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MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

324

Pursuant to Article 10, paragraph 2, Article 13, paragraph 1, Article 20, paragraph 3 of the Act on Organic Production of Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs (Official Gazette No. 12/01) the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry hereby passes the

ORDINANCE

ON ORGANIC PRODUCTION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS

I. BASIC PROVISIONS

Article 1

This Ordinance lays down minimum zootechnical requirements for organic livestock farming and aquaculture production, and covers the rules, techniques and specific standards for rearing of domestic animals, production unit plans, requirements relating to the conversion period, animal species and breeds, the manner of keeping the animals, requirements related to reproduction, feeding, care, treatment, and slaughter of animals, and animal transport procedures.

II. LIVESTOCK FARMING

General provisions

Article 2

Organic livestock production is an integral part of the overall agricultural production which ensures the equilibrium between agricultural production systems.

Article 3

Only healthy, naturally hardy animals that are beneficial to man and are adapted to the conditions of the production area shall be reared and naturally exploited.

The rearing and exploitation shall be based as much as possible on natural patterns and each animal species shall be kept in an environment that is most appropriate to the species concerned and its ethological needs.

The feeding, keeping and exploitation of animals should be moderate and reasonable.

Article 4

The number of animals per production unit in organic production (hereinafter referred to as production unit) shall depend on the production conditions applied and the possible production of food on the production unit, provided the environmental pollution is reduced to a minimum.

Article 5

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAAll the animals on a production unit must be kept in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.

If animals which are not reared according to the requirements of this Ordinance are kept on the production unit, the buildings and parcels where such animals are kept must be clearly separated.

Article 6

Livestock not reared in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance may be kept on the production unit for a limited period of time each year, provided that such animals come from extensive husbandry.

In such case, other animals which are organically reared may not be present on the same parcel.

This type of husbandry must be authorised by the inspection body.

2. Establishment of an organic-production unit

Article 7

Where a production unit is being converted to organic production, agricultural areas used for animal feed production must comply with the requirements of organic farming laid down in the Ordinance on organic production of plants and plant products (Official Gazette No 91/01).

The conversion period may be reduced to one year for pasturages and open air runs, or to 6 months if the agricultural land has not been treated with prohibited products for at least one year.

This reduction of the conversion period must be authorised by the inspection body.

Article 8

If livestock products are to be placed on the market as organic products, the livestock must be reared according to the provisions laid down in this Ordinance for at least:

– 12 months in the case of bovines and equidae for meat production and in all other cases at least three quarters of their lifetime;

– six months in the case of small ruminants and pigs;

– 10 weeks for poultry for meat production, brought in before they are three days old;

– six weeks in the case of poultry for egg production.

By derogation from the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, calves and small ruminants intended for meat production can be sold as organically reared during the conversion period provided that:

- they come from extensive husbandry,

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA- they are reared in the organic-production unit until the time of sale for slaughter, for a minimum period of six months for calves and two months for small ruminants.

Article 9

If a production unit that includes livestock, pasturage and land used for feed production is being converted to organic production, the conversion period may be reduced to 24 months subject to the following conditions:

– all the animals and their offspring must come from the production unit concerned,

– all the animals must be fed with products produced mainly in that production unit (al least 70 % of the dry matter in daily rations).

Article 10

When a herd or flock is constituted for the first time under organic production conditions, and animals satisfying organic production requirements laid down by this Ordinance are not available in sufficient numbers, livestock originating from conventional farms may be brought in, subject to the following conditions:

– calves and foals must be reared according to the provisions of this Ordinance as soon as they are weaned and must be less than six months old,

– lambs and kids must be reared according to the provisions of this Ordinance as soon as they are weaned and must be less than 45 days old,

– piglets must be reared according to the provisions of this Ordinance as soon as they are weaned and must weigh less than 25 kg,

– pullets for the production of eggs must not be more than 18 weeks old,

– chicks for broiler production must be less than three days old at the time when they leave the production unit where they were produced.

This type of renewal of the herd must be authorised by the inspection body.

3. Acquisition and origin of the animals

In the choice of breeds or strains of animals preference is to be given to the breeds and strains that are indigenous to the production area concerned and to those that are capable of adapting to the conditions of that production area, which has positive effects on their vitality and their resistance to disease.

