining soil cover throughout the year, reducing the risk of run off, erosion and
leaching;
iv. Sufficient time left in between similar crops that can harbour the same pests and
diseases;
v. No continuous cropping is allowed.
6.1.5 All fields are different and should be managed according to their needs, utilising a balanced
crop rotation to maintain good soil fertility ie fertility building, followed by nutrient depleting
crops.
6.1.6 When producing crops that do not fit into a rotation ie perennials – vines, orchards,
permanent pasture or protected cropping etc, they must still be managed in accordance with
these Standards.
6.2 Seeds, transplants and vegetative materials
6.2.1 You must use organic seed and seed potatoes. To check organic seed availability you
must visit the UK organic seed database at www.organicxseed.co.uk. If organic seed is
unavailable you should then apply to us for a derogation to use non organic untreated and
GM free seed.
6.2.2 Any derogation will only be valid for one growing season.
6.2.3 For the production of organic seed the mother plant must be produced in accordance with
this Standard for at least one generation.
6.2.4 For the production of vegetative propagating material the parent plant must be produced in
accordance with these Standards for at least two growing seasons.
6.2.5 You must keep records of seed and transplant material including:

Organic Food Organic Food Feder ation Production Standards
SECTION 6
i. Sources, varieties and quantities;
ii. Details of quantities purchased, sown and field records;
iii. Status of any seed used or purchased;
iv. Justifications for requesting the use of non organic seeds;
v. Derogations issued to you for the use of non organic seed;
vi. Declarations of non GM inclusion;
vii. Evidence that the seed is untreated.
6.2.6 You must ensure that all forage seed mixes are sourced from organic suppliers and have a
minimum organic seed content required by the Control Authority for the year of planting.
6.2.7 Only in extreme circumstances might you be given a derogation for purchasing forage seed
mixes at a lower percentage and you must prove that every element of the seed mix is
unavailable in an organic form.

SECTION 7
GRASSLAND AND FORAGE
7.1 Grassland management
7.1.1 Grassland should contain sufficient clover to provide the required soil fertility and quality of
forage required in an organic system.
7.1.2 Field operations should be carried out at appropriate times of year to minimise the impact on
wildlife eg ground nesting birds.
7.1.3 Soil analysis should be carried out to establish current nutrient levels and to help manage
the land effectively, ensuring that you do not build up excessively high nutrient indices (eg
phosphate, potash etc) or deplete the soil of nutrients.
7.1.4 Permanent pasture must be growing for at least five years.
7.2 Forage production
7.2.1 You must comply with all current legislation regarding the making and storage of silage.
7.2.2 You must ensure that you have sufficient storage capacity for all effluent produced and
ensure that no effluent pollutes ground water or watercourses. This obviously applies to
clamped silage but also to any other form of storage eg silage bags, bales, etc.
7.2.3 The following preservatives must only be used for silage when weather conditions do not
allow for adequate fermentation.
i. E236 Formic acid
ii. E260 Acetic acid
iii. E270 Lactic Acid
iv. E280 Propionic acid
7.2.4 The use of enzymes, yeasts and bacteria can be used as silage additives.

SECTION 8
SPECIALIST OPERATIONS
8.1 Mushrooms
8.1.1 You must only use substrates for mushroom production if they are composed of the
following components:
i. Farmyard manure and animal excrements:
a) Either from holdings producing according to the organic production method;
b) Or you can use 25% of the weight of total components of the substrate, excluding
the covering material and any added water, before composting from the list below:
Substances of crop or animal origin
conditions for use
Δ Compound products or products
containing only materials listed hereunder:
Farmyard manure
Product comprising a mixture of animal
excrements and vegetable matter (animal
bedding).
Δ Dried farmyard manure and dehydrated
poultry manure
Δ Composted animal excrements, including
poultry manure and composted farmyard
manure included.
Δ Liquid animal excrements Use after controlled fermentation and/or
appropriate dilution
Δ Composted or fermented household
waste
Product obtained from source separated
household waste, which has been submitted
to composting or to anaerobic fermentation
for biogas production.
Only vegetable and animal household waste
Only when produced in a closed and
monitored collection system , accepted by
the Defra.
matter: cadmium: 0.7%; copper: 70; nickel:
25; lead: 45; zinc: 200; mercury: 0.4;
chromium (total): 70; chromium (VI): 0
Δ Peat Use limited to horticulture (market gardening,
floriculture, arboriculture, nursery)
Mushroom culture wastes Initial composition of the substrate shall be
limited to products in this Standard.
Dejecta of worms (vermicompost) and
insects
Guano
Δ Composted or fermented mixture of
vegetable matter
Product obtained from mixtures of vegetable
matter, which have been submitted to
composting or to anaerobic fermentation for
biogas production.
Δ Products or by-products of animal origin
as below:
blood meal
hoof meal
horn meal
bone meal or degelatinised bone meal
meal
Maximum concentration in mg/kg of dry
matter of chromium (VI): 0

SECTION 8
fish meal
meat meal
feather, hair and “chiquette” meal
wool
fur
hair
dairy products
Products and by-products of plant origin for
fertilisers
Examples: oilseed cake meal, cocoa husks,
malt culms
Seaweeds and seaweed products As far as directly obtained by:
a) physical processes including
dehydration, freezing and grinding.
b) Extraction with water or aqueous acid
and/or alkaline solution
c) Fermentation
ingredients.Product as specified in point 7 of
Δ Basic slag
-Thomas phosphates
- Thomas slag
Δ Potassium sulphate, possible containing
magnesium salt
Calcium carbonate
(chalk, marl, ground limestone, Breton
ameliorant, (maerl), phosphate chalk)
Magnesium and calcium carbonate Only of natural origin eg magnesian chalk,
Δ Industrial line from sugar production By-product of sugar production from
sugarbeet
Δ Industrial lime from vacuum salt By-product of the vacuum salt production

SECTION 8
production from brine found in mountains.
product.
➢ Boric acid Obtained by the action of an acid on a borate
➢ Sodium borate Chemically obtained product containing as its
➢ Calcium borate Product obtained from colemanite or
➢ Boron ethanol amine Obtained by reacting a boric acid with an
ethanol amine
➢ Borated fertiliser in solution Obtained by dissolving boric acid and/or
➢ Borated fertiliser in suspension Obtained by suspending boric acid and/or
water.
ii. Products of agricultural origin, other than those referred to in point (a), from holdings
producing according to organic production method;
iii. Peat not chemically treated;
iv. Wood, not treated with chemical products after felling;
v. Mineral products referred to in the above list, water and soil;
vi. You must request a derogation form from us and have it authorised before you may
use any products marked above with Δ.
8.1.2 You must not grow organic and non organic mushrooms in the same house.
8.1.3 You must keep records of the following:
i. Composition of your substrate;
ii. Declarations that the components have not been chemically treated or contain GM;
iii. Sales and purchases;
iv. Any other records required in other parts of this Standard for the production of
organic produce.
8.2 Wild
8.2.1 Wild land has not had any agricultural inputs applied to it and is free from any human inputs
other than basic environmental management. Parks and parkland are not considered as
wild.
8.2.2 The collection of wild plants and their parts, growing naturally in natural areas, forests and
agricultural areas is considered an organic production method provided that:
i. Those areas have not, for a period of at least three years before the collection,
received treatment with products other than those authorised for use in this
Standard;

SECTION 8
ii. The collection does not affect the stability of the natural habitat or the maintenance
of the species in the collection area.
8.2.3 You must produce a map detailing your collection, processing, storage and packing areas.
8.2.4 You must draw up a full description of the activity and practical measures to ensure that you
comply with all relevant parts of this Standard.
8.2.5 Wild plants, tree products and edible fungi must be collected from an uncultivated area of
land or forest which is not within the curtilege of any source of pollution.
8.2.6 You are only permitted to collect wild plants when there is a sufficient number of the target
species available so as not to compromise sustainability as follows:
i. Tree products, plants and fungi which grow in the wild habitat are not cultivated and
are isolated from any polluting effects of the activities in farming, industry or road
traffic.
ii. Wild plants, trees, bushes etc and their produce is not treated with agrochemicals.
8.2.7 When products have a wild and an organic content any labelling suggesting that the product
is organic or contains organic ingredients must comply in fully with this Standard.
8.2.8 Gathering wild plants, tree products and edible fungi
Gathering of wild plants, tree products and edible fungi must be supervised or carried out by
a person who is fully trained and qualified to correctly identify the species and
circumstances under which it may be gathered. They should also be able to demonstrate
expert knowledge of the identification of species of these, their growth characteristics,
mycology and safety (of consumption).
8.2.9 The quantity of material gathered must not endanger the sustainability of the species or the
normal growth of other nearby vegetation. You must not gather any species that are rare or
endangered. It is also forbidden to disturb nesting birds or animals in the course of gathering
wild fare.
8.2.10 You must keep records of the date, location, species and the quantity gathered. This must
be signed by the person carrying out or supervising the gathering.
8.2.11 It is essential that everyone responsible for gathering of wild plant products and edible fungi
work within the framework of an agreed Collection and Conservancy Plan (CCP) and that
they are conversant with local and national conservation plans and with the Convention on
International Trade in the Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITIES)
8.2.12 You must ensure that the species are held in pre cleaned bins or boxes without mixing
species. Each box must be labelled to show species and date of gathering and traceability
with the gathering record.
8.2.13 After gathering the wild fare must be transported to a clean, dry, infestation free store to
await further processing or sale to a retailer or caterer. The optimum temperature will be 7-
100C. Wild plants and edible fungi quality deteriorates fairly quickly after gathering so
storage should be maximum 24 - 36 hours after gathering.
8.2.14 When wild harvest is sold to retailers and handlers (processors, restaurants etc), you must
retain its identity and a record must be kept of the customer, the commodity and quantity
sold.
8.2.15 This Standard allows wild plants to be used in organic products as organic ingredients
providing that they can be proved to be wild.
8.2.16 Collection/Culling and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). A plan must be
drawn up by the personnel responsible for management of the wild habitat which shows the

SECTION 8
species of flora or fauna that inhabit it, the approximate density or population, the growing or
breeding season and from this they should determine the quantity of wild produce that can
be gathered without causing depletion of stocks or having any impact on biodiversity.
8.3 Watercress
8.3.1 Section not in use
8.4 Yeast
8.4.1 You must only use organically produced substrates for the production of organic yeast.
8.4.2 Organic yeast must not be present in organic food or feed together with non organic yeast.
8.4.3 For the production, confection and formulation of yeast only the following substances may
be used:
preparations of micro-organisms and enzymes normally used in food processing; however,
enzymes to be used as food additives have to be listed in 6.5.2;
drinking water and salt (with sodium chloride or potassium chloride as basic components)
generally used in food processing;
Name Primary Yeast Yeast confections
/ formulations
Specific conditions
Calcium chloride X
Carbon dioxide X X
Citric acid X For the regulation of pH in
yeast production
Lactic acid X For the regulation of pH in
yeast production
Nitrogen X X
Oxygen X X
Potato starch X X For filtering
Sodium carbonate X X For the regulation of the pH
Vegetable oils X X Greasing, releasing or anti-
foaming agent
8.4.4 The addition of up to 5 % non-organic yeast extract or autolysate to the substrate
(calculated in dry matter) is allowed for the production of organic yeast, where operators are
unable to obtain yeast extract or autolysate from organic production.
8.4.5 The availability of organic yeast extract or autolysate shall be re-examined with a view to
withdrawing this provision.

SECTION 9
GENERAL LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY REQUIREMENTS
9.1 Management and welfare of organic livestock
9.1.1 Livestock production provides the necessary organic matter and nutrients for cultivated land
and accordingly contributes towards soil improvement and the development of sustainable
agriculture.
9.1.2 In order to preserve natural resources organic production of livestock should in principle
provide a close relationship between such production and the land, suitable multiannual
rotation systems and the feeding of livestock with organic farming crop products.
9.1.3 Welfare of livestock is of paramount importance to us. As part of this we support
unreservedly the Five Freedoms.
i. Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition;
ii. Freedom from discomfort;
iii. Freedom from pain, injury or disease;
iv. Freedom from fear and distress;
v. Freedom to display most normal patterns of behaviour.
9.1.4 Livestock must be fed with organic feed that meets the animal's nutritional requirements at
the various stages of its development.
9.1.5 You must ensure that any suffering, including mutilation, shall be kept to a minimum during
the entire life of the animal including at the time of slaughter.
9.1.6 You must not tether or isolate livestock unless justified on the grounds of safety, welfare or
veterinary reasons and then only for a limited period of time.
9.1.7 Landless production of livestock is not allowed. If you do not have land you can rent
organic land for the purposes of grazing your livestock as long as you have a written
agreement.
9.1.8 You should when selecting breeds and strains of livestock choose an appropriate stock for
organic systems and the location of the holding.
9.1.9 You must not use substances to promote growth or production (including antibiotics,
coccidiostatics and other artificial aids for growth promotion purposes), hormones or similar
substances to control reproduction or for other purposes (eg induction or synchronisation of
oestrus).
9.1.10 You should give preference to indigenous breeds and strains of livestock in your selection.
9.1.11 You must ensure that the number of livestock is limited with a view to minimising
overgrazing, poaching of soil, erosion, or pollution caused by animals or by the spreading of
their manure.
9.1.12 With regard to husbandry practices and housing conditions:
i. Personnel keeping animals must possess the necessary basic knowledge and skills
as regards the health and the welfare needs of the animals;

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ii. Husbandry practices, including stocking densities, and housing conditions must
ensure that the developmental, physiological and ethological needs of animals are
met;
iii. The livestock must have permanent access to open air areas, preferably pasture,
whenever weather conditions and the state of the ground allow this unless
restrictions and obligations related to the protection of human and animal health are
imposed on the basis of Community legislation.
9.2 Conversion
9.2.1 Your conversion period will start from the date you applied to us.
9.2.2 During conversion you must follow all the rules in this Standard.
9.2.3 As a rule for livestock to be organic it must be born and raised on organic holdings.
However, by exception livestock on the holding at the start of its conversion and livestock
brought in to start an organic enterprise may be converted to organic in certain
circumstances. You must consult with us on managing this provision.
9.2.4 Animals or animal products produced during the conversion period must not be marketed as
organic.
9.2.5 It is possible to convert your unit in a number of ways and you must decide which method of
conversion you will undertake and enter it into your management plan prior to start of
conversion.
9.2.6 All land used for organic livestock production must be subject to a conversion period. These
are:
i. Two years in the case of land for ruminants and herbivores;
ii. One year in the case of land for non ruminants.
9.2.7 The conversion period for the land associated with non ruminant production will be one year
for pasture and open air areas. This period may be further reduced to six months where the
land concerned has not during the last year, received treatments with products not
authorised for organic production and you can submit evidence and records to us to prove
this.
9.2.8 Simultaneous conversion is where the entire production unit goes through conversion
including livestock, grassland and any land used for animal feed. The conversion period for
this is usually two years if the animals are mainly fed with products from your unit.
9.2.9 Where animals existing on the holding at the beginning of simultaneous conversion their
products may be deemed organic after compliance with the conversion period.
9.2.10 You can introduce organic stock on to your land at the end of the conversion period.
9.2.11 Non organic livestock for breeding purposes may be brought on to your holding only when
organic animals are not available in sufficient number. The animals and their products will
be deemed to be organic after compliance with this Standard and the relevant conversion
periods.
9.2.12 In order to determine how long your conversion will take a period immediately preceding the
start of the conversion time may be taken into account in so far as certain conditions occur.

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9.3.1 You must take into account the choice of breeds or strains when bringing livestock on to
your unit including:
i. The capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions;
ii. Their vitality and their resistance to disease;
iii. Selection to avoid specific diseases or health problems associated with some
breeds or strains used in intensive production, such as porcine stress syndrome,
PSE Syndrome (pale soft exudative), sudden death, spontaneous abortion and
difficult births requiring caesarean operations.
iv. Preference is to be given to indigenous breeds and strains.
9.3.2 For the purpose of breeding, non organically raised animals may be brought onto your
holding only when there is not sufficient organic livestock available and under specific
conditions. Such animals and their products may be deemed organic after compliance with
the conversion period. This will be reviewed with a view to phasing it out.
9.3.3 When a herd or flock is constituted for the first time non organic young mammals will be
reared in accordance with this Standard immediately after they are weaned subject to
restrictive conditions in the particular livestock section. This will be reviewed with a view to
phasing it out.
9.3.4 For the renewal of a herd or flock non organic adult male and nulliparous females may be
used and must be reared subsequently in accordance with this Standard. Renewals are
subject to restrictive conditions and percentages as shown in the particular livestock section
of this Standard. This will be reviewed with a view to phasing it out.
9.3.5 Reproduction of animals must use natural methods. However artificial insemination is
allowable.
9.3.6 You must not induce reproduction by treatment with hormones or similar substances, unless
as a form of veterinary therapeutic treatment in case of an individual animal.
9.3.7 Other forms of artificial reproduction, such as cloning and embryo transfer, must not be
used.
9.3.8 Where you obtain livestock from non organic units, special measures such as screening
tests or quarantine periods may apply, depending on local circumstances.
9.4 Parallel production of livestock and organic separation
9.4.1 If your unit has both organic and in conversion livestock you must ensure that organic and in
conversion livestock are clearly separate and records are kept showing details of the
separation.
9.4.2 Non organic livestock may be present on your holding provided they are reared on units
where the buildings and parcels are separated clearly from the organic units covered by this
Standard and a different species is involved.
9.4.3 With our approval and provided that the following conditions are met your non organic
holding can be allowed not to be subject to this Standard. These conditions are:
i. Physical, financial and operational separation;

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ii. Necessary measures are taken to prevent cross contamination or substitution.
9.5 Livestock management plans
9.5.1 You must provide us with a plan of your holding including a full description of:
i. Livestock buildings,
ii. Pasture, open air areas, etc;
iii. Where applicable, the premises for the storage, packaging and processing of
livestock, livestock products, raw materials and inputs.
9.5.2 You must produce a management plan for all livestock on your holding, covering all aspects
of production. Part of this should contain a veterinary health plan, specific to each livestock
species. Suggested headings for this document are:
i. Name and address of the holding;
ii. Veterinary surgeon name and contact details;
iii. Membership of schemes eg farm assurance, etc;
iv. General overview covering disease prevention, species rotation, grassland
management and crop rotation;
v. Stocking policy;
vi. Replacement policy;
vii. Feeding;
viii. Housing;
ix. Bio security;
x. Routine animal health procedures;
xi. Animal parasite control – internal and external;
xii. Treatment records.
9.5.3 You may find it useful to develop your health plan in conjunction with the template produced
by the Bristol Welfare Assurance Programme.
9.5.4 Your plan must contain records of inputs and outputs to enable us to carry out a satisfactory
audit.
9.5.5 You should base disease prevention on breed and strain selection, husbandry management
practices, high quality feed and exercise, appropriate stocking density and adequate and
appropriate housing maintained in hygienic conditions.
9.5.6 Management practices must be the primary support for animal health and welfare, keeping
the use of external inputs to the minimum.
9.5.7 You must not routinely carry out mutilations such as attaching elastic bands to the tails of
sheep, tail docking, cutting teeth, trimming beaks and dehorning. However, we may
authorise some of these operations for reasons of safety, health, welfare or hygiene on a

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case by case basis on recommendation by your veterinarian.
9.5.8 You must reduce any suffering to your animals to a minimum by applying adequate
anaesthesia and / or analgesia and by carrying out the operation only at the most
appropriate age by qualified personnel. Any treatments must be recorded in your veterinary
medicine records.
9.5.9 Physical castration is allowed in order to maintain the quality of products and traditional
production practices but only under the conditions set out in 9.1.10.
9.6 Veterinary treatments
9.6.1 You must treat immediately any sick or injured animals to avoid their suffering, if necessary
in isolation and in suitable housing.
9.6.2 You must give a good reason for using veterinary treatments and justifications could include:
i. Faecal egg counts
ii. Soil or feed analysis
iii.Veterinarian recommendation
9.6.3 You may use phytotherapeutic, homoepathic products, trace elements and products listed
below in preference to chemically synthesized allopathic veterinary treatment or antibiotics,
provided that their therapeutic effect is effective for the species of animal, and the condition
for which the treatment is intended.
Feed materials of mineral origin
Calcareous marine shells
Maerl
Lithotamn
Calcium gluconate
Calcium carbonate
Defluorinated monocalciumphosphate
Defluorinated dicalciumphosphate
Magnesium oxide (anhydrous magnesia)
Magnesium sulphate
Magnesium chloride
Magnesium carbonate
Calcium magnesium phosphate
Magnesium phosphate
Monosodium phosphate
Calcium sodium phosphate
Sodium chloride
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium sulphate
Potassium chloride
9.6.4 You may use feed additives and certain products used as in animal nutrition and processing
aids and non organic feed materials of plant origin if they are listed in our processing
Standard under the feed section.
9.6.5 You must not use chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or
antibiotics for preventive treatment.

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9.6.6 Chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products including antibiotics may be
used where necessary and under strict conditions, when the use of phytotherapeutic,
homeopathic and other products are ineffective.
9.6.7 If you use chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics
these must be used under the responsibility of a veterinarian.
9.6.8 With the exception of vaccinations, treatments for parasites and compulsory eradication
schemes where livestock receives:
i. more than three courses of treatments with chemically synthesised allopathic
veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics within 12 months, or more than one
course of treatment if their productive lifecycle is less than one year;
ii. the livestock concerned, or produce derived from them, may not be sold as organic
products;
the livestock shall undergo reconversion.
9.6.9 You must not use substances to promote growth or production (including antibiotics,
coccidiostatics and other artificial aids for growth promotion purposes), hormones or similar
substances to control reproduction or for other purposes (eg induction or synchronisation of
oestrus).
9.6.10 You must ensure that the withdrawal period for medicinal products used on livestock is twice
the legal withdrawal period. In cases where this period is not specified the withdrawal
period is 48 hours.
9.6.11 You may store allopathic veterinary products and antibiotics on holdings providing they have
been prescribed by your veterinarian.
9.6.12 You must clearly label all veterinary products, including drugs and medicines, and store in a
controlled locked area. These items must be entered into the relevant records.
9.6.13 You must clearly identify treated livestock individually in the case of large animals or by
batch in the case of poultry and small animals.
9.6.14 You must notify us of treatments to your animals and they must have completed the
statutory and organic withdrawal period before they can be marketed as organic.
9.6.15 You must keep records for disease prevention and treatment and veterinary care. The
records should include:
i. Date of treatment;
ii. Identification of animal or group of animals;
iii. Details of the diagnosis;
iv. Dosages (posology);
v. Type of treatment product;
vi. Active ingredients involved;
vii. Method of treatment;
viii. Veterinary prescription for veterinary care with reasons;

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ix. Withdrawal periods applying before livestock products can be marketed labelled as
organic.
9.6.16 You may use immunological veterinary medicines.
9.6.17 You must carry out treatments related to the protection of human and animal health that are
imposed by Defra.
9.7 Control of specific ailments
9.7.1 Organophosphates are permitted for controlling ectoparasites only when you can show that
no suitable alternative is available.
9.7.2 Before you use an OP product you must apply to us in writing for approval.
9.7.3 You must send us a copy of a letter from your veterinary surgeon confirming why non OP
treatments are not suitable or are ineffective.
9.7.4 When we have approved the treatment we will confirm it in writing to you.
9.7.5 If you use OP dip some certification bodies will not allow their operators to accept animals/
meat that has been treated with organophosphate based products.
9.8 Grazing and feeding of livestock
9.8.1 Your livestock must have access to areas of open air that may be partially covered as
described in the relevant sections of this Standard.
9.8.2 You may use organic pasturage for 120 days each year to graze non organic livestock
provided that such animals come from non intensive farming systems and that organic
animals are not present at the same time on that pasture.
9.8.3 Common land: Organic animals may be grazed on common land, providing that:
i. The land has not been treated with products not authorised for organic production
for at least three years;
ii. Any non organic animals which use the land concerned are derived from a non
intensive farming system;
iii. Any livestock products from organic animals, whilst using this land, shall not be
regarded as being from organic production, unless adequate segregation from non
organic animals can be proved;
iv. You must consult us if you intend to use common land and record this in your farm
management plan;
v. Organic livestock shall be kept separate from other livestock. However, grazing on
common land by organic animals and of organic land by non organic animals is
permitted under certain restrictive conditions.
9.8.4 During transhumance animals may graze on non organic land provided they are being
moved on foot from one grazing area to another. The uptake of non organic feed, in the form
of grass and other vegetation on which the animals graze, during this period shall not
exceed 10 % of the total feed ration per year. This figure shall be calculated as a percentage
of the dry matter of feedingstuffs from agricultural origin and records must be kept.

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9.8.5 You must keep records of all feed and grazing.
9.8.6 Your feed must be from organic feed materials unless it is not available on the market in
organic form or external catastrophic circumstances such as (e.g. weather, infectious
disease) make it impossible to obtain. Where feed is not available organically it might be
possible to get a derogation for the use of non organic feed from us.
9.8.7 Your feed should mainly come from your holding where the animals are kept or from other
organic holdings in the same region and may comprise feed from holdings that are in
conversion.
In conversion feeds
9.8.8 For feed rations formula you may use up to 30 % on average of in conversion feedingstuffs.
When the in conversion feedingstuffs comes from you own unit this percentage may be
increased to 100 %.
9.8.9 You may also use up to 20% of the total average amount of feedingstuffs fed to the livestock
from grazing or harvesting of permanent pastures or perennial forage land in its first year of
conversion provided it comes from part of the holding itself and has not been part of an
organic production unit of that holding in the last five years.
9.8.10 When you use both in conversion feedingstuffs and feedingstuffs from land in its first year of
conversion, the total combined percentage of such feedingstuffs shall not exceed the
maximum percentage fixed in para 9.8.8.
9.8.11 The amounts of in conversion feed should be calculated annually as a percentage of the dry
matter of feedingstuffs of plant origin.
9.8.12 You should use feed sourced from organic production and other natural substances, to
reduce the use of additives and processing aids and keep the use of external inputs to a
minimum.
9.8.13 Livestock must have permanent access to pasture or roughage.
9.8.14 You may only use non organic feed materials from plant origin, feed materials from animal
and mineral origin, feed additives, certain products used in animal nutrition and processing
aids if they are listed in this Standard or authorised by us in writing.
9.8.15 You must not feed your livestock growth promoters and synthetic amino acids.
9.8.16 Suckling mammals must be fed with natural, preferably maternal, milk.
9.8.17 You must not keep livestock in conditions, or on a diet, which may encourage anaemia.
9.8.18 You must not force feed animals. The fattening practices shall be reversible at any stage of
the rearing process.
9.8.19 Where sufficient quantities of vitamins A, D and E cannot be obtained through animal feed
you may request a derogation from us to allow the addition of synthetic vitamins A, D and E.
However you must be able to present documented veterinary evidence to support the
derogation request.

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9.9 Compound feed records
9.9.1 You must keep full and detailed records of:
i. Any feeds brought in;
ii. Production records (date, quantity, ingredients and labelling);
iii. Raw materials used (quantities, supplier and organic status);
iv. Sales figures;
v. Records of composition (dry matter inclusion, supplements added).
9.10 General housing requirements of livestock
9.10.1 Housing for livestock should include insulation, heating and ventilation of the building that
ensures air circulation, dust level, temperature, relative air humidity and gas concentration,
are kept within limits which are not harmful to the animals.
9.10.2 The building shall have ample natural ventilation and light to enter.
9.10.3 You do not need to house livestock in areas with appropriate climatic conditions to enable
animals to live outdoors.
9.10.4 Your stocking densities in buildings must provide for:
i. Comfort;
ii. Well being;
iii. Species specific needs of the animals which, in particular, shall depend on the
species;
iv. Breed and the age of the animals;
v. Behavioural needs of the animals, which depend in particular on the size of the
group and the animals' gender;
vi. The density shall ensure the animals' welfare by providing them with sufficient
space to stand naturally, lie down easily, turn round, groom themselves, assume all
natural postures and make all natural movements such as stretching and wing
flapping.
9.10.5 You must observe the minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas, and other
characteristics of housing for different species and categories of animals, are laid down in
the individual livestock section of this Standard.
9.10.6 Your livestock housing must have smooth, but not slippery floors and at least half of the
indoor surface area as specified in relevant sections of this Standard must be solid, that is,
not of slatted or of grid construction.
9.10.7 Your housing must provide:

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i. Comfortable, clean and dry laying / rest areas of sufficient size, consisting of a solid
construction which is not slatted;
ii. Ample dry bedding strewn with litter material in the rest area;
iii. The litter shall comprise straw or other suitable natural material;
iv. The litter may be improved and enriched with any mineral product listed below:
ingredients.Product as specified in point 7 of
Δ Basic slag
-Thomas phosphates
- Thomas slag
Δ Potassium sulphate, possible
containing magnesium salt
Calcium carbonate
(chalk, marl, ground limestone,
Breton ameliorant, (maerl),
phosphate chalk)
Magnesium and calcium
carbonate
Only of natural origin eg magnesian chalk,
Δ Industrial lime from sugar
production
By-product of sugar production from
sugarbeet
Δ Industrial lime from vacuum salt
production
By-product of the vacuum salt production
from brine found in mountains.
product.

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Boric acid Obtained by the action of an acid on a borate
Sodium borate Chemically obtained product containing as its
Calcium borate
Product obtained from colemanite or
Boron ethanol amine Obtained by reacting a boric acid with an
ethanol amine
Borated fertiliser in solution Obtained by dissolving boric acid and/or
Borated fertiliser in suspension Obtained by suspending boric acid and/or
water.
You must request a derogation form from us and have it authorised before you
may use any products marked above with Δ.
9.10.8 Your animal stocking density should be such as not to exceed the limit of 170 kg of nitrogen
per year and hectare of agricultural area. Tables to show the number of animals per hectare
to comply with this limit are shown in the individual livestock sections of this Standard.
9.10.9 You must keep records showing:
i. Period of housing;
ii. Bedding materials used;
iii. Frequency of changing of bedding;
iv. Trough and feeder cleaning records.
v. Any other relevant housing records.
9.11 Handling and transporting livestock
9.11.1 You must take measures to ensure that the duration of livestock transport is minimised.
9.11.2 You must not use
i. Goads;
ii. Administer tranquilizers or stimulants during loading, transport, or unloading;
iii. Electric sticks and such instruments;
iv. Any type of electrical stimulation to coerce the animals during loading and unloading
of animals.
v. Allopathic tranquillisers, prior to or during transport.
9.11.3 During transhumance animals may graze on non organic land provided they are being
moved on foot from one grazing area to another. The uptake of non organic feed, in the form
of grass and other vegetation on which the animals graze, during this period shall not
exceed 10 % of the total feed ration per year. This figure shall be calculated as a percentage
of the dry matter of feedingstuffs from agricultural origin and records must be kept.