Article 12

Livestock used for rearing must come from organic production units and they must be raised under this production system throughout their life.

Article 13

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAIn the case of the renewal or reconstitution of the herd or flock, or in the case of high mortality of animals caused by health or other reasons, animals coming from agricultural holdings practising conventional farming may be brought into the production unit.

This kind of animal acquisition must be authorised by the inspection body.

Article 14

When the number of animals in a herd is to be increased, or the herd or flock is to be renewed, and organically reared animals are not available, a maximum of 10 % of adult female equine or bovine livestock and 20 % of the adult female porcine, ovine and caprine livestock may be brought in from non organic-production farms per year.

This kind of renewal of the herd must be authorised by the inspection body.

Only herds with 10 or more bovine or equine animals, or with 5 or more porcine, ovine or caprine animals, may be renewed according to paragraph 1 of this Article.

For herds which are smaller than the ones specified in the third paragraph of this Article, only one non-organically produced head per year may be brought in.

Article 15

The proportion of conventionally produced livestock that is brought in may be increased up to 40 % following the opinion and agreement of the inspection body:

– when a major extension to the stockfarm is undertaken,

– when a breed is changed,

– when a new production system is established.

Article 16

Males for breeding may be brought in from conventional production farms provided that the animals have been kept separately and fed in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.

Article 17

Where livestock is obtained from off the production unit, special attention shall be paid to the checking of their health, resistance and adaptability, and special measures including quarantine shall be applied.

4. Husbandry practices and animal welfare

Article 18

The reproduction of animals in an organic production system should be based on natural methods or artificial insemination. Other manipulation of gametes is not permitted.

The inspection body may permit the use of ova transfer only if the original breeds are endangered.


Article 19

Animal husbandry operations such as tail-docking, cutting of teeth, trimming of beaks and dehorning must not be carried out systematically on the farm. Some of these operations may be authorised by the inspection body, for reasons of safety or if they are intended to improve the health, welfare or hygiene of the livestock.

Physical castration is only allowed if it contributes to the quality of products and if it is a part of traditional production practices.

Operations referred to in the first and second paragraph of this Article may be carried out by qualified personnel, at the most appropriate age of the animal, provided that any suffering to the animal is reduced to a minimum.

The hooves of ruminants need to be trimmed at least twice or as necessary.

Article 20

In order to avoid abnormal behaviour patterns (cannibalism), the livestock must be provided with a continuous opportunity to be active, that is, with ethological conditions for expressing natural patterns of behaviour normal to their species.

The livestock must be provided with conditions for body care (e.g. body brushing).

Article 21

Udders should be treated with neutral ointments or ointments containing natural disinfectants.

The use of iodine for udder disinfection is not permitted.

Article 22

Animals must not be kept tethered, except when housed in already existing buildings in which tethering is used as a method of managing livestock, or if herds are so small that it is not possible to keep the animals loose in groups.

The tethering of animals must be authorised by the inspection body.

Article 23

If the animals are kept tethered, they must be allowed to roam freely on pastures or other open air sites at least twice a week.

The use of electric cattle prods is prohibited.

Article 24

Where livestock are reared in groups, the size of the group shall depend upon their age and the behavioural needs of the species and breed concerned.

Article 25

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAThe keeping of livestock in inappropriate housing conditions, or on a diet, which may encourage anaemia, is prohibited.

Article 26

Livestock and livestock products must be identified during their production, transport and marketing.

5. Livestock housing and keeping

Article 27

The number of livestock that may be kept on the production unit must be such that the annual production of nitrogen does not exceed 170 kg of nitrogen per head per hectare of agricultural area.

The relationship between the number of animals and the maximum permitted amount of nitrogen in the manure is as follows:

Animal species and breedMaximum number of animals per ha

(equivalent to 170 kg N/ha/year

Horses over 6 months old 2

Calves for fattening 5

Other bovine animals less than one year old 5

Male and female bovine animals 1-2 years old

3.3

Male and female bovine animals over two years old

2

Heifers in calf and heifers for fattening 2.5

Dairy cows 2

Other cows 2.5

Sheep and goats 13.3

Piglets 74

Pregnant sows 6.5

Pigs for fattening and other pigs 14

Chickens for fattening 580

Laying hens 230


Article 28

When constructing animal housing facilities, storage facilities for livestock manure must also be constructed. The storage facilities for livestock manure must be of an adequate capacity to ensure the safe storage of manure produced on the production unit so as to preclude the pollution of environment by direct discharge or infiltration into the soil.