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9.12 Livestock movement
9.12.1 You must ensure livestock movement records are maintained in the form of a register and
kept available to us at all times at your holding. Such records shall provide a full description
of the herd or flock management system comprising at least the following information:
i. Animals arriving at the holding: origin and date of arrival, conversion period,
identification mark and veterinary record;
ii. Livestock leaving the holding: age, number of heads, weight in case of slaughter,
identification mark and destination;
iii. Details of any mortalities and reasons thereof;
iv. Paperwork accompanying the livestock when sold must be marked organic.
9.13 Identification
9.13.1 You must ensure that livestock is permanently identified using techniques adapted to each
species, individually in the case of large mammals and individually or by batch in the case of
poultry and small mammals.
9.13.2 You must keep records of the identification of your livestock to allow traceability.
9.13.3 Colours for stamping meat and eggs shells must comply with EU legislation.
9.14.1 You must ensure that housing, pens, equipment and utensils are properly cleaned and
disinfected to prevent cross infection and the build up of disease carrying organisms.
Faeces, urine and uneaten or spilt feed shall be removed as often as necessary to minimise
smell and to avoid attracting insects or rodents.
9.14.2 Products for cleaning and disinfection of buildings and installations for animal production are
listed below:
Potassium and sodium soap
Water and steam
Milk of lime
Lime
Quicklime
Sodium hypochlorite (eg as liquid bleach)
Caustic soda
Caustic potash
Hydrogen peroxide
Natural essences of plants
Citric, peracetic acid, formic, lactic, oxalic and acetic acid
Alcohol

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Nitric acid (dairy equipment)
Phosporic acid (dairy equipment)
Formaldehyde
Cleaning and disinfection products for teats and milking facilities
Sodium carbonate
9.14.3 Products for the cleaning and disinfection of equipment and facilities used in the production
of aquaculture animals and seaweed. The animals must be absent during use.
Ozone
Sodium hypochlorite
Calcium hypochlorite
Calcium hydroxide
Calcium oxide
Caustic soda
Alcohol
Potassium permanganate
Tea seed cake made of natural camelia seed (use restricted to shrimp production)
Mixtures of potassium peroxomonosulphate and sodium chloride producing
hypochlorous acid
9.14.4 You must keep records detailing all cleaning carried out, the date, type of cleaning,
materials used, the area or utensils cleaned and the name of the person carrying out the
cleaning.
9.14.5 You should keep on site all relevant COSHH and MSDS sheets for the products that you
use.
9.14.6 You must ensure that cleaning instructions and procedures state the frequency and method
of cleaning, chemical used and the chemical dilution ratio.
9.14.7 You must remove by copious rinsing with potable water any traces of chemical residue that
might have been left after cleaning on food contact surfaces

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POULTRY
10.1 General
10.1.1 You must not keep poultry in cages.
10.1.2 You must ensure that water fowl have access to a stream, pond, lake or a pool whenever
the weather and hygienic conditions permit in order to respect their species specific needs
and animal welfare requirements.
10.2 Conversion
10.2.1 Your conversion period for the land associated with poultry production will be one year for
pasture and open air areas. This period may be further reduced to six months where the
this.
10.2.2 When you constitute a flock for the first time, renew or reconstitute and organically reared
poultry is not available in sufficient numbers, non organically reared poultry may be brought
on to your unit on the condition that the pullets for the production of eggs and poultry for
meat production are less than three days old and have been provided feed and veterinary
treatment in accordance with this Standard.
10.2.3 However until 31 December 2017 you may use non organically reared pullets for egg
production of not more than 18 weeks only when organically reared pullets are not available.
The pullets must have veterinary treatment and feed in accordance with this Standard and
you have an authorised derogation from us.
10.2.4 Where you obtain livestock from non organic units, special measures such as screening
tests or quarantine periods may be required, depending on local circumstances.
10.3 Laying hens
10.3.1 You must on completion of each batch of poultry leave runs empty for not less than two
months to allow vegetation to grow back and to break the cycle of parasites and diseases.
10.3.2 You must keep documentary evidence of the application of this period.
10.3.3 These requirements do not apply where poultry is not reared in batches, is not kept in runs
and is free to roam, throughout the day.
10.3.4 For breeding purposes you may use non organically raised animals on your holding and
these animals and their products may be deemed organic after compliance with the
conversion period of six weeks in the case of poultry for egg production.
10.4 Table birds
10.4.1 You must after each batch of poultry has been depleted leave runs empty for not less than
two months to allow vegetation to grow back. You must also keep records of this. These
requirements do not apply where poultry is not reared in batches, is not kept in runs and is
free to roam, throughout the day.
10.4.2 You must ensure that the total period in any one year that runs are empty must not be less
than two months per annum.

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10.4.3 For breeding purposes you may use non organically raised animals on your holding and
these animals and their products may be deemed organic after compliance with the
conversion period of 10 weeks providing they were brought in before they are three days
old.
10.4.4 When selecting your poultry using slow growing poultry strains as defined below the
minimum age of slaughter does not apply.
10.5 Housing
10.5.1 In certain cases, where poultry are kept indoors due to restrictions or obligations imposed by
Defra, they must permanently have access to sufficient quantities of roughage and suitable
material in order to meet their ethological needs.
10.5.2 You must empty buildings of livestock between each batch of poultry reared. The buildings
and fittings must be cleaned and disinfected during this time.
10.5.3 You must ensure that housing buildings for all poultry must meet the following conditions:
i. At least one third of the floor area must be solid, not of slatted or of grid
construction, and covered with a litter material such as straw, wood shavings, sand
or turf;
ii. For laying hens, a sufficiently large part of the floor area available to the hens must
be available for the collection of bird droppings.
iii. They must have perches of a size and number proportionate with the number of
birds you have;
iv. You must have exit and entry pop holes of a size adequate for the birds, and these
pop holes must have a combined length of at least 4 m per 100 m2 area of the
house available to the birds;
v. Each house must not contain more than:
➢ 4,800 chickens,
➢ 3,000 laying hens,
➢ 5,200 guinea fowl,
➢ 4,000 female Muscovy or Peking ducks,
➢ 3,200 male Muscovy or Peking ducks or other ducks,
➢ 2,500 capons, geese or turkeys
vi. The total usable area of poultry houses for meat production on any single unit must
not exceed 1600 m
2
;
vii. Poultry houses must be constructed to allow all birds easy access to open air area;
viii. Natural light can only be supplemented by artificial means to a maximum of 16
hours light per day. There must also be a continuous nocturnal rest period without
artificial light of at least 8 hours.
10.5.4 You must only use products for cleaning and disinfection and pest control as listed in this
Standard.

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10.6 Range and pasture
10.6.1 You must ensure that poultry have access to an open air area for at least one third of their
life.
10.6.2 You must ensure that areas of land are mainly covered with vegetation and are provided
with protective facilities and allow easy access to adequate numbers of drinking and feeding
troughs.
10.6.3 Open air areas should provide areas of shade.
10.7 Feed
10.7.1 You must ensure that roughage; fresh or dried fodder or silage is added to the daily ration.
10.7.2 Feed has to be from organic feed materials unless not available on the market in organic
form. Where feed is not available organically it might be possible to get a derogation for the
use of non organic feed from us.
10.7.3 At least 20 % of the feed shall come from the farm unit itself or in case this is not feasible,
be produced in the same region in cooperation with other organic farms or feed business
operators.
10.7.4 You may use non organic feed where you are unable to obtain organic feed to ensure the
requirements of your animals are met. The maximum percentage of non organic feed you
may use for 12 months shall be 5 % until 31 December 2017:
10.7.5 You may use the non organic feed materials of plant origin listed in our processing Standard
under the feed section.
10.7.6 You must calculate the figures annually as a percentage of the dry matter of feed from
agricultural origin. The maximum percentage authorised of non organic feed in the daily
ration shall be 25 % calculated as a percentage of the dry matter.
10.8 Indoor areas
Indoors area (net area available to animals) Outdoors area (m2
of area
available in rotation/head)No animals/m2
cm perch/animal nest
Laying hens 6 18
7 laying hens per nest
or in case of common
nest 120 cm2
/bird
4, provided that the limit of
170 kg of N/ha/year is not
exceeded
Fattening poultry
(in fixed
housing)
10 with a maximum of
21 kg live weight/m2
20 (for guinea fowl
only)
4 broilers and guinea fowl
4.5 ducks
10 turkey
15 geese
In all the species mentioned
above the limit of 170 kg of
N/ha/year is not exceeded
Fattening poultry
in mobile
housing
16 in mobile poultry
houses with a maximum
of 30 kg live weight/m2
Only in the case of
mobile houses not
exceeding 150 m2
floor
space.
2.5, provided that the limit of
170 kg of N/ha/year is not
exceeded

SECTION 10
10.9 Stocking rate
Livestock
Age range
or average
Body
weight kg
Occupancy
percent of year
Annual N
production kg
Animal number/ ha to
comply with maximum N
loading of 170kg N/ ha/ yr
Laying hens 2.2 98 0.66 260
Broiler place 42 days 2.2 76 0.495 340
Broiler breeder 3.4 77 0.975 170
Replacement pullets 17 weeks 1.6 38 0.125 1360
Turkeys (male) 140 days 13.5 80 0.139 120
Turkeys (female) 120 days 6.5 80 0.65 260
Ducks 50 days 3.4 85 0.90 190
Assumptions
➢ Replacement pullets, output per 20 week cycle. If there is more than one cycle per year, then adjust the
output proportionately.
➢ Broilers, output per 6.6 crops/ year, 42 day cycle (76% occupancy).
➢ Turkeys, assuming 2.1 crops/ year for male birds and 2.4 crops for female birds.
10.10 Slaughter
10.10.1 The minimum age at slaughter shall be:
i. 81 days for chickens;
ii. 150 days for capons;
iii. 49 days for Peking ducks;
iv. 70 days for female Muscovy ducks;
v. 84 days for male Muscovy ducks;
vi. 92 days for Mallard ducks;
vii. 94 days for guinea fowl;
viii. 140 days for male turkeys and roasting geese;
ix. 100 days for female turkeys.
10.10.2 When using slow growing poultry strains the minimum age of slaughter does not apply.

SECTION 11
PIGS
11.1 General
11.1.1 Your livestock must have access to areas of open air that may be partially covered.
11.1.2 You must not keep piglets on flat decks or in piglet cages.
11.1.3 You must not discourage pigs from rooting by practices such as nose ringing.
11.1.4 You must ensure that exercise areas permit dunging and rooting. For the purposes of
rooting different substrates can be used.
11.2.1 When you constitute a herd for the first time or for breeding purposes non organic young
animals may be used if:
i. They have been reared in accordance with this Standard immediately after they are
weaned;
ii. Piglets must weigh less than 35 kg.
11.2.2 To renew a herd you may bring in non organic adult nulliparous female animals under the
following restrictions (which will apply until 2012 when this will be reviewed with a view to
phasing it out):
i. These animals must be treated in accordance with this Standard from the date on
which they enter the herd;
ii. Up to a maximum of 20 % of adult pigs.
iii. If you have with less than 5 pigs any renewal as mentioned above must be limited to
a maximum of one animal per year.
11.2.3 Non organic male livestock for breeding may be brought in to your unit for a limited period
provided the animals reared and fed in accordance with this Standard when they are on
your unit.
11.2.4 In special cases and with a derogation from us approved by Defra the percentages above
may be increased up to 40 %.
i. When a major extension to the farm is undertaken;
ii. When a breed is changed;
iii. When a new livestock specialisation is initiated;
iv. When breeds are in danger of being lost to farming and in that case animals of
those breeds must not necessarily be nulliparous.
11.2.5 Where non organic livestock has been brought on to your holding the livestock products
may be considered to be organic after six months.
11.3 Feed
11.3.1 You must ensure that young animals are fed on maternal milk in preference to natural milk,
for a minimum period of 40 days.
11.3.2 You must ensure that roughage; fresh or dried fodder or silage is added to the daily ration.

SECTION 11
11.3.3 Feed has to be from organic feed materials unless not available on the market in organic
form. Where feed is not available organically it might be possible to get a derogation for the
use of non organic feed from us.
11.3.4 At least 20 % of the feed shall come from the farm unit itself or in case this is not feasible, be
produced in the same region in cooperation with other organic farms or feed business
operators.
11.3.5 You may use non organic feed where you are unable to obtain organic feed to ensure the
requirements of your animals are met. The maximum percentage of non organic feed you
may use for 12 months shall be 5 % until 31 December 2017.
11.3.7 You must calculate the figures annually as a percentage of the dry matter of feed from
agricultural origin. The maximum percentage authorised of non organic feed in the daily
ration shall be 25 % calculated as a percentage of the dry matter.
11.4 Housing
11.4.1 You must keep sows in groups except at the last stages of pregnancy and during the
suckling period.
11.4.2 The minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas and other characteristics of housing for
your pigs are listed below.
Indoors area (net area available to animals)
Outdoors area (exercise
area, excluding pasturage)
Live weight minimum (kg) M2
/head M2
/head
Farrowing sows with
piglets up to 40 days
7.5 sow 2.5
Fattening pigs Up to 50 0.8 0.6
Up to 85 1.1 0.8
Up to 110 1.3 1
Over 110 1.5 1.2
Piglets Over 40 days and up to 30 kg 0.6 0.4
Brood pigs
2.5 female 1.9
6 male
If pens are used for natural
service: 10 m2
/boar
8.0
11.5 Stocking rate
Total nitrogen production as livestock excreta and maximum NVZ stocking rates
Livestock
Age range or
average
Body weight
kg
Occupancy
percent of year
Annual N
production kg
comply with maximum
N loading of 170kg N/
ha/ yr
Maiden gilts 90-130 100 13 13
Boars 130-250 100 16 11
1 sow & litter Progeny to 7kg 130-225 100 19.5 9
Weaners 3-7.5 weeks 7-18 90 3 57
Growers dry meal 7.5-11 weeks 18-35 90 6.1 28
Light cutter, meal fed 11-20 weeks 35-85 90 9.4 18
Baconer, dry meal fed 11-23 weeks 35-105 90 10.5 16
Sows are based on 2.3 lactations, covering 23% of the year and dry period covering 77% of year. Combined output of 19.5kg
N/sow/year

SECTION 11
11.6 Conversion of land
11.6.1 Your conversion period for the land associated with pig production will be one year for
pasture and open air areas. This period may be further reduced to six months where the
this.

SECTION 14
BEEF AND DAIRY
14.1 General
14.1.1 Your livestock must have access to:
i. Areas of open air that may be partially covered.
ii. Access to pasturage for grazing whenever conditions allow.
14.1.2 If you have bulls over one year old they must have access to pasturage or an open air area.
14.1.3 Where your animals have access to pasturage during the grazing period and where the
winter housing system gives freedom of movement to the animals, the need to provide open
air areas during the winter months may be waived.
14.2 Tethering
14.2.1 You may tether cattle on a small holding if it is not possible to keep them in groups
appropriate to their behaviour requirements. A small holding is interpreted as a holding with
not more that 20 female breeding bovines and that the animals concerned are to have daily
access to pasture or open air exercise areas where weather conditions preclude access to
pasture. If you need to use this provision you must submit your request to us in writing.
14.3.1 When you constitute a herd for the first time or for breeding purposes non organic young
mammals may be used if:
weaned;
ii. Calves and buffalo must be less than six months old.
14.3.2 To renew a herd you may bring in non organic adult nulliparous female animals under the
phasing it out):
i. These animals must be treated in accordance with this Standard from the date on
which they enter the herd;
ii. Up to a maximum of 10 % of adult bovine, including bubalus and bison species,
livestock.
iii. If you have less than 10 bovine animals any renewal as mentioned above must be
limited to a maximum of one animal per year.
14.3.3 Non organic male livestock for breeding may be brought in to your unit provided the animals
are subsequently reared and fed in accordance with this Standard.

SECTION 14
14.3.4 Where non organic livestock has been brought onto your holding the livestock products may
be considered to be organic after:
i. 12 months for meat production, and at least three quarters of their lifetime;
ii. Six months in the case of cows for milk production.
14.4 Feed
for a minimum period of three months for bovines (including bubalus and bison species).
14.4.2 You must ensure that rearing systems are based on maximum use of grazing pasturage
according to the availability of pastures in the different periods of the year. At least 60 % of
the dry matter in daily rations of herbivores must consist of roughage, fresh or dried fodder,
or silage.
14.4.3 You may reduce this to 50 % for animals in dairy production for a maximum period of three
months in early lactation.
14.4.4 You should ensure that most of the feed, at least 60 %, is from the farm unit or in case this
is not feasible, be produced in cooperation with other organic farms primarily in the same
region, except during transhumance.
14.5 Housing
14.5.1 You must not house calves in individual boxes after the age of one week.
14.5.2 If you carry out the final fattening phase for cattle indoors you must ensure that this indoors
period does not exceed one fifth of the animals’ life and lasts no more than three months.
your cattle are listed below.
Indoors area (net area available to animals)
Outdoors area (exercise area,
excluding pasturage)
Live weight minimum (kg) M2
/head M2
/head
Breeding and
fattening bovine
and equidae
Up to 100 1.5 1.1
Up to 200 2.5 1.9
Up to 350 4.0 3
Over 350
5 with a minimum of 1
m2
/100 kg
3.7 with a minimum of 0.75
m2
/100 kg
Dairy cows 6 4.5
Bulls for breeding 10 30

SECTION 14
14.6 Stocking rate
14.6.1 To comply with the nitrogen requirement of 170 kg / ha per year these are the maximum
number of animals that you can have on your organic holding per hectare.
Livestock
Age range or
average
Body
weight kg
Occupancy
percent of year
Annual N
production kg
Animal number/ ha to comply
with maximum N loading of
170kg N/ ha/ yr
Dairy cow 650 100 116 1.5
Dairy cow 550 100 96 1.8
Dairy cow 450 100 76 2.2
Dairy heifer
replacement
> 2 years 500 100 58 2.9
Beef suckler cow > 2years 500 100 58 2.9
Bull beef 6-13.5 months 300 60 23 7.4
Grower fattener > 2 years 500 100 58 2.9
Grower fattener 12-24 months 400 100 47 3.6
Grower fattener 6-12 months 180 50 12 14
Calf 0-6 months 100 50 7 24
Bull 350+ 100 58 2.9

SECTION 15
SHEEP AND GOATS
15.1 General
15.1.1 Your livestock must have access to:
i. Areas of open air that may be partially covered
ii. Access to pasturage for grazing whenever conditions allow.
15.1.2 Where your animals have access to pasturage during the grazing period and where the
winter housing system gives freedom of movement to the animals, the need to provide open
air areas during the winter months may be waived.
15.2.1 When you constitute a flock for the first time or for breeding purposes non organic young
animals may be used if:
weaned;
ii. Lambs and kids must be less than 60 days old.
15.2.2 To renew a flock you may bring in non organic adult nulliparous female animals under the
phasing it out):
i. Up to a maximum of 20 % of the adult sheep and goats;
ii. If you have with less than five sheep or goats any renewal as mentioned above shall
be limited to a maximum of one animal per year.
15.2.4 Where non organic livestock has been brought onto your holding the livestock products may
be considered to be organic after six months.
15.3 Feed
for a minimum period of 45 days.
15.3.2 You must ensure that rearing systems for herbivores are based on maximum use of grazing
pasturage according to the availability of pastures in the different periods of the year. At
least 60 % of the dry matter in daily rations of herbivores must consist of roughage, fresh or
dried fodder, or silage.
15.3.3 You should ensure that most of the feed, at least 60 %, is from the farm unit or in case this
is not feasible, be produced in cooperation with other organic farms primarily in the same
region, except during transhumance.

SECTION 15
15.4 Housing
15.4.1 With our permission you may carry out the final fattening phase for sheep and goats
indoors, you must ensure that this indoors period does not exceed one fifth of the animals’
life and lasts no more than three months, this provision can only be allowed until 31
December 2010 and requires a six monthly inspection.
your sheep and goats are listed below.
Indoors area (net area available to animals) Outdoors area (exercise area, excluding pasturage)
M2
/head M2
/head
Sheep and goats 1.5 sheep/goat 2.5
0.35 lamb/kid 0.5
15.5 Stocking rate
15.5.1 To comply with the nitrogen requirement of 170 kg / ha per year these are the maximum
number of animals that you can have on your organic holding per hectare.
Livestock
Age range or
average
Body weight
kg
Occupancy
percent of year
Annual N production
kg
comply with maximum
N loading of 170kg N/
ha/ yr
Sheep
Adult ewe > 1 year 50 - 70 100 9 19
Lambs 0-6 months 4 - 40 50 1.2 140
Lambs 6-12 months 30 - 50 50 3.2 53
Ram 60+ 100 9 19
Goats 100 9 19

SECTION 16
ORGANIC AQUACULTURE
16.1 General standards
16.1.1 Aquaculture includes a wide variety of production methods involving many species in fresh,
brackish and salt water.
16.1.2 You must follow this Standard for organic production for the organisms to be labelled as
organically produced.
16.1.3 The general requirements of this Standard and for Storage, Warehouse and Transport,
Production and Processing apply to aquaculture
16.1.4 You must comply with all other sections of this Standard as appropriate.
16.1.5 This Standard also require compliance with all relevant regulations that currently are
covered by European and UK legislation. In particular, you must be registered with their
appropriate Fisheries Department and maintain records and standards that are demanded
by these organisations.
16.1.6 You must fully comply as a minimum with planning and development regulations, as well as
all relevant legislation associated with abstraction of water and its discharge and
environmental impact.
16.1.7 You must submit to us a full description detailing your aquaculture production system. The
full description of the unit must include:
i. a full description of the installations on land and at sea;
ii. the environmental assessment as outlined in paragraph 1.2.11 where applicable;
iii. the sustainable management plan as outlined in paragraph 1.2.12 where applicable;
iv. in the case of molluscs a summary of the special chapter of the sustainable
management plan as required by paragraph 2.2.10.
16.1.8 You must keep records and have them available at inspection. These records must be kept
up to date and include:
i. the origin, date of arrival and conversion period of animals arriving at the holding:
ii. the number of lots, the age, weight and destination of animals leaving the holding;
iii. records of escapes of fish;
iv. for fish the type and quantity of feed and in the case of carp and related species a
documentary record of the use additional feed;
v. veterinary treatments giving details of the purpose, date of application, method of
application, type of product and withdrawal period;
vi. disease prevention measures giving details of fallowing, cleaning and water
treatment.
16.1.9 You must not store input products on your production unit other than those listed in this
Standard.
16.1.10 You must only store veterinary medicinal products and antibiotics on your holding if they
have been prescribed by a veterinarian in connection with treatment to avoid suffering to the
animal.
16.1.11 You must not rear artificially induced polyploid animals

SECTION 16
16.1.12 You must ensure the maintenance of the biodiversity of natural aquatic ecosystems, the
continuing health of the aquatic environment and the quality of surrounding aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems in aquaculture production.
16.1.13 Organic aquaculture is based on the rearing of young stock originating from organic
broodstock and organic holdings; when young stock from organic broodstock or holdings are
not available, non-organically produced animals may be brought onto a holding under
specific conditions.
16.2 Principles
16.2.1 The principles underlying organic farming systems are to maintain a healthy and sustainable
aquatic ecosystem that is protective of the welfare of the species that are farmed. The
system must be free from inputs prohibited by this standard and must not be affected by or
cause pollution to the environment.
16.2.2 In addition to established principles for organic production, the following principles and aims
also apply to organic aquaculture:
i. The healthy use and proper care of water, water resources and all life therein
ii. The maintenance or enhancement of water quality.
16.2.3 The basic characteristics of organic fish farming systems are:
i. The production of fish of prime quality, free from artificial ingredients and with
minimal contamination from the environment.
ii. Production methods that use natural ingredients and minimise the use of external
resources.
iii. Management procedures that ensure minimal effect on the local environment.
iv. Promotion of health and welfare of fish by minimising stress, reducing the incidence
of disease and nurturing the vitality of fish through meeting their physiological and
behavioural needs.
v. Management to a high standard to minimise the need for veterinary intervention.
vi. The prohibition of pesticides.
vii. The application of appropriate standards for the goods and services used by organic
fish farms
viii. The encouragement of the use of local resources and services.
16.2.4 You must where the entire holding is not dedicated to organic production split the holding
into clearly separated aquaculture production sites.
16.2.5 Where the operator has organic and non organic units the same species may be involved,
provided that there is adequate separation between the production sites.
16.2.6 You must separate adequately organic and non-organic production units. Methods used for
separation include:
i. natural situation
ii. separate water distribution systems
iii. distances
iv. the tidal flow
v. the downstream location of the organic production unit

SECTION 16
16.2.7 You must design the husbandry environment of the aquaculture animals in such a way that,
in accordance with their species specific needs, the aquaculture animals shall:
i. have sufficient space for their wellbeing;
ii. be kept in water of good quality with sufficient oxygen levels, and
iii. be kept in temperature and light conditions in accordance with the requirements of
the species and having regard to the geographic location;
iv. in the case of freshwater fish the bottom type shall be as close as possible to natural
conditions;
v. in the case of carp the bottom shall be natural earth.
16.2.8 Your stocking density and husbandry practices are set out in section 16.16 by species or
group of species. In considering the effects of stocking density and husbandry practices on
the welfare of farmed fish, the condition of the fish (such as fin damage, other injuries,
growth rate, behaviour expressed and overall health) and the water quality must be
monitored.
16.2.9 You must design and construct aquatic containment systems that provide flow rates and
physiochemical parameters that safeguard the animals’ health and welfare and provide for
their behavioural needs.
16.2.10 Your containment systems must be designed, located and operated to minimise the risk of
escape incidents.
16.2.11 You must in the event of escape of fish or crustaceans take appropriate action to reduce the
impact on the local ecosystem, including recapture, where appropriate. You must maintain
records of this event.
16.2.12 You must provide the Federation, if you are setting up a unit producing more than 20 tonnes
of aquaculture products per year, an environmental assessment proportionate to the
production. The content of the environmental assessment shall be based on Annex IV to
Council Directive 85/337/EEC (1)
16.2.13 You must provide us with a sustainable management plan proportionate to the size of your
production unit for aquaculture and seaweed harvesting. This plan must:
i. be updated annually;
ii. detail the environmental effects of the operation;
iii. detail the environmental monitoring to be undertaken;
iv. list measures to be taken to minimise negative impacts on the surrounding aquatic
and terrestrial environments, including, where applicable, nutrient discharge into the
environment per production cycle or per annum;
v. record the surveillance and repair of technical equipment;
vi. include defensive and preventive measures taken against predators.
16.2.14 You must have verifiable coordination with the neighbouring operators in drawing up the
management plans where applicable.
16.2.15 You should use by preference renewable energy sources and recycled materials. This
should be included as part of your sustainable management plan. A waste reduction
schedule should be put in place when you start operating.
16.2.16 You should where possible ensure that the use of residual heat should be limited to energy
from renewable sources.
16.2.17 You must ensure that, where you produce aquaculture products fishponds, tanks or
raceways, your farms are equipped with either:

SECTION 16
i. natural-filter beds;
ii. settlement ponds;
iii. biological filters or mechanical filters to collect waste nutrients or use seaweeds
and/or animals (bivalves and algae) which contribute to improving the quality of the
effluent;
iv. effluent monitoring shall be carried out at regular intervals where appropriate.
16.2.18 You must when harvesting seaweed produce a once-off biomass estimate at the outset.
16.3 Management and control
16.3.1 You must have an effective quality management system which is maintained sufficient to
ensure and to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this Standard. The system
must address the specific conditions pertaining to each operation in the areas of fish
welfare, health control and environmental impact, detailing the measures (both current and
progressive) necessary to ensure sound organic management in accordance with this
Standard.
16.3.2 You should set out in a quality manual the operational requirements and control systems
within the quality management system, which you should complete in consultation with
relevant experts and agencies and prior to the first inspection.
16.3.3 The quality system should be provided with adequate resources in terms of personnel and
equipment to operate effectively. A single individual should be appointed with defined
authority and responsibility for the system’s operation and maintenance. The quality manual
should be made available to all personnel and steps taken to ensure it is understood,
implemented, and maintained at all levels within the organisation.
16.3.4 The quality system must address the following areas, for which general management
procedures and control must be detailed in the quality manual:
i. The process of conversion
ii. Environmental impact and water management
iii. Fish welfare
iv. Health control
16.3.5 In addition, the quality system must include the following components, which should also be
detailed in the quality manual:
i. A written statement setting out the quality policy of the certified organic operation.
ii. Procedures for the control of all documentation relating to the effective operation of
the system, including compliance with relevant legislation, presence for reference
purposes at relevant locations, prompt removal of obsolete documents.
iii. Procedures to review contracts with purchasers and suppliers in order to ensure
terms, product specifications, verification of compliance, return of non-compliant
goods and any subsequent changes to the contract are considered, agreed and
understood by both parties.
iv. Procedures to ensure that brought in materials and services that are critical to the
organic integrity of the operation conform to the specified requirements and where
they do not, that they are identified, segregated and returned or otherwise prevented
from inadvertent use.
v. Procedures to ensure proper storage of brought in materials where appropriate.
vi. Procedures for monitoring and controlling all production, packing and processing
operations, especially the maintenance of fish welfare and health, water quality and
environmental impact.

SECTION 16
vii. Procedures for checking accuracy of calibration of measuring and testing equipment.
viii. Procedures to review product labelling, and promotional and advertising material
relating to the organic products and their organic status in order to ensure the labels
and claims are accurate, clear and in accordance with this Standard.
ix. Procedures for dealing with complaints, including responding to them, taking any
resulting action and reporting them to senior management (and the person
responsible for the procedure).
x. Procedures for enabling product recall where necessary (and the person responsible
for the procedure).
xi. Procedures for implementing corrective action to investigate and deal with non
compliances or other conditions issued by the CB and any weaknesses identified
through analysis of records, customer complaints, management reviews and other
sources, together with follow up to ensure the corrective action is taken and is
effective.
xii. Procedures to assess periodically and identify staff training needs and to provide
training where needed, including induction training for new entrants.
16.3.6 You should review the quality system on at least an annual basis to verify the continuing
effectiveness of the system in ensuring the requirements of this Standard is met.
16.4 Conversion
16.4.1 You must have your conversion agreed by us. The plan must be drawn up in advance of the
first inspection and in particular will include the:
i. history and existing situation of the unit;
ii. the conversion schedule;
iii. changes to be made during the conversion process;
iv. environment plan;
v. health plan.
16.4.2 You must when a holding is converted ensure the units (sites) within that holding are
converted over a time scale so that all stock on the holding are managed to this Standard by
the time the first batch are ready for sale.
16.4.3 You must during a progressive conversion of a holding adequately separate the organic,
converting and non organic units and clearly identify these units in order to prevent cross-
contamination or accidental mixing. There must be sufficient physical and managerial
separation between the units to ensure that the organic operation can maintain its integrity
and can be inspected. All stock on one and the same unit must be managed to the same
Standard.
16.4.4 You must not manage a species as organic and non organic on different units of the same
holding. Different holdings under the same management or ownership rearing organic and
non organic stock of the same species must be physically, operationally and financially
separate from each other.
16.4.5 You must follow the conversion periods below for aquaculture production units for the
following types of aquaculture facilities including the existing aquaculture animals:
i. for facilities that cannot be drained, cleaned and disinfected, a conversion period
of 24 months;
ii. for facilities that have been drained, or fallowed, a conversion period of 12
months;