Article 29

Housing conditions for livestock must meet the livestock's biological and ethological needs.

The livestock must have easy access to feeding and watering.

Insulation, heating and ventilation of the livestock buildings must ensure that air circulation, dust level, temperature, relative air humidity and gas concentration are kept within limits which are not harmful to the animals.

The livestock building must permit natural ventilation and light to enter.

Article 30

In free range open-air areas where animals are kept protection must be provided against rain, wind, sun and extreme temperatures, taking into account the local weather conditions and the characteristics of the breed.

Article 31

Livestock housed in farm buildings must be provided with sufficient free space, depending on the species, the breed, the age, the natural needs and the sex of the livestock.

Livestock must be provided with sufficient space to stand freely, lie down, turn around and assume all natural postures.

Article 32

In livestock buildings and in outdoor animal runs the following minimum surface areas per head must be provided:


Animal species or category

Live weight per head (kg)

Net indoors area (m2/head)

Outdoors area (exercise area,

excluding pasturage) (m2/head)

Breeding and fattening bovines and equidae

up to 100

up to 200

up to 350

over 350

1,5

2,5

4,0

5,0 (with a minimum of 1 m2/100 kg weight)

1,1

1,9

3,0

3,7 (with a minimum of 0,75 m2/100 kg weight

Dairy cows 6 4,5

Bulls for breeding 10 30

Sheep and goats 1,5 sheep/goat

0,35 lamb/kid

2,5

2,5 with 0,5 per lamb/kid

Farrowing sows with piglets up to 40 days

7,5 sow 2,5

Fattening pigs up to 50

up to 85

up to 110

0,8

1,1

1,3

0,6

0,8

1,0

Piglets over 40 days and 30 kg of weight

0,6 0,4

In-pig sows 2,5 1,9

Boars 6,0 8,0

Article 33

Livestock buildings, equipment and utensils must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent the build-up of disease agents and their vectors.

Products authorised for cleaning and disinfection:

– Potassium and sodium soap

– Water and steam

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA– Milk of lime

– Quicklime

– Sodium hypochlorite (as liquid bleach)

– Caustic soda

– Hydrogen peroxide

– Natural essences of plants

– Citric, peracetic, lactic, oxalic and acetic acid

– Alcohol

– Nitric acid (for milking equipment)

– Phosphoric acid (for milking equipment)

– Formaldehyde

– Cleaning and disinfection products for teats and milking equipment

– Sodium carbonate

Faeces and split or uneaten food must be regularly removed to avoid attracting insects and rodents, to minimise smell and to prevent contamination of feed.

Article 34

Mammals must have access to pasturage or open-air areas whenever the physiological condition of the animal, the weather conditions and the state of the ground permit, unless it is prohibited for health reasons.

Article 35

Fattening cattle, pigs in the final fattening phase, and sheep and goats for meat production may be kept indoors, provided that this indoors period does not exceed one fifth of their lifetime or provided that it is not longer than three months.

Article 36

Livestock housing must have smooth, but not slippery floors. At least half of the total floor area must be solid, not of slatted or of grid construction.

The housing must be provided with clean and dry bedding area of sufficient size, consisting of a solid construction which is not slatted.

The litter must comprise straw or other suitable natural material.

Article 37

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJACalves must not be kept in individual boxes after the age of one week.

Article 38

Sows must be kept in groups, except in the last stages of pregnancy and during the suckling period.

Piglets must not be kept in cages.

Pigs must be provided with an area for rooting.

Article 39

Poultry must not be kept in cages. Certain species of poultry must have access to water areas (streams, lakes and the like) whenever the weather and hygienic conditions permit.

Article 40

Buildings for all poultry must meet the following minimum conditions:

– at least one third of the area must be of solid, not slatted, construction, and covered with straw, wood shavings, sand or similar natural material;

– in houses for laying hens, a sufficiently large part of the floor area must be available for the collection of their droppings.