SECTION 16
iii. for facilities that have been drained, cleaned and disinfected a conversion period
of six months;
iv. for open water facilities including those farming bivalve molluscs, a three month
conversion period.
16.4.6 We may decide to recognise retroactively as being part of the conversion period any
previously documented period in which the facilities were not treated or exposed to products
not authorised for organic production.
16.4.7 DEFRA may permit hatcheries and nurseries to rear both organic and non organic juveniles
in the same holding provided there is clear physical separation between the units and a
separate water distribution system exists.
16.4.8 In case of grow out production, DEFRA may permit organic and non organic aquaculture
animal production units on the same holding provided section 16.2.4 is complied with and
where different production phases and different handling periods of the aquaculture animals
are involved.
16.4.9 When an operator manages several production units as provided for in this Standard, the
units which produce non organic aquaculture animals shall also be subject to the same
control system.
16.4.10 You must not switch a unit between organic and non organic management once the unit has
converted.
16.4.11 You may for the renewal or reconstitution of the aquaculture stock with non-organic
aquaculture animals following high mortalities caused by catastrophic circumstances listed
below when organically reared animals are not available and provided that at least the latter
two thirds of the duration of the production cycle are managed under organic management.
i. natural disasters;
ii. adverse climatic events;
iii. sudden water quality and quantity changes for which the operator is not
responsible;
iv. diseases in aquaculture, failure or destruction of production facilities for which the
operator is not responsible.
16.5 Breeding and young stock
16.5.1 You must use locally grown species and breeding shall aim to give strains which are more
adapted to farming conditions, good health and good utilisation of feed resources. Records
of their origin and treatment must be kept.
16.5.2 You must choose species which can be farmed without causing significant damage to wild
stocks.
16.5.3 You must ensure breeding methods are aimed at minimum interference with natural
behaviour of the breeding animals and minimum application of highly technical / intensive
rearing methods.
16.5.4 You may bring on to the holding, for breeding purposes or for improving genetic stock and
when organic aquaculture animals are not available, wild caught or non organic aquaculture
animals. Such animals shall be kept under organic management for at least three months
before they may be used for breeding.
16.5.5 You may only bring in non organic juvenile’s up to the 31 Dec 2016

SECTION 16
16.5.6 You must use personnel to supervise the rearing of organically produced fish who are
technically competent in the application of fish farming methods and who have an
understanding of the principles and aims of organic production when they are applied to
aquaculture.
16.5.7 You must take particular care for the welfare of the broodstock when stripping and this must
be done by trained and competent personnel. Broodstock should be anaesthetised prior to
stripping then stunned and slaughtered immediately afterwards. Alternatively they may be
stunned and slaughtered prior to stripping.
16.5.8 You should inspect eggs soon after fertilisation and frequently thereafter to ensure they are
maintained in a good state of health.
16.5.9 You must only transport juvenile fish when they are fit and healthy. They must be checked
carefully before any transporting operation to verify this and to remove any that are not fit
and healthy.
16.5.10 You must take care when transporting to avoid unnecessary fear and distress to the fish.
The journey time should be kept at a minimum with the number and biomass of the fish in
the transport container being such that their welfare is not compromised. Oxygenation
should be provided during transit with oxygen levels being constantly monitored throughout
the journey. The facility to adjust oxygen levels should be readily available. Carbon dioxide
levels should not be allowed to rise to levels that harm the fish. Excessive changes in water
temperature and pH must be avoided.
16.5.11 You must transport live fish in suitable tanks with clean water which meets their
physiological needs in terms of temperature and dissolved oxygen. Records must be kept.
16.5.12 You must before transport of organic fish and fish products, thoroughly clean, disinfect and
rinse tanks. Records must be kept.
16.5.13 You must take precautions to reduce stress during transport, the density shall not reach a
level which is detrimental to the species. Records must be kept.
16.5.14 You must not use hormones and hormone derivatives as it is prohibited.
16.6 Location and environmental impact
16.6.1 You must carefully manage the production unit and its integration with the environment as
they are critical to the sustainability of the production system.
16.6.2 You must develop an environmental management plan detailed in the quality manual. This
should preferably be drawn up in conjunction with environmental experts and appropriate
authorities. The plan must establish and define:
i. Environmental loadings of the pre-converted unit and its impact on the
surrounding area;
ii. Appropriate controls or reductions of these loadings to achieve the levels set out
in the standards for individual species;
iii. Any initiatives for positive environmental management / enhancement;
iv. Measures to prevent escapes and contingency plans to minimise impact should
escapes occur;
v. Provision for monitoring the implementation of the plan.
16.6.3 You must when siting the production units must take into account the maintenance of the
aquatic and terrestrial environment and ecosystem and the impact of the unit on wild stocks
of the same or other species in the area.

SECTION 16
16.6.4 You must adopt management strategies to maintain and where possible enhance ecological
diversity around the unit and maintain or enhance the local wildlife. Ponds, lakes, water
channels, marine and other environments must be managed in accordance with the wildlife
and conservation value of the area.
16.6.5 You should designed and manage the production unit to ensure that its environmental
impact is negligible. The use of renewable energy sources and recycled materials should be
used where possible.
16.6.6 DEFRA may determine whether fallowing is necessary and the appropriate duration which
shall be applied and documented after each production cycle in open water containment
systems at sea. Fallowing is also recommended for other production methods using tanks,
fishponds, and cages.
16.6.7 Fallowing is not mandatory for bivalve mollusc cultivation.
16.6.8 You must during fallowing period ensure the cage or other structure used for aquaculture
animal production is emptied, disinfected and left empty before being used again.
16.6.9 You must where appropriate remove promptly, uneaten fish-feed, faeces and dead animals
to avoid any risk of significant environmental damage as regards water status quality,
minimize disease risks, and to avoid attracting pests.
16.6.10 You must keep to a minimum the risk of escaped stocks from confined systems by
appropriate strategies and comprehensive measures.
16.6.11 You should develop environmental management procedures in agreement with
neighbouring fish farmers and landowners.
16.6.12 You must not use herbicides or other agro-chemical pesticides around tanks or otherwise on
the unit.
16.7 Water and holding facilities
16.7.1 You must not use closed recirculation aquaculture animal production facilities, except for
hatcheries and nurseries or to produce species used for organic feed organisms.
16.7.2 You must ensure rearing units on land meet the following conditions:
i. for flow through systems it shall be possible to monitor and control the flow rate and
water quality of both in flowing and out flowing water;
ii. at least five percent of the perimeter (‘land water interface’) area shall have natural
vegetation.
16.7.3 You must ensure containment systems at sea are:
i. located where water flow, depth and water body exchange rates are adequate to
minimise the impact on the seabed and the surrounding water body;
ii. have suitable cage design, construction and maintenance with regard to their exposure
to the operating environment.
16.7.4 You may use artificial heating or cooling of water is permitted in hatcheries and nurseries.
Natural borehole water may be used to heat or cool water at all stages of production.

SECTION 16
16.7.5 A consistently adequate supply of high quality water, appropriate to the needs of the
species, is essential to ensure a clean and healthy environment for the stock.
16.7.6 You must monitor and record water quality on a regular basis. The following parameters, as
appropriate, must be monitored both upstream and downstream of the operation:
Water temperature Fresh Marine
Ammonia Fresh Marine
Suspended solids Fresh
Nitrate / Nitrite / Phosphate levels Fresh Marine
Dissolved oxygen Fresh Marine
pH Fresh Marine
Salinity Marine
Chlorophyll Marine
16.7.7 You must have holding facilities and / or hydrographical characteristics that permit good
water circulation appropriate to the needs of the species.
16.7.8 You must design and operate the holding facilities such as to promote good stock health
and low stress. This includes measures to provide and maintain an adequate supply of high
quality water at all times.
16.7.9 You must identify and declare non organic production units / holdings and other potential
sources of pollution that may affect the organic production unit. Your organic production
units must be sited sufficiently far from such sources of pollution, as determined by an
environmental survey and agreed with us, to ensure the risk of contamination is minimal.
16.7.10 You must not use materials and compounds in holding structures, production equipment and
paints that are detrimental to the environment or to stock.
16.7.11 You must have holding facilities that are able to be emptied without the risk of fish escaping
or the discharge causing pollution and enable cleaning and disinfection where appropriate.
16.7.12 You must properly clean and disinfect holding systems, equipment and utensils using
products in this part of the Standard. Records must be kept.
16.7.13 You must define cleaning and disinfecting regimes and they must not adversely affect the
surrounding environment or the water downstream.
16.7.14 You must ensure nets and floating structures are securely moored, properly maintained and
regularly checked to ensure they remain secure and undamaged. The construction material
of net pens should be smooth enough to prevent risk of injuring fish during stormy
conditions.
16.7.15 You must only use non polluting methods to ensure the nets are kept clear of weed and
other fouling organisms.
16.7.16 You must with land based systems have alarm systems and backup facilities that are
sufficient to provide against water supply failure or other major problems.

SECTION 16
16.8 Diet and nutrition
16.8.1 You must design your feeding regimes with the following priorities:
a) animal health;
b) high product quality, including the nutritional composition which shall ensure high
quality of the final edible product;
c) low environmental impact.
16.8.1 You must tailor diets for aquaculture production to meet the nutritional needs of the species
appropriate to the stage in the life cycle.
16.8.1 You must only buy feed that holds a certificate of organic compliance.
16.8.1 Feed ingredients of agricultural origin must be derived from certified organic origin.
16.8.1 You may include mineral and vitamin supplementation and certain feed additives in the diet
in accordance with the general legislation for livestock feeds in order to meet the nutritional
needs of the stock.
16.9 Feed for carnivorous aquaculture animals
16.9.1 You should source feed for carnivorous aquaculture animals with the following priorities:
i. organic feed products of aquaculture origin;
ii. fish meal and fish oil from organic aquaculture trimmings;
iii. fish meal and fish oil and ingredients of fish origin derived from trimmings of fish
already caught for human consumption in sustainable fisheries;
iv. organic feed materials of plant or animal origin;
v. feed products derived from whole fish caught in fisheries certified as sustainable
under a scheme recognised by DEFRA.
16.9.2 You must only use feed rations that comprise a maximum of 60 % organic plant products.
16.9.3 You should use astaxanthin derived primarily from organic sources, such as organic
crustacean shells in the feed ration for salmon and trout within the limit of their physiological
needs. If organic sources are not available natural sources of astaxanthin (such as phaffia
yeast) may be used.
16.9.4 You may use histidine produced through fermentation in the feed ration for salmonid fish
when the feed sources do not provide a sufficient amount of histidine to meet the dietary
needs of the fish and prevent the formation of cataracts.
16.10 Feed for fish in inland waters
16.10.1 This section covers feed for fish in inland waters (the Carp family (Cyprinidae) and other
associated species in the context of polyculture, including perch, pike, catfish, coregonids,
sturgeon)
16.10.2 You must feed fish with feed naturally available in ponds and lakes.

SECTION 16
16.10.3 You may where natural feed resources are not available in sufficient quantities, organic feed
of plant origin, preferably grown on the farm itself or seaweed may be used. You must keep
records of additional feed used.
16.10.4 Where natural feed is supplemented:
i. the feed ration of siamese catfish (Pangasius spp.) may comprise a maximum of 10%
fishmeal or fish oil derived from sustainable fisheries;
ii. the feed ration of shrimps may comprise a maximum of 25% fishmeal and 10% fish
oil derived from sustainable fisheries. In order to secure the quantitative dietary needs
of shrimps, organic cholesterol may be used to supplement their diets; where organic
cholesterol is not available, non organic cholesterol derived from wool, shellfish or
other sources may be used.
Organic juveniles
16.10.5 You may in the larval rearing of organic juveniles, use conventional phytoplankton and
zooplankton as feed.
16.11 Fish welfare and stock management
16.11.1 You must minimise the handling of aquaculture animals. It must be undertaken with the
greatest care and proper equipment and protocols used to avoid stress and physical
damage associated with handling procedures.
16.11.2 You must handle broodstock in a manner to minimise physical damage and stress and
under anaesthesia where appropriate.
16.11.3 You must keep grading operations to a minimum and as required to ensure fish welfare.
16.11.4 You must base your management on the ‘five freedoms’. Freedom from :
➢ malnutrition
➢ thermal and physical discomfort
➢ injury and disease
➢ fear and distress
➢ unnecessary restrictions of behaviour
16.11.5 You must ensure management practices provide a low stress environment and allow the
stock as far as possible to act according to their basic behavioural patterns.
16.11.6 You must take measures to minimise stress when handling of stock, eg catching, grading,
vaccination, transporting or administering permitted treatments.
16.11.7 You must monitor and record the following welfare parameters as appropriate on a regular
basis within the water body of the holding facilities:
i. Oxygen levels
ii. Flow rates
iii. Water temperature
iv. Stocking densities
16.11.8 You must assess the training needs of personnel engaged in the rearing of fish and training
given to individuals as necessary. Training should be given to ensure that personnel are
competent for their assigned tasks and that they understand the importance of ensuring that
the organic integrity of the fish is not compromised throughout the production cycle and up
to the point of delivery of the harvested fish.

SECTION 16
16.11.9 You should inspect stock at least on a daily basis (except where weather conditions make
this impossible) in order to check on their health and welfare and where appropriate to
remove mortalities.
16.11.10 You must dispose of in a hygienic way of mortalities to ensure there is no threat of disease
spreading to farmed / wild stock or contamination of any water courses. The reason for the
mortality must be investigated and recorded.
16.11.11 You must not let size distribution for fish compromise welfare or lead to hierarchical
behaviour.
16.11.12 You must discourage predators from damaging or stressing fish stock by the use of effective
means that are non destructive both on target and non target species and must be detailed
in the quality manual. Relevant statutory bodies should be consulted in cases where specific
predator problems arise.
16.11.13 You must only use artificial light for the following reasons:
i. for prolonging natural day length it shall not exceed a maximum that respects the
ethological needs, geographical conditions and general health of farmed animals, this
maximum shall not exceed 16 hours per day, except for reproductive purposes;
ii. Abrupt changes in light intensity shall be avoided at the changeover time by the use
of dimmable lights or background lighting.
16.11.14 You may use aeration to ensure animal welfare and health, under the condition that
mechanical aerators are preferably powered by renewable energy sources. Records of use
must be kept.
16.11.15 You must only use oxygen for uses linked to animal health requirements and critical periods
of production or transport records must be kept, in the following cases:
i. exceptional cases of temperature rise or drop in atmospheric pressure or accidental
pollution;
ii. occasional stock management procedures such as sampling and sorting;
iii. in order to assure the survival of the farm stock.
16.11.16 You must only crowd fish to allow access to them to facilitate capture.
16.11.17 You must make adequate provision for shading, especially for young stock and in shallow
holding facilities.
16.11.18 You must not move growing fish between holdings (excluding young stock from the rearing
facilities).
16.12 Health control
16.12.1 You must manage your unit to produce healthy stock by best practice, including good
stockmanship, appropriate nutrition, minimising stress, encouraging a high level of
resistance to disease and appropriate preventative measures. The wellbeing of the stock is
paramount.

SECTION 16
16.12.2 You must develop a health plan, preferably in conjunction with the farm’s veterinary
surgeon. The plan must form part of the quality manual and should cover the following
areas:
i. Biosecurity;
ii. General health and welfare of the fish on the unit;
iii. Identification of the main health issues on the unit and the measures for prevention;
iv. Measures to minimise disease outbreaks and encourage fish health generally;
v. Identification of specific veterinary treatments, in accordance with this Standard, for
use where necessary;
vi. At least annual visits from the veterinary surgeon or a qualified aquaculture animal
health practitioner and not less than once every two years in the case of bivalve
molluscs.
16.12.3 You must have management practices that aim to build positive health in order to prevent
the need for veterinary medicinal treatment.
16.12.4 You should use, if illness does occur, direct treatment complementing the animal’s natural
powers of recovery and correcting the imbalance that created the disorder, rather than just
dealing with the symptoms. Rapid diagnosis must be made and appropriate action taken in
consultation with the farm’s veterinary surgeon. Where possible the affected stock should be
isolated and quarantine procedures brought into operation.
16.12.5 You must give treatment even if the stock will lose its organic status. Failure to treat could
lead to the farm losing organic certification.
16.12.6 You must follow withdrawal periods for stock treated with licensed veterinary medicines,
including treatments under compulsory control and eradication schemes. The withdrawal
period is twice that defined in the product licence or by the prescribing veterinarian and shall
not be less than 14 days. If a withdrawal period is not specified in the product licence the
withdrawal period shall be 48 hours.
16.12.7 You may use vaccines that have not been genetically engineered may be used where there
is a known disease risk to the operation as part of a disease prevention strategy. Any
vaccines should be directed at the specific disease risk in question, not administered as a
general preventative.
16.12.8 With the exception of vaccinations, treatments for parasites and any compulsory eradication
schemes in the UK, where an animal or group of animals receive more than two courses of
treatments with chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or
antibiotics within one year (or more than one course of treatment if their productive lifecycle
is less than one year) the livestock, or produce derived from them, may not be sold as
organic.
16.12.9 You may use parasite treatments though they will be limited to twice per year or once per
year where the production cycle is less than 18 months. This does not include compulsory
control schemes.
16.12.10 You must for biological control of ectoparasites, give preference to the use of cleaner fish
and to the use of freshwater, marine water and sodium chloride solutions.
16.12.11 You must only use ultraviolet light and ozone in hatcheries and nurseries.
16.12.12 You must only use the veterinary treatments in the following order of preference When
despite preventive measures to ensure animal health a health problem arises:
i. substances from plants, animals or minerals in a homoeopathic dilution;
ii. plants and their extracts not having anaesthetic effects; and

SECTION 16
iii. substances such as: trace elements, metals, natural immunostimulants or
authorised probiotics.
16.12.13 You must inform us whenever veterinary medicinal products are used, before the animals
are marketed as organic. Treated stock shall be clearly identifiable and records kept.
16.13 Harvesting
16.13.1 You must use slaughter techniques that render fish immediately unconscious and insensible
to pain. Differences in harvesting sizes, species, and production sites must be taken into
account when considering optimal slaughtering methods.
16.13.2 You must carry out handling of stock during harvesting and slaughtering operations with
minimal disturbance and stress using procedures as outlined in the quality manual.
16.13.3 You must hold fish in high quality water for the duration of the allowed fasting period prior to
slaughter.
16.13.4 You must use a method to kill fish that renders them instantly insensible immediately they
are taken from the water.
16.13.5 You must use only staff for killing fish who are skilled and knowledgeable to perform the task
efficiently and humanely as required by the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing)
Regulations.
16.13.6 You must observe strict hygiene during slaughtering and evisceration to ensure adequate
cleanliness. The disposal of blood water, viscera and disinfectant, should pose no threat to
wild / farmed fish or the environment.
16.13.7 Your processing, storage and transport operations must comply with our Standard for
processing of organic foods, and with all relevant statutory regulations and local authority
hygiene regulations.
16.14.1 You must only use the products containing the following active substances listed below for
cleaning and disinfection of equipment and facilities in the absence of aquaculture animals:
➢ ozone
➢ sodium hypochlorite
➢ calcium hypochlorite
➢ calcium hydroxide
➢ calcium oxide — caustic soda
➢ alcohol
➢ potassium permanganate
➢ tea seed cake made of natural camelia seed (use restricted to shrimp production)
➢ mixtures of potassium peroxomonosulphate and sodium chloride producing
hypochlorous acid.
16.14.2 Products used for cleaning and disinfection of equipment and facilities in the presence as
well as in the absence of aquaculture animals may contain the following active substances:
➢ limestone (calcium carbonate) for pH control
➢ dolomite for pH correction (use restricted to shrimp production)

SECTION 16
➢ sodium chloride
➢ hydrogen peroxide
➢ sodium percarbonate
➢ organic acids (acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid)
➢ humic acid
➢ peroxyacetic acids
➢ peracetic and peroctanoic acids
➢ iodophores (only in the presence of eggs).
16.15 Records
16.15.1 Detailed, legible, accurate and up to date records must be kept of all physical and financial
operations and activities, sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this Standard. Records
must be kept for a minimum of three years and must be made available to inspectors or
other authorised persons.
16.15.2 You must keep the following records:
i. The name, position and authority of the person with overall responsibility for the
organic production operation.
ii. Details of the responsibility and authority of all other key personnel, including their
named deputies, who supervise or verify the organic production operation.
iii. The name, address and telephone number of the designated veterinary surgeon.
iv. Staff training records.
v. Details of calibration for all identified measuring/testing equipment and instruments
used for checking conformity with critical requirements, including action taken if any
piece of equipment or instrument is found to be out of calibration.
vi. Details of complaints, responses made and consequential actions taken.
vii. Details of any corrective actions taken and any changes in procedures made.
16.15.3 You must keep the following general husbandry records:
i. Stock purchases, including, as appropriate, date, species, age, quantities, origin,
status and history.
ii. Stock movements.
iii. Purchases, date, quantities and details of use of all materials and inputs.
iv. Specifications for other purchased materials and services which have a critical
bearing on the organic integrity of the fish produced and supplied under an organic
designation.
v. Details of all management activities as defined in the quality manual (fallowing and
rotation of enclosures/cropping, grading, etc).
vi. Measurements of all water and environmental parameters as defined in the quality
manual.
vii. Nature, quantities and details of all stock harvested and sold (quantities sold direct
to the consumer must be accounted for on a daily basis).
viii. Mortalities and the cause for death where this can be established or surmised.

SECTION 16
16.15.4 You must keep the following feed records, as appropriate:
i. Specifications for fish feed.
ii. Feed purchases, including specification and sources.
iii. GMO status of the feeds/constituent parts.
iv. Lot identification and daily quantities of feed fed to each batch of stock.
16.15.5 You must keep the following veterinary records:
i. Purchases, dates, quantities, source and nature of all veterinary medicinal products;
ii. Details of all stock treated, including dates, identity and number of stock, treatment
(name and manufacturer), quantities used and name of the person who administered
the treatment;
iii. Details of vaccinations and other treatments.
iv. Length of withholding period, quarantine measure if appropriate and earliest date for
sale of the stock.
16.16 Specific production standards for individual species
16.16.1 Salmonids in fresh water:
Brown trout Salmo trutta
Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss
American brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis
Salmon Salmo salar
Charr Salvelinus alpinus
Grayling Thymallus thymallus
American lake trout (or grey trout) Salvelinus namaycush
Huchen Hucho hucho
Production and stocking requirements:
Production system Ongrowing farm systems must be fed from open systems. The
flow rate must ensure a minimum of 60 % oxygen saturation for
stock and must ensure their comfort and the elimination of
farming effluent.
Maximum stocking density Salmonid species not listed below 15 kg/m3
Salmon 20 kg/m3
Brown trout and Rainbow trout 25 kg/m3
Arctic charr 25 kg/m3
16.16.2 Salmonids in sea water:
Salmon Salmo salar
Brown trout Salmo trutta
Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

SECTION 16
Maximum stocking density 10 kg/m3
in net pens
16.16.3 Other fish in open water systems
Cod and other species of family
Gadidae
eg Gadus morhua
sea bass Dicen- trarchus labrax
sea bream Sparus aurata
meagre Argyrosomus regius
turbot Psetta maxima [= Scopthalmus maximux]
red porgy Pagrus pagrus [= Sparus pagrus]
red drum and other Sparidae Sciaenops ocellatus
spinefeet Siganus spp
Production system In open water containment systems (net pens/cages)
with minimum sea current speed to provide optimum fish
welfare or in open systems on land.
Maximum stocking
density
For fish other than turbot: 15 kg/m3 For turbot: 25 kg/m2
16.16.4 In earth ponds of tidal areas and costal lagoons
Sea bass, sea bream, meagre, mullets Liza, Mugil
eel Anguilla spp
Containment system Traditional salt pans transformed into aquaculture
production units and similar earth ponds in tidal areas
Production system There shall be adequate renewal of water to ensure the
welfare of the species,
At least 50 % of the dikes must have plant cover
Wetland based depuration ponds required
Maximum stocking
density
4 kg/m3
16.16.5 Sturgeon in fresh water
Sturgeon Acipenser family

SECTION 16
Production system Water flow in each rearing unit shall be sufficient to
ensure animal welfare
Effluent water to be of equivalent quality to incoming
water
Maximum stocking
density
30 kg/m3
16.16.6 Production of fish in inland waters
Carp family and other associated species in
the context of polyculture, including perch,
pike, catfish, coregonids, sturgeon
Cyprinidae
Production and stocking requirements
Production system In fishponds which shall periodically be fully drained and
in lakes. Lakes must be devoted exclusively to organic
production, including the growing of crops on dry areas.
The fishery capture area must be equipped with a clean
water inlet and of a size to provide optimal comfort for the
fish. The fish must be stored in clean water after harvest.
Organic and mineral fertilisation of the ponds and lakes
shall be carried out in compliance with the approved list
of fertilisers, soil conditioners and nutrients with a
maximum application of 20 kg Nitrogen/ha.
Treatments involving synthetic chemicals for the control
of hydrophytes and plant coverage present in production
waters are prohibited.
Areas of natural vegetation shall be maintained around
inland water units as a buffer zone for external land
areas not involved in the farming operation in accordance
with the rules of organic aquaculture.
For grow-out ‘polyculture’ shall be used on condition that
the criteria laid down in the present specifications for the
other species of lakes fish are duly adhered to.
Farming yield The total production of species is limited to 1,500 kg of
fish per hectare per year.
16.16.7 Penaeid shrimps and freshwater prawns
Penaeid shrimps and freshwater prawns Macrobrachium spp.

SECTION 16
Establishment of
production unit/s
Location to be in sterile clay areas to minimise environ-
mental impact of pond construction. Ponds to be built
with the natural pre-existing clay. Mangrove destruction
is not permitted.
Conversion time Six months per pond, corresponding to the normal
lifespan of a farmed shrimp.
Broodstock origin A minimum of half the broodstock shall be domesticated
after three years operating. The remainder is to be
pathogen free wild broodstock originating from
sustainable fisheries. A compulsory screening to be
implemented on the first and second generation prior to
introducing to the farm.
Eyestalk ablation Is prohibited.
Maximum on farm
stocking densities and
production limits
Seeding: maximum 22 post larvae/m2 Maximum
instantaneous biomass: 240 g/m2
16.16.8 Crayfish
Crayfish Astacus astacus, Pacifastacus leniusculus
Maximum stocking density For small-sized crayfish (<20 mm): 100 individuals per m2
.
For crayfish of intermediate size (20-50 mm): 30 individuals per
m2
. For adult crayfish (> 50 mm): 10 individuals per m2
,
provided that adequate hiding places are available.
16.16.9 Tropical fresh water fish
milkfish Chanos chanos
tilapia Oreochromis spp.
siamese catfish Pangasius spp.
Production systems Ponds and net cages
Maximum stocking density Pangasius: 10 kg/m3
Oreochromis: 20 kg/m3

SECTION 16
16.17 Seaweed
Sustainable harvesting of wild seaweed
16.17.1 Your operations must be situated in locations that are not subject to contamination by
products or substances not authorised for organic production, or pollutants that would
compromise the organic nature of the products.
16.17.2 You must separate adequately organic and non organic production units. Methods used
for separation include:
i. natural situation
ii. separate water distribution systems
iii. distances
iv. the tidal flow
v. the downstream location of the organic production unit
16.17.3 DEFRA may designate locations or areas which they consider to be unsuitable for
organic aquaculture or seaweed harvesting and may also set up minimum separation
distances between organic and non organic production units.
16.17.4 If you are setting up a unit producing more than 20 tonnes of aquaculture products per
year an environmental assessment proportionate to the production must be sent to us.
The content of the environmental assessment shall be based on Annex IV to Council
Directive 85/337/EEC (1)
16.17.5 You must when a site is first set up provide a full description which includes:
i. a full description of the installations on land and at sea;
ii. the environmental assessment where applicable;
iii. the sustainable management plan where applicable;
iv. for wild seaweed a full description and a map of shore and sea collection
areas and land areas where post collection activities take place shall be
drawn up.
16.17.6 You must keep seaweed production records and be available to us at all times at your
premises. Your records must provide at least the following information:
i. list of species, date and quantity harvested;
ii. date of application, type and amount of fertiliser used.
16.17.7 You must for the collection of wild seaweeds ensure the records also contain:
i. history of harvesting activity for each species in named beds;
ii. harvest estimate (volumes) per season;
iii. sources of possible pollution for harvest beds;
iv. sustainable annual yield for each bed.
16.17.8 You must produce a once off biomass estimate for seaweed harvesting at the outset.
16.17.9 The conversion period for a seaweed harvesting site shall be six months.
16.17.10 The conversion period for a seaweed cultivation unit shall be the longer of six months or
one full production cycle.

SECTION 16
16.17.11 You must keep records in the unit or premises and be able to prove to us the that the
harvesters have supplied only wild seaweed produced in accordance with the organic
regulations.
16.17.12 You must carry out harvesting in such a way that the amounts harvested do not cause a
significant impact on the state of the aquatic environment. Measures shall be taken to
ensure that seaweed can regenerate, such as harvest technique, minimum sizes, ages,
reproductive cycles or size of remaining seaweed.
16.17.13 You must If seaweed is harvested from a shared or common harvest area, keep records
that the total harvest complies with these standards.
16.17.14 You must have records that provide evidence of sustainable management and of no long
term impact on the harvesting areas.
Seaweed cultivation
16.17.15 Seaweed culture at sea shall only utilise nutrients naturally occurring in the environment,
or from organic aquaculture animal production, preferably located nearby as part of a
polyculture system.
16.17.16 You must ensure that in facilities on land where external nutrient sources are used, the
nutrient levels in the effluent water shall be verifiably the same, or lower, than the
inflowing water. Only nutrients of plant or mineral origin and as listed this Standard may
be used.
16.17.17 You should collect juvenile seaweed in the wild on a regular basis to supplement indoor
culture stock to ensure that a wide gene pool is maintained.
16.17.18 You must not use fertilisers except in indoor facilities and only if they have been
authorised for use in organic production by us.
16.17.19 You must record culture density or operational intensity and must maintain the integrity of
the aquatic environment by ensuring that the maximum quantity of seaweed which can
be supported without negative effects on the environment is not exceeded.
16.17.20 You must re use or recycled where possible ropes and other equipment used for growing
seaweed.
Antifouling measures and cleaning of production equipment and facilities
16.17.21 You must only remove biofouling organisms physical means or by hand and where
appropriate returned to the sea at a distance from the farm.
16.17.22 You must clean equipment and facilities out by physical or mechanical measures. Where
this is not satisfactory only substances as listed in Section 16.14 may be used.
Processing
16.17.23 You must if the final product is fresh seaweed, flushing of freshly harvested seaweed
must use seawater.
16.17.24 You must if the final product is dehydrated seaweed, potable water may also be used for
flushing. Salt may be used for removal of moisture.
16.17.25 You must not use direct flames which come in direct contact with the seaweed for drying.
If ropes or other equipment are used in the drying process they must be free of
antifouling treatments and cleaning or disinfection substances except where a product is
listed in Section 16.14 for this use.

SECTION 16
16.18 Molluscs
16.18.1 You must inform us prior to bivalve mollusc production so we can audit before and during
maximum biomass production.
Growing area
16.18.2 You may carry out bivalve mollusc farming in the same area of water as organic finfish
and seaweed farming in a polyculture system to be documented in the sustainable
management plan. Bivalve molluscs may also be grown together with gastropod
molluscs, such as periwinkles, in polyculture.
16.18.3 You must ensure organic bivalve mollusc production takes place within areas delineated
by posts, floats or other clear markers and shall, as appropriate, be restrained by net
bags, cages or other man made means.
16.18.4 You must on shellfish farms minimise risks to species of conservation interest. If predator
nets are used their design shall not permit diving birds to be harmed.
Sourcing of seed
16.18.5 You must use seed from a certified organic source.
16.18.6 You must for the cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas, give preference to stock which is
selectively bred to reduce spawning in the wild.
Management
16.18.7 You must not exceed production stocking density in excess of that used for non organic
shellfish in the locality. Sorting, thinning and stocking density adjustments shall be made
according to the biomass and to ensure animal welfare and high product quality.
16.18.8 You must remove bio fouling organisms by physical means or by hand and where
appropriate returned to the sea away from shellfish farms. Shellfish may be treated once
during the production cycle with a lime solution to control competing fouling organisms.
16.18.9 Mussel ropes and the following may be eligible for mussel cultivation: long lines, rafts,
bottom culture, net bags, cages, trays, lantern nets, bouchot poles and other
containment systems.
16.18.10 You must not allow, for mussel cultivation on rafts, the number of drop ropes exceed one
per square meter of surface area. The maximum drop rope length shall not exceed 20
metres. Thinning out of drop ropes shall not take place during the production cycle,
however subdivision of drop ropes shall be permitted without increasing stocking density
at the outset.
16.18.11 You must only use bottom cultivation of molluscs where no significant environmental
impact is caused at the collection and growing sites. The evidence of minimal
environmental impact shall be supported by a survey and report on the exploited area to
be provided by the operator to the control body or control authority. The report shall be
added as a separate chapter to the sustainable management plan.