Article 41

The minimum number of poultry per one square meter of indoor housing and outdoor area is as follows:

Poultry category Number of head per m2 of indoors area

Outdoors area in m2

Laying hens 6 4

Fattening poultry 10 with a maximum of 21 kg weight/m2

4 broilers

4,5 ducks

10 turkey

15 geese

The following factors must be taken into account when planning the number of poultry in the production unit:

– the limit of 170 kg of N/ha/year must not be exceeded,

– a poultry house must not contain more than 4800 chickens, 3000 laying hens, 5200 guinea fowl, 4000 female ducks or 3200 male ducks, 2500 geese and turkeys,

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA– the total usable area of poultry houses for fattening poultry on any single production unit, must not exceed 1600 m2.

Article 42

In poultry houses for laying hens, natural light may be supplemented by artificial light to provide a maximum of 16 hours light per day with a continuous nocturnal rest period of at least 8 hours.

Article 43

Poultry must have access to an open-air run whenever the weather conditions permit. These open-air runs must be mainly covered with vegetation, and poultry must have easy access to feeding and drinking troughs.

Article 44

For health reasons, poultry buildings must be completely emptied of livestock after each production cycle, and then both the buildings and fittings must be cleaned and disinfected.

Open-air runs used by poultry must be left empty to allow vegetation to grow back.

6. Animal nutrition

Article 45

Animal nutrition must be in accordance with their nutritional requirements necessary to ensure a reasonable production level and a normal growth rate.

Livestock feed must contain all the nutrients needed to ensure balanced growth and development and good health.

Livestock should have access to fresh water and feed throughout the day.

Livestock must be fed with organically produced feedingstuffs from the same production unit or with feedingstuffs obtained from another organic-production unit.

Article 46

Subject to the approval of the inspection body, a limited proportion of conventional feedingstuffs may be obtained where the production unit is unable to ensure sufficient quantities of organically produced feed.

The maximum percentage of conventional feedingstuffs authorised per year is 10 % in the case of ruminats and 20 % for other species of domestic animals.

The proportion of feed obtained in such a way shall be calculated based on annual needs, on the basis of the quantity of the dry matter in the total feed.

Article 47

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAWhen forage production has been considerably reduced, primarily as a result of weather conditions, the inspection body may authorise, for a limited period, the purchase of larger quantities of conventional feedingstuffs.

Article 48

Ruminant feeding shall be based on maximum use of pasturage according to the availability of pastures during the year. At least 60 % of the dry matter in daily rations is to consist of roughage, fresh or dried fodder, or silage.

The inspection body can permit the use of roughage up to 50 % of the dry matter in daily rations for animals in dairy production, for a maximum period of three months in early lactation.

Article 49

Roughage, fresh or dried fodder, or silage must comprise at least 10 % of the dry matter in the daily ration for pigs and poultry.

Article 50

For poultry, the feed formula used in the fattening stage must contain at least 65 % cereals.

Article 51

Feed or feed ingredients must not be derived from genetically modified organisms.

Article 52

Preservatives such as bacteria, fungi and enzymes may be used in the preparation and preservation of feed.

Article 53

Formic, acetic, lactic, and propionic acids may be used for the preparation of silage.

Article 54

Animals in organic farming may be fed feed materials of plant origin listed in Annex I to this Ordinance.

Article 55

Animals in organic farming may be fed the following feed materials of animal origin:

– milk and milk products, including: raw milk, milk powder, skimmed milk, skimmed-milk powder, buttermilk, buttermilk powder, whey, whey powder, casein powder and lactose powder;

– fish meal and meal from other marine organisms, their products or by-products.

Article 56

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAAnimals in organic farming may be fed feed materials of mineral origin, trace elements, vitamins, provitamins and chemical compounds having a similar effect, as listed in Annex 2 A and B to this Ordinance.

Article 57

Enzymes, microorganisms and other additives listed in Annex 3 to this Ordinance may be used in the feeding of animals in organic farming.

Article 58

Antibiotics, coccidiostatics, drugs, growth promoters or any other substance intended to stimulate growth or production must not be used in the feeding of animals in an organic farming system.

Article 59

Within the first days of their life, calves, lambs and kids must receive colostrum – the milk from their own mothers.