SECTION 16
16.18.12 Specific production requirements for molluscs and echinoderms
Production systems Long lines, rafts, bottom culture, net bags, cages, trays, lantern
nets, bouchot poles and other containment systems.
For mussel cultivation on rafts the number of drop ropes shall
not exceed one per square meter of surface area. The
maximum drop rope length shall not exceed 20 metres.
Thinning out of drop ropes shall not take place during the
production cycle, however subdivision of drop ropes shall be
permitted without increasing stocking density at the outset.
Specific cultivation rules for oysters
16.18.13 Cultivation in bags on trestles is permitted. These or other structures in which the oysters
are contained shall be set out so as to avoid the formation of a total barrier along the
shoreline. Stock shall be positioned carefully on the beds in relation to tidal flow to
optimise production. Production shall meet the criteria listed in this Standard.

SECTION 17
DEER
17.1 Origin of animals
17.1.1 Livestock products that are sold, labelled or represented as organic must be from
livestock under continuous organic management from the last third of gestation.
17.1.2 You must use either:
i. Red deer;
ii. Fallow deer.
iii. Other deer (park) might be used providing you can meet this Standards.
17.1.3 Stock should be domesticated. This means deer are farm bred and reared for at
least four generations.
17.1.4 You must not use other types of deer such as wild.
17.2 Conversion of animals
17.2.1 You must ensure for offspring of your deer to be organic that:
i. The deer are mated on organic land;
ii. If they are to be mated on conventional land you must obtain prior
permission from us;
iii. Deer are managed to this Standard from mating;
iv. Offspring are managed to this Standard throughout their lives;
v. You must not have used embryo transfer techniques or hormonal
reproductive treatments.
17.2.2 You must manage replacement deer you bring onto your holding to this Standard
from the moment they arrive
17.2.3 Livestock used as breeder stock may be brought from a non organic operation onto
your holding at any time: provided that, if such livestock are gestating and the
offspring are to be raised as organic livestock, the breeder stock must be brought
onto the facility no later than the last third of gestation.
17.2.4 Non organic breeding stock replacements cannot be sold as organic.
17.3 Health and welfare
17.3.1 You must have a documented current herd health plan and all your staff have
access to it.
17.3.2 You must ensure that your farm management guarantees the safety and welfare of
stock, stockmen and the general public, particularly during the rut and calving
seasons.

SECTION 17
17.3.3 You must provide facilities on your farm for the humane slaughter of both
emergency and casualty animals. You must use a named, trained and competent
member of staff, a licensed slaughterer or a veterinary surgeon.
17.3.4 You must inform us if it becomes necessary to remove the antlers for reasons of
safety or welfare.
17.3.5 You must not remove antlers while in velvet. (While new antlers are growing.)
17.3.6 You must not use artificial insemination or embryo transfer.
17.3.7 You must not castrate stock.
17.3.8 You must not disbud stock (removal of the horn bud).
17.3.9 You must not use immobilon (a very potent neuroleptanalgesic) on deer intended for
human consumption.
17.4 Grazing
17.4.1 You must have an extensive grazing area.
17.4.2 You must not use fields less than two hectares for grazing, except during collection
or convalescence, unless we have agreed this as part of your livestock
management plan.
17.4.3 You must provide all year round grazing without compromising herd welfare and
sward condition.
17.4.4 You may use non electrified double fencing to separate stags where you cannot
avoid putting them in adjacent fields.
17.4.5 You must manage you deer as a heard
17.4.6 You must ensure that stocking density is kept:
i. Appropriate for herd behaviour;
ii. To allow effective parasite control;
iii. Lower than five hinds, plus followers, per hectare.
17.4.7 You must have tracks and gateways at least 3.5 m wide to allow stock to move
freely through them.
17.4.8 You must have perimeter fencing of at least 1.8 meters high to prevent escape.
17.4.9 You must have fencing that is visible to the stock to prevent injury.
17.4.10 You must provide shelter from harsh weather conditions.
17.4.11 You must manage manure in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of
crops, soil or water by plant nutrients, heavy metals, or pathogenic organisms and
optimises recycling of nutrients.
17.4.12 You must provide animals with sufficient shade.

SECTION 17
17.4.13 You must provide rubbing posts, tree cover and wallows.
17.4.14 You must not:
i. Have jump in points;
ii. Keep stags in adjacent fields during the rut.
17.5 Feeding
17.5.1 You must provide your deer with:
i. Access to clean fresh water at all times;
ii. Good quality feed which meets their nutritional and seasonal needs to
ensure good body condition;
iii. Feeding facilities which include adequate trough space for all deer to feed at
the same time.
17.5.2 For each deer, this means at least the following trough space:
i. Hinds/yearlings 55 cm 28 cm;
ii. Weaned calves 33 cm 17 cm;
iii. Stags 75 cm 38 cm.
17.5.3 You must provide your deer with adequate feed and detail the ingredients and
quantities you feed to each group of deer in your livestock management plan.
17.5.4 You should ensure that most of the feed, at least 60 %, is from the farm unit or in
case this is not feasible, be produced in cooperation with other organic farms
primarily in the same region.
17.5.5 You may use the figures below to make sure you feed an adequate daily dry matter
intake and to calculate the various feed allowances. This is only a guide. Some
animals may eat more or less during different stages of their lives, especially pre
and post calving.
Average daily Red deer DMI (kg)
➢ Mature stag 3.50
➢ Mature hind 2.15
➢ Yearling 2.35
➢ Weaned calf 1.65
Average daily Fallow deer DMI (kg)
➢ Mature buck 1.75
➢ Mature doe 1.08
➢ Yearling 1.18
➢ Weaned fawn 0.83
17.5.6 You should ensure that dams rear their own calves. The calves will then build a
natural vigour and resistance to infection.

SECTION 17
17.5.7 You should allow calves to wean naturally.
17.5.8 You should only wean calves when natural weaning is not possible and when they
are taking enough solid food to satisfy their full nutritional needs.
17.5.9 Your calves’ diet should consist of:
i. Colostrum, preferably suckled within six hours of birth;
ii. Organic whole milk, suckled from the dam until weaning;
iii. Suckled milk once or twice a day, beyond 12 weeks.
17.5.10 Your animals must be fed a 100% organic diet.
17.5.11 The milk you feed to your calves must be:
i. At least 51% fresh, whole, organic milk, preferably maternal milk, for:
ii. At least three months;
iii. No more than 49% dried milk, skimmed milk powder or milk replacer which
must be free from substances listed in this Standard.
17.5.11 You may, in an emergency, feed to calves non organic milk replacer over the
amounts we normally allow until they are 72 hours old. However, if you feed them
like this for any longer they will lose their organic status.
17.5.12 You must not feed your calves dried milk, skimmed milk powder or milk replacer
containing additives such as antibiotics, growth promoters or ingredients of animal
origin (except milk derivatives).
17.5.13 You must not wean calves before they are 12 weeks of age.
17.5.14 If your calves reach 35 kg before 12 weeks and you wish to wean them early, you
must ask us for permission.
17.6 Housing
17.6.1 You should provide housing with outside runs.
17.6.2 If you house deer they should be able to see farm activates or other deer.
17.6.3 You should inspect deer daily when they have been housed.
17.6.4 You may house deer:
i. In severe weather conditions;
ii. If sick or injured;
iii. Conditions under which the health, safety, or well being of the animal could
be jeopardized;
iv. If enforced by regulatory authority for reasons of protection;
v. When calving during the winter period;

SECTION 17
vi. At the final finishing phase for a maximum of two weeks prior to slaughter.
vii. Where there is risk to soil or water quality.
17.6.5 You may house adult deer through the winter if it is a benefit to their health and
welfare and we have approved it as part of your livestock management plan.
17.6.6 You must ensure that your deer housing provides:
i. Housing for groups of similar ages;
ii. At least five square metres lying area for each 100kg live weight;
iii. A safe environment to prevent injury to the deer;
iv. Adequate light, ventilation and no draughts;
v. Facilities for rearing orphan calves and refuge for bullied deer, using
barriers or partitions with a minimum height of 2 m.
17.6.7 Bullied deer must be removed to a different pen and if possible identify and remove
the aggressor.
17.6.8 You must obtain permission from us before you house mature stags or housing
finishing deer during the winter period.
17.7 Handling and transport
17.7.1 You must clearly identify your animals when there is a risk of being mixed with non
organic animals i.e. transportation or parallel production
17.7.2 You should use subdued low level lighting to reduce stress when handling deer.
17.7.3 You may use short term holding pens providing there is at least 0.6m2 for each 100
kg of live weight.
17.7.4 You may use dart guns providing that
i. The provisions of all statutory regulations are followed and in only essential
circumstances;
ii. The user is fully trained;
iii. Animals are observed during recovery from sedation;
iv. They cannot injure or lose themselves eg near water or woodland.
17.7.5 You must when handling your animals:
i. Make sure that they are always in sight of the handlers and other deer;
ii. Familiarise them with your handling facilities;
iii. Keep separation of individuals to a minimum;

SECTION 17
iv. Make sure your handlers are experienced and have received suitable
training.
17.7.6 You must ensure that your handling facilities are good enough to enable your stock
to remain safe and well.
17.7.7 You must provide barriers of at least 2 meters high. The last 20 meters of the
handling race must be solid boarding or close mesh (less than 6 cm) and should be
covered in hessian or a similar material.
17.7.8 You should not transport deer for more than eight hours, including the loading and
unloading time. If the trip takes longer, the livestock must be fed and watered
according to their needs.
17.7.9 You must keep any transportation of your deer to an absolute minimum.
17.7.10 You must use trained and competent people when transporting your deer.
17.7.11 You (or the responsible person) must when transporting deer:
i. Allow the deer access to food at least four hours before the journey;
ii. Provide the deer with fresh, clean water directly before and after the
journey;
iii. Ensure the mode of transportation must is clean and free of protrusions that
could cause bruising and / or injury;
iv. Allow any stressed deer to rest for up to one hour before loading or
unloading them;
v. Provide emergency facilities to cool down heat stressed deer.
17.7.12 You must provide a suitable vehicle for transportation of deer. You must ensure that
the vehicle has:
i. Ramps with a slope of no more than 20˚;
ii. Appropriate and adequate ventilation;
iii. Sufficient bedding to prevent your deer slipping;
iv. Comfortable head space so the animal is able to stand in a natural position;
v. Pen divisions that are solid and at least 2 m high, with no sharp edges or
projecting parts that could cause injury.
17.7.13 When transporting deer you must:
i. Individually pen any irritable or hard antlered stags;
ii. Separate groups of deer based on their previous groups, size and sex;
iii. Regularly inspect the deer;
iv. Ensure a stocking density of at least 0.6m2 for each 100 kg liveweight;,
v. Report any injuries or deaths to the driver, abattoir manager and farmer,
and record them in the farm records.

SECTION 17
17.7.14 You must make sure where you keep your deer in lairage during transit that:
i. There is enough space for the number of deer held;
ii. There is enough shelter and bedded lying area for the number of deer held;
iii. They have easy access to food and water;
iv. The facilities are kept clean;
v. There are suitable handling, loading and unloading facilities.
17.7.15 Whilst the deer are in lairage you must:
i. Keep them in their social groups;
ii. Ensure they are inspected regularly, at least every eight hours, by a
competent deer handler.
17.7.16 You must not transport the deer in the same vehicle as other species.
17.7.17 You must not transport any of the following to an abattoir:
i. Deer under five months old;
ii. Stags in hard antler, unless you individually pen them;
iii. Hinds more than five months in calf;
iv. Sick, injured or diseased deer;
v. Males over 24 months old during the rut;
vi. Hinds, with calves under three months old at foot.
17.8 Slaughtering
17.8.1 General points that you must follow:
i. Ensure compliance to the terms of any welfare and regulatory legislation;
ii. Design and manage your slaughter system to make sure you do not cause
your animals unnecessary distress or discomfort;
iii. Keep the pre slaughter handling to a minimum
iv. Use only trained and competent people whose training is recorded.
v. If the carcass is to be taken to an approved game handling establishment,
then the stalker must have trained hunter status and a written declaration
will have to be completed for each carcass.
17.8.2 You should where possible shoot the deer in the field, in the brain, at close range
using a trained and experienced marksman.

SECTION 17
17.8.3 When shooting deer you should:
i. Choose an appropriate sized field, avoiding very small paddocks;
ii. Use an elevated position;
iii. Bleed out straight after shooting;
iv. Care must be taken in shooting one deer not to injure others;
v. Use a suitable high velocity rifle and ammunition which meets the legal
requirements;
vi. Provide a safe backstop for the bullet;
vii. Take sensible precautions to ensure public safety,;
viii. If the kill is not clean, kill the wounded deer straight away, and only continue
the cull when the remaining deer are calm.
17.8.4 Deer must only be shot at a range that will ensure a humane kill. For park deer this
must be no more than 80 meters and for farmed deer must be no more than 40
meters, unless there are exceptional circumstances and by a proven marksman.
17.8.5 You may use captive bolt stunning if you have a licensed facility, provided that:
i. Your animals are restrained in a drop floor crush, hydraulic crush or suitable
pen;
ii. The stun to stick interval is no more than 60 seconds;
iii. After incision of the blood vessels, you perform no further dressing
procedures on the deer for at least 20 seconds and until all brain stem
reflexes have ceased.
17.8.6 A specialised licensed abattoir with staff who are trained and experienced with deer
may be used providing:
i. Your deer are slaughtered as soon as possible on arrival, or are rested in a
lairage designed for, and only being used by, deer;
ii. Your deer are not brought close to any other species in the lairage or
abattoir before stunning;
iii. Walls, doors, passages and pens are smooth, without projections that could
injure your deer, and are high enough to discourage them from escaping;
iv. Your deer are restrained in a drop floor crush, hydraulic crush or suitable
pen;
v. The time that the last deer in a batch is left is kept to an absolute minimum;
vi. The stun to stick interval is no more than 60 seconds;
vii. After incision of the blood vessels, no further dressing procedures are
performed on the deer for at least 20 seconds and until all brain stem
reflexes have ceased.

SECTION 18
Bee Keeping
18.1 Bee keeping
18.8.1 Beekeeping plays an important role in the countryside through pollination. In the UK about
70 crops are dependent on, or benefit from, visits from bees. In addition, bees pollinate the
flowers of many plants which become part of the feed of farm animals. The economic value
of honey bees and bumble bees as pollinators of commercially grown insect pollinated crops
in the UK has been estimated at over £200 million per year.
18.2 Origin of bees
18.2.1 Preference shall be given to the use of Apis mellifera and their local ecotypes.
18.2.2 In case of high mortality of bees caused by health or catastrophic circumstances, the
reconstitution of the apiaries with non-organic bees, when organic apiaries are not available.
18.3 Conversion
18.3.1 To convert your hives you must follow this Standard for 12 months.
18.3.2 During the conversion period the wax shall be replaced with wax coming from organic
beekeeping
18.4 Use of non organic beeswax
18.4.1 In the case of new installations or during the conversion period, non-organic beeswax may
be used only:
i. where beeswax from organic beekeeping is not available on the market;
ii. where it is proven free of contamination by substances not authorised for organic
production;
iii. if it comes from the cap.
18.5 Replacement of bees
18.5.1 If you renovate apiaries, 10 % per year of the queen bees and swarms may be replaced by
non-organic queen bees and swarms provided that the queen bees and swarms are placed
in hives with combs or comb foundations coming from organic production units.

SECTION 18
18.6 Feed
18.6.1 At the end of the production season you must ensure that hives shall be left with sufficient
reserves of honey and pollen for the bees to survive the winter.
18.6.2 You must only feed bee colonies where the survival of the hives is endangered due to
climatic conditions.
18.6.3 You must only feed with organic honey, organic sugar syrup, or organic sugar.
18.6.4 You must enter in the apiary register records of the use of feed as follows:
i. type of product,
ii. dates,
iii. quantities
iv. hives where it is used.
18.7 Health
18.7.1 For cases of Varroa destructor:
i. The practice of destroying the male brood is permitted only to isolate the infestation.
ii. You may use formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and oxalic acid as well as menthol,
thymol, eucalyptol or camphor. The use of these products will not affect your
organic status.
iii. If a treatment is applied with chemically synthesized allopathic products, during
such a period, the colonies treated shall be placed in isolation apiaries and all the
wax shall be replaced with wax coming from organic beekeeping. Subsequently,
organic status will be lost and a further conversion period of one year will apply to
those colonies.
18.7.2 For the purposes of protecting frames, hives and combs, in particular from pests, only
rodenticides (to be used only in traps), and appropriate products listed in 5.10 of this
Standard ,are permitted.
18.7.3 You may use physical treatments for disinfection of apiaries such as steam or direct flame.
18.7.4 If despite all preventive measures, your colonies become sick or infested, you must treat
them immediately and, if necessary, the colonies should be placed in isolation apiaries.
18.7.5 You must ensure that veterinary medicinal products comply with UK law.
18.7.6 You must inform us if you use any veterinary medicinal products. You should keep the
following records for disease prevention and veterinary treatment:
i. date of treatment,
ii. details of the diagnosis,
iii. the method of administration
iv. the dosage;
v. the duration of the treatment
vi. type of treatment product,
vii. the indication of the active pharmacological substances involved method of
treatment and veterinary prescription for veterinary care with reasons
viii. withdrawal periods

SECTION 18
18.7.7 Bees treated must be clearly identified by hive
18.7.8 When veterinary medicinal products are used, withdrawal period must have been completed
before the products from the hive can be sold as organic again.
18.8 Siting of apiaries
18.8.1 Defra may designate regions or areas where beekeeping complying with organic production
rules is not practicable.
18.8.2 The siting of the apiaries shall be such that, within a radius of 3 km from the apiary site the
area has nectar and pollen sources consisting essentially of organically produced crops or,
as appropriate, of spontaneous vegetation or non-organically managed forests or crops that
are only treated with low environmental impact methods. Apiaries shall be kept at sufficient
distance from sources that may lead to the contamination of beekeeping products or to the
poor health of the bees;
18.8.3 Nectar and pollen sources should consist essentially of organically produced crops,
spontaneous vegetation and/or crops treated with low environmental impact methods such
as agri-environmental schemes. This does not apply where flowering is not taking place, or
the hives are dormant.
18.8.4 The zone where the apiary is situated must be registered with us together with the
identification of the hives. You must inform us when moving the apiaries by a deadline
agreed on with us.
18.8.5 You must provide us with a map on an appropriate scale listing the location of hives.
Where no areas are identified by Defra you must provide us with appropriate documentation
and evidence, including suitable analyses if necessary, that the areas accessible to your
colonies meet the conditions required in this Standard.
18.9 Managing your apiaries
18.9.1 Mutilation such as clipping the wings of queen bees is prohibited.
18.9.2 You must not use brood combs for honey extraction.
18.9.3 Artificial insemination of bees is prohibited.
18.9.4 The bees wax for new foundations must come from organic production units.
18.9.5 You must only use natural products such as propolis, wax and plant oils in the hives.
18.10 Harvesting
18.10.1 You must not destroy bees in the combs as a method associated with the harvesting of
beekeeping products;
18.10.2 You must not use chemical synthetic repellents during honey extractions operations.
18.10.3 You must keep records of the supers and the honey extraction operations.
18.10.4 Particular care shall be taken to ensure adequate extraction, processing and storage of
beekeeping products. All the measures to comply with this requirement shall be recorded.

SECTION 18
18.11 Housing
18.11.1 Hives and materials used in beekeeping shall be mainly made of natural resources
presenting no risk of contamination to the environment or the apiculture products.
18.12 Pollination
18.12.1 For the purpose of pollination you may have organic and non-organic units on the same
holding, provided that all the requirements of this Standard are fulfilled, with the exception of
the provisions for the siting of the apiaries. Products cannot be sold as organic if this occurs
and you must keep documentary evidence of the use of this section.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
A, B, C
Agri environmental
scheme
A government scheme that links agricultural production to minimum levels of
environmental management and responsibility.
Alien species ➢ a species or subspecies of an aquatic organism occurring outside its
known natural range and the area of its natural dispersal potential;
➢ polyploid organisms, and fertile artificially hybridised species irrespective of
their natural range or dispersal potential
Applicant An organisation or person who has applied for, but has not yet been given
operator status.
Approved body A body approved by the Defra for the purpose of operating a certification
scheme for organic food production
Approved producer A registered operator holding a valid Certificate of Conformity for the
production of organically produced products.
Aquaculture The rearing or cultivation of aquatic organisms using techniques designed to
increase the production of the organisms in question beyond the natural
capacity of the environment; the organisms remain the property of a natural
or legal person throughout the rearing or culture stage, up to and including
harvesting
Aquatic organisms Any species living in water belonging to the animalia, plantae and protista
kingdoms, including any part, gametes, seeds, eggs or propagules of their
individuals that might survive and subsequently reproduce
Bovine Ruminant such as cow, ox, or buffalo.
Bubalus Water buffaloes
Caprine Animal with the characteristic of a goat.
Certificate of
conformity
A certificate showing organic products, fields, etc issued to an operator
recognising their conformity to our Standards.
Certification
scheme
The Scheme operated by the Organic Food Federation and audited by the
Defra designed to certify conformity with the Standards as defined.
Closed recirculation
aquaculture facility
A facility where aquaculture takes place within an enclosed environment on
land or on a vessel involving the recirculation of water, and depending on
permanent external energy input to stabilize the environment for the
aquaculture animals
Closed aquaculture
facility
A facility where aquaculture is conducted in an aquatic medium, which involves
recirculation of water and which is separated from the wild aquatic medium by
barriers preventing the escape of reared specimens or biological material that
might survive and subsequently reproduce
Competent
Authority
The Competent Authority is Defra (Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs).
Control Authority The Control Authority is Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs).
Control Body Organic Food Federation or an equivalent body.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Conventional
feedstuffs/feed
Materials not produced in accordance with the rules of production specified in
this Standard.
COSHH Control of substances hazardous to health.
D, E, F
Defra Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Defra surveillance
visits
A random inspection of some operators to check our inspection procedures.
Derogation Permission granted by us or Defra to carry out a specific task.
Energy from
renewable sources
Renewable non-fossil energy sources: wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal,
hydropower, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases
Equine Horses, asses and zebras.
Ethological The scientific study of animal behaviour, especially as it occurs in a natural
environment.
Feed additives Additives that may be included in feed that are listed in this Standard.
Feedingstuff Feed
Feed materials Feed materials produced in accordance with this Standard.
First consignee The person to whom the imported consignment is delivered and who will
receive it for further preparation and/or marketing.
G, H, I
Genetically
modified
organisms (GMO)
Products produced from or by GMOs are incompatible with the concept of
organic production and consumers' perception of organic products. They
should therefore not be used in organic farming or in the processing of organic
products.
GMO derivative Any substance which is either produced from or produced by GMOs, but
does not contain them.
Hatchery A place of breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of
aquaculture animals, finfish and shellfish in particular
Hazard Analysis
Critical Control
Point (HACCP)
A system for identifying and controlling hazards.
Holding All the production units operated under a single management for the purpose
of producing agricultural products.
Homeopathic
products
Veterinary medicinal product prepared from products, substances or
compositions called homeopathic stocks in accordance with a homeopathic
manufacturing procedure.
Hydroponic
production
The method of growing plants with their roots in a mineral nutrient solution only
or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or mineral wool to which a
nutrient solution is added.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Importer An operator who imports goods either in person or through a representative for
release for free circulation into the Community.
In conversion The transition from non organic to organic farming within a given time
period, during which our Standards have been applied.
In conversion
feedingstuffs /
feed materials
Feedingstuffs produced during the conversion period to organic production,
with the exclusion of those harvested in the 12 months following the beginning
of the conversion.
Ingredients Processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human
consumption, prepared essentially from one or more ingredients of plant or
animal origin.
Ionising radiation Radiation that has enough energy to remove electrons from substances it
passes through, forming ions.
Inspector A qualified person appointed to conduct and carry out audits.
Inspection service An independent inspection service appointed, or operated directly, by
Defra or us to carry out inspections on its behalf.
Introduction The process by which an alien species is intentionally moved to an
environment outside its natural range for use in aquaculture
J, K, L
Labelling Any words, particulars, trademarks, brand names, pictorial matter or
symbols appearing on any packaging, document, notice, label, board or
collar accompanying or referring to a product.
Licensee An operator who has been granted a Certificate of Conformity.
List of ingredients The list of ingredients referred to on the labelling.
Livestock
production
The production of domestic or domesticated terrestrial animals and
aquatic species farmed in fresh, salt or brackish water.
Locally absent
species
A species or subspecies of an aquatic organism which is locally absent from a
zone within its natural range of distribution for biogeographical reasons
Locally grown
species
In the framework of aquaculture and seaweed production, means those which
are neither alien nor locally absent species under Council Regulation (EC) No
708/2007 (3) (see this glossary). Those species listed in Annex IV of
Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 (Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Brook
trout, Salvelinus fontinalis Common carp, Cyprinus carpio Grass carp,
Ctenopharyntgodon idella Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Big head
carp, Aristichtys nobilis Pacific cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas Japanese or
Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum Large-mouth bass, Micropterus
salmoides Arctic char, Salvelinus alpines) may be considered as locally grown
species.
Logo The symbol or mark of conformity issued to operators by the Federation
for use on products produced in accordance with this Standard.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
M, N, O
Marketing Marketing means holding or displaying for sale, offering for sale, selling,
delivering or placing on the market in any other form.
Mass catering
operations
The preparation of organic products in restaurants, hospitals, canteens and
other similar food business at the point of sale or delivery to the final
consumer.
Movement Introduction and/or translocation
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
Mycology Study of fungi.
National Organic
Program (NOP)
A certification programme for operators supplying product to the United States,
either directly or via processors exporting products to the US, and which
require products produced to the United States Department of Agriculture NOP
Standards.
Non compliance A failure to meet this Standard.
Non organic Not coming from or not related to a production in accordance with this
Standard.
Non routine
movement
Any movement of aquatic organisms which does not fulfil the criteria for routine
movement
Non target species Any species or subspecies of an aquatic organism likely to be detrimental to
the aquatic environment that is moved accidentally together with an aquatic
organism that is being introduced or translocated not including disease-causing
organisms which are covered by Directive 2006/88/EC
Nursery A place where an intermediate farming system, between the hatchery and
grow-out stages is applied. The nursery stage is completed within the first third
of the production cycle with the exception of species undergoing a
smoltification process
Open aquaculture
facility
A facility where aquaculture is conducted in an aquatic medium not separated
from the wild aquatic medium by barriers preventing the escape of reared
specimens or biological material that might survive and subsequently
reproduce
Operator Anyone who produces, prepares, stores or imports from a third country, with a
view to the subsequent marketing thereof, products referred to as organic.
Organically
produced
feedstuffs/materials
Materials produced in accordance with the rules of production laid down in this
Standard.
Ovine Characteristic of sheep.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
P, Q, R
Permanent pasture Pasture which has been in existence for at least five years.
Phytotherapeutic The use of plant-derived substances to treat a medical condition.
Pilot release The introduction of alien species or translocation of locally absent species on a
limited scale to assess ecological interaction with native species and habitats
in order to test the risk assessment assumptions
Pollution In the framework of aquaculture and seaweed production means the direct or
indirect introduction into the aquatic environment of substances or energy as
defined in Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
(1) and in Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
( 2), in the waters where they respectively apply
Polyculture In the framework of aquaculture and seaweed production, means the rearing of
two or more species usually from different trophic levels in the same culture
unit
Polyploid
organisms
Artificially induced tetraploid organisms (4N). These are aquatic organisms in
which the number of chromosomes in the cells has been doubled through cell
manipulation techniques
Posology Study of the dosages of medicines and drugs.
Potable water Water that is safe to drink, free from pollution, harmful organisms and
impurities.
Production cycle In the framework of aquaculture and seaweed production, means the lifespan
of an aquaculture animal or seaweed from the earliest life stage to harvesting
Propolis Resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flow or other
botanical sources.
Pre packaged
foodstuff
A wrapped or packaged food product before sale.
Preparation/
Processing
The operations of preserving and / or processing of agricultural products
(including slaughter and cutting for livestock products), and also packaging and
/ or alterations made to the labelling concerning the presentation of the organic
production method of the fresh, preserved and / or processed products.
Processing aid Any substance not consumed as a food ingredient by itself but performs a
technological purpose during processing.
Processing
complex
Where raw materials are processed in such a way that the nature, weight or
volume is transformed.
Processing
simple on farm
Simple Processing must always be on a dedicated organic site. Normally
defined as where raw materials are processed in such a way that traceability
and reconciliations are not difficult to follow for a producer inspector.
For example: cleaning; peeling, chopping and slicing; packing (including
bought in certified products) eg box schemes; blending (including bought in
certified products) where the nature of the product is not changed e.g. muesli;
processing of a single organic ingredient where nature is
not changed e.g. flour milling; simple butchery.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Production unit All assets to be used for a production sector such as production premises, land
parcels, pasturages, open air areas, livestock buildings, fish ponds,
containment systems for seaweed or aquaculture animals, shore or seabed
concessions, the premises for the storage of crops, crop products, seaweed
products, animal products, raw materials and any other input relevant for this
specific production sector.
Pyrethrin Extracts of a species of chrysanthemum used as insecticides.
Quarantine A process by which aquatic organisms and any of their associated organisms
can be maintained in complete isolation from the surrounding environment
Quarantine facility A facility in which aquatic organisms and any of their associated organisms can
be maintained in complete isolation from the surrounding environment
Receiving Member
State
The Member State into the territory of which the alien species is introduced or
the locally absent species is translocated
Routine movement The movement of aquatic organisms from a source which has a low risk of
transferring non-target species and which, on account of the characteristics of
the aquatic organisms and/or the method of aquaculture to be used, for
example closed systems as defined in 3, does not give rise to adverse
ecological effects
S, T, U
Simultaneous
conversion
Conversion of land and animals simultaneously from the beginning of
conversion period. Both become organic at the same time.
Sending Member State The Member State from the territory of which the alien species is
introduced or the locally absent species is translocated
Stocking density In the framework of aquaculture, means the live weight of animals per cubic
metre of water at any time during the grow-out phase and in the case of
flatfish and shrimp the weight per square metre of surface.
Third country A country that is not a member of the European Union and importers
from these countries are required to obtain authorisation from Defra
with the exception of Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Israel, New
Zealand, Switzerland and India.
Torrefaction Drying or roasting
Transhumance When animals are moved on foot from high ground to low ground, or vice
versa.
Translocation The process by which a locally absent species is intentionally moved within
its natural range for its use in aquaculture to an area where it previously did
not exist because of bio-geographical reasons
UKAS United Kingdom Accreditation Service - The UK body responsible for
accrediting certification bodies to EN45011/IS065 and contracted by
Defra in the UK to assess certification Bodies.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
V, W, X
Varroa destructor An external parasitic mite that attacks honey bees
Veterinary
medicinal
products
Products used as a curative or preventative treatment against a specific
disease.
Veterinary
treatment
All courses of a curative or preventive treatment against one occurrence of a
specific disease.
Zoonoses Diseases that are transferable from animals to humans
Zootechnical Relating to the science and technology of animal husbandry.
This Standard was compiled by John Weldon and Vivien McBride : Organic Food Federation

Soil Association Production standards November 2016

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Soil Association Production standards November 2016