From the age of two weeks, calves must be fed on roughage and cereal groats produced on the production unit itself.

Article 60

Milk replaces (only without antibiotics) are permitted only for therapeutic purposes and in acute cases, and only when authorised by the inspection body.

7. Animal health care

Article 61

Preventive health care shall be based on proper nutrition and appropriate housing, the use of alternative methods, legally required vaccination against infectious and parasitic diseases, general hygiene and disinfection of livestock buildings and installations.

For therapeutic treatment, natural methods and medicines of plant, animal and mineral origin must be used as much as possible, with physical/mechanical methods being used as a preventive measure.

Article 62

If animals are treated with drugs, approval must be obtained from the veterinary service.

Conventional treatment should be limited to exceptional cases and, if possible, carried out by using natural (physical therapy and homeopathy) methods and medicines.

Article 63

All animals in an organic production unit that have been treated must be identified and entered in a special register kept for the purpose of recording veterinary interventions.

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAThe veterinarian who performed the treatment must record the treated animal in the veterinary surgery logbook. The treatment description must include details of the diagnosis, the treatment methods, the type and quantity of the medication prescribed and the duration of the treatment.

The use of drugs for preventive treatments is prohibited, and may be permitted only for vaccination, or if such treatment is necessary for animal welfare reasons, and if no other justifiable alternative is available.

Vaccinations shall be used only when diseases are known or expected to be a problem in the region of the farm and where these diseases cannot be controlled by other management techniques.

The inspection body shall define requirements for the cases referred to in the fourth paragraph of this Article.

Article 64

On an organic production unit a special record must be maintained of any veterinary and other zootechnical treatments of animals.

Based on the data in the records, the inspection body will determine whether the number of veterinary treatments is high and, if so, it shall lay down conditions requiring drugs to be used as little as possible.

Article 65

When conventional veterinary medicine is applied, the length of the withholding period for veterinary medicines shall be at least twice that recommended by the manufacturer.

Article 66

The use of chemotherapy and antibiotics shall be recorded and such records shall be made available to the inspection body.

The use of genetically engineered live vaccines is not permitted.

Article 67

The use of hormones for oestrus synchronisation is prohibited, unless for solving reproduction problems in individual animals.

Article 68

The use of the following medicinal products and medical devices for preventive treatments is not permitted:

– antibiotics, sulphonamides, analeptics, sedatives, hormones, coccidiostatics, anthelmintics, acaricides (insecticides), biostimulants, synthetic roborants, antioxidants, various other chemotherapeutics and chemical substances.

The use of the following medicinal products is strictly prohibited:

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA– chloramphenicol, ivermectin, hexachlorcyclohexan and derivates for insect control, genetically engineered substances (e.g. bovine somatrophin) sedatives and beta-blockers.

Article 69

By way of derogation from the provision of Article 68, the use of the above substances shall only be permitted if animals are at risk of dying.

In that case, such animals shall be isolated from the production group, and the inspection body shall determine when such animals may again be brought into the organic production system.

Article 70

Animals treated with antimicrobial drugs and anthelmintics must not be slaughtered, and their meat and milk must not be used in the withholding period twice as long as the withholding period recommended by the manufacturer.

Article 71

Primarily specific immunoprophylaxis for the diseases the control of which is legally required shall be used to prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases.

An important measure in preventing the spread of diseases includes safe disposal of carcasses and proper transport.

8. Animal transport and slaughter

Article 72

During transportation and slaughter, animals must be provided with conditions which minimize stress. It should be taken into account that stress occurs in, or can be caused by, the following situations:

– loading and unloading,

– mixing different groups of animals or animals of different sex,

– loading equipment, transportation and unloading, stunning and slaughtering,

– at high temperatures and at high relative humidity,

– if animals are hungry or thirsty, and disturbed,

– if circumstances and events during transportation or slaughter are different from those to which animals have become accustomed on the farm (e.g. bedding, social ties).

Article 73

For poultry, the minimum age at slaughter shall be:

– chickens 81 days


– capons 150 days

– Peking ducks 49 days

– female Muscovy ducks 70 days

– male Muscovy ducks 84 days

– wild ducks 92 days

– guineafowl 94 days

– turkeys and geese 140 days

Article 74

During transport, animals should be watered and fed depending on weather conditions and travelling time. Animals must be regularly checked during transport.

The means of transport should be appropriate for each animal species.

Non-synthetic tranquilizers or stimulants should be given to animals prior to or during transport.

Article 75

At slaughter, animals must be stunned before being bled.

Exceptions can be made according to cultural practice.

Where animals are slaughtered without prior stunning this should take place in a calm environment.

III. BEE KEEPING

Article 76

Bee keeping is an important activity that contributes to the enhancement of agricultural and forestry production.

Article 77

Organic production of beekeeping products is set up a year after the conversion period. During that period the beeswax has to be replaced. The new wax must come from organic production; otherwise, the inspection body must confirm that beeswax coming from such units is not available. In such case, the wax must come from the cap.

Article 78

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAAfter the conversion period, the production shall be qualified as organic if the requirements regarding the characteristics of the hives and the quality of the environment are met.

Article 79

When a beekeeper runs several apiaries in the same area, all of them must comply with the requirements of this Ordinance, for the production to be qualified as organic.

Only in exceptional cases, when organic feed is not available in sufficient quantities, the beekeeper may run a non-organic apiary.

In that case, the product referred to in the second paragraph may not be labelled as being organic.

Article 80

Apiaries shall be constituted by means of the division of colonies or the acquisition of swarms or hives from beekeepers producing organically.

Article 81

Subject to the approval by the inspection body, the existing bee colonies may be converted to organic production provided the one-year conversion period is observed and the wax is replaced.

For the renovation of the apiaries, the inspection body may authorise that bee colonies not complying with organic production requirements can be incorporated into the apiaries, in case of high mortality of animals caused by health reasons or other catastrophic circumstances.

Article 82

For the renovation of the apiaries 10 % per year of the queen bees and swarms can be acquired from non-organic apiaries. In that case, the queen bees are to be placed in colonies meeting the organic production requirements, and the swarms are to be placed in hives in which organic bee colonies were placed.

Article 83

Prior to authorising the establishment of an organic apiary, the inspection body shall define the natural conditions in which bees can get such nutrition that their products can be classified as organic.

Article 84

When establishing an organic apiary, care must be taken that:

– enough sources of nutrition for bees are ensured;

– the apiary is such, that within a radius of 3 km from the apiary site, nectar and pollen sources consist of organically produced crops or spontaneous vegetation which has not been treated with chemical products, or within a smaller radius if, as confirmed by the inspection body, forage areas are naturally protected;

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA– there is enough distance from any production that is a source of contamination, such as urban centres, industrial areas, motorways, and the like.

The above requirements do not apply when there is no vegetation, or when the colonies are dormant.

Article 85

At the end of the production season colonies must be left with sufficient reserves of honey and pollen to survive the winter.

Article 86

The artificial feeding of colonies is authorised in circumstances where such feeding is crucial for the survival of the colonies in extreme climatic conditions. Artificial feeding must be based on organically produced honey.

Subject to the consent of the inspection body, organically-produced sugar syrup or organic sugar molasses may be used in artificial feeding instead of organically-produced honey, when it is required by climatic conditions that provoke crystallisation of honey.

Article 87

The beekeeper must keep the following data with regard to the use of artificial feeding:

– type of product used,

– dates of feeding,

– quantities of the product used

– colonies that are artificially fed.

Article 88

Artificial feeding may be carried out only between the last honey harvest and 15 days before the nectar flow.

Article 89

The destruction of bees in the combs as a method of harvesting honey and other beekeeping products is prohibited.

The use of chemical methods is prohibited during the removal of honey supers and combs.

The use of combs, which contain broods, is prohibited for honey extraction.

Article 90

Clipping the wings of queen bees is prohibited.

Article 91

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAThe replacement of the queen bees involving the killing of the old queen is permitted.

Article 92

The practice of destroying the male brood is permitted only to contain varrosis.

Article 93

The zone where the apiary is situated must be registered together with the number of the colonies.

The inspection body must be informed of the moving of an apiary, which must be placed in the area designated for organic production.

Article 94

Records must be kept of all operations relating to the extraction, processing and storage of beekeeping products.

Article 95

The hives must be made of natural materials presenting no risk of contamination to the environment or the beekeeping products.

Article 96

Sick colonies must be treated immediately and, if necessary, placed in isolation apiaries during treatment.

The treatment of sick colonies should primarily be based on the use of phytotherapeutic and homeopathic preparations and biological controls and therapies.

Organic acids (formic, lactic, acetic and oxalic) and plant substances (menthol, thymol, camphor and eucalyptol) can be used in the treatment for varrosis.

If such treatment should prove inefficient, drugs may be used, subject to the approval of the inspection body.

Article 97

Colonies treated with drugs must be placed in isolation apiaries and may again be brought into organic production after the withholding period for the drug has expired, or after all the combs have been replaced if drug residues or drug degradation products remain in the wax.

Article 98

The use of drugs for preventive treatments is prohibited.

Article 99

The beekeeper must record all the information relating to the treatment (the diagnosis; the drug; the active substance; the method of treatment; the duration of the treatment; the withholding period, etc.), and if the colonies have been treated with veterinary drugs this

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAinformation must be certified by the veterinarian who prescribed the drug and/or carried out the treatment. This information must be confirmed by the inspection body before honey or other beekeeping products are placed on the market.

Article 100

Physical treatments such as stream or direct flame are permitted in apiaries.

For cleaning and disinfecting materials, buildings, utensils or products used in beekeeping the following may be used:

– Potassium and sodium soap

– Water and steam

– Milk of lime

– Quicklime

– Sodium hypochlorite

– Sodium hydroxide

– Hydrogen peroxide

– Citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid and oxalic and

– Alcohol

– Formaldehyde

– Sodium bicarbonate

IV. ORGANIC FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE

1. General principles

Article 101

For the purposes of this Ordinance, “fisheries” shall mean the catching of sea fish and other marine organisms.

Aquaculture includes all forms of production in fresh, semi-salty (brackish) and salt waters. Aquaculture covers the production of all kinds of fish and other aquatic/marine organisms.

2. Conversion period

Article 102

The length of the conversion period should be at least one life cycle of the organisms that are produced.

The requirements laid down in this Ordinance must be fully met during the conversion period.

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAThe inspection body may allow brought-in organisms of conventional origin, provided these are not genetically engineered.

Article 103

The length of the conversion period for an aquaculture production unit shall be 2 years. The rules of organic production must be complied with throughout this period.

3. Marine fisheries

Article 104

Sea fish and other marine organisms caught in the fisheries zones A, B, C and D of the Republic of Croatia, in accordance with the Marine Fisheries Act and regulations made under it, shall be considered organic products within the meaning of the Act on Organic Production of Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”).

Sea fish and other marine organisms caught in the outer fishing sea of the Republic of Croatia shall be considered organic products within the meaning of the Act only if the catching area is monitored through systematic biological and environmental surveillance of habitats.

Article 105

Sea fish and other marine organisms must be shocked immediately after catching, either by cooling or by other procedure, to prevent undesirable biochemical processes.

4. Marine aquaculture

Article 106

Farmed bivalve molluscs shall be considered organically produced if their production is based on the natural food chain and if the farming area is monitored through systematic biological and environmental surveillance.

Bivalve molluscs farmed in the area in which sea water quality is of Class I (pursuant to the provisions of the Ordinance on the veterinary health conditions for the harvesting, farming, purification and placing on the market of live bivalve molluscs) shall be considered organic products.

Bivalve molluscs farmed in the area in which sea water quality is of Class I and II shall be considered organic products after they have been purified either in the area in which sea water quality is of Class I or in purification centres.

Article 107

Farmed sea fish shall be considered organic if the following requirements are met:

1. the use of hormones to stimulate spawning is prohibited;

2. only fish from the parental stock (F1 generation) shall be considered as complying within the meaning of this Ordinance, i.e. the condition that the parent fish must not have been crossed between themselves;

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA3. only preventive measures based on immunostimulation are permitted (the use of antibiotics and antimicotics is prohibited);

4. the use of growth stimulating hormones is prohibited;

5. the use of genetically modified feed is prohibited;

6. feed used in aquaculture must contain at least 70 % organic components by weight, which must be source documented;

7. farming areas must be subjected to biological and environmental monitoring.

5. Freshwater aquaculture

Article 108

Freshwater fish caught in accordance with separate regulations in fishing zones situated in legally protected natural areas shall be considered organic products within the meaning of this Ordinance.

Article 109

The following are the minimum requirements for water in which freshwater fish and/or other aquatic organisms are raised: no contamination or very low levels of contamination with chemicals from the production holding (e.g. plant protection products, mineral fertilizers). The water in which fish are raised must contain at least 1 mg/l of oxygen for cyprinid fish, and at least 5 mg/l for salmonid fish; the pH value must be between 6,0 and 9,0.

Article 110

Production techniques must be governed by the physiological and ethological needs of the organisms in question. The organisms must be allowed to meet their basic behavioural needs. Production techniques, especially where production levels and speed of growth are concerned, must be directed at good health and welfare of the organisms. Special care must be taken when introducing non-native species.

Article 111

The basis for production is the maintenance of the aquatic ecosystems, achieved by combinations of:

– encouraging and enhancing biological cycles in production, involving micro-organisms, plants and animals,

– using feed ingredients which are based on materials of biological origin,

– using a wide range of methods for disease control,

– avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemotherapeutic agents,

– providing polyculture where possible.


Article 112

The inspection body shall set standards that take into account the behavioural needs of organisms. This shall include provisions regarding:

– sustainable production methods,

–stocking density,

– sufficient quantity of clean water,

– protection against dramatic temperature changes

– protection from extremes of sunlight and shade

Article 113

The number of fish must be adapted to local conditions and the natural capacity of the farm.

The following maximum sizes of the fish schools are permitted on the farms:

carp/hectare 3000 - 2500 k1

600 - 500 k2

tinch/hectare 5000 - 4000 L1

2500 - 2000 L2

1500 - 1200 L3

In mixed farms the above values are to be adapted to the size (weight) of the fish.

There are no restrictions on the presence of other fish.

Article 114

The inspection body may allow artificially prolonged light periods, appropriate to the species and geographical circumstances. When the natural day length is artificially prolonged, the day length limit is 16 hours per day.

Article 115

No compounds in construction materials and production equipment (paints, impregnating materials with synthetic and/or chemical agents etc.) which can detrimentally affect the environment or the health of the organisms in question can be used.

Article 116

The inspection body shall set standards on the basis of relevant conditions in order to prevent excessive and improper use of water.


Article 117

Location of production units shall take into consideration the maintenance of the aquatic environment and surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.

Production units must be at an appropriate distance form contamination sources and conventional aquaculture. Negative environmental impact from aquaculture production should be minimized.

Article 118

For each production unit, the inspection body shall set standards concerning protection from contamination, including appropriate distances from contamination sources and conventional aquaculture.

6. Specific technological requirements for organic aquaculture

Article 119

Ponds should, if possible, be dried out annually, between autumn and spring, for disinfection and to improve the safety of production with respect to the mineralization or organic matter accumulated at the bottom of the pond during its exploitation.

Article 120

In order to prevent impact on aquatic animal areas connected with the pond, the pond should be refilled with water by the beginning of its exploitation (March - April).

Article 121

Legal and natural persons engaged in freshwater aquaculture must maintain the structure of the biotope in the pond, in such a way that along at least 20 % of the pond embankment a 1,5-m strip remains covered with reed.

Aquatic plants adversely affecting the production may only be removed by biological and mechanical (non-chemical) methods.

Pond banks should be mowed once a year. To protect the fauna, mowing should be done after 1 September.

Article 122

The quality of water or of water flows must be maintained during production. Water inflow and outflow levels must be approximately equal.

Article 123

The farming, transport, harvesting, slaughter, and all other operations must be carried out in such a way that the animals are not exposed to unnecessary suffering or stress, and are protected from torture.

Article 124

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAFrom the beginning of the farming, several fish species should be stocked in order to ensure more diverse exploitation of the primary production (polyculture).

To ensure the survival and enhancement of life communities in natural water flows, primarily domestic indigenous fauna and flora should be farmed.

Farming shall not include methods that make the farming system dependent on high technologies and intensive farming methods.

Article 125

Farming technology should be adjusted to natural spawning conditions. The inspection body may allow the use of production systems which do not imply natural spawning.

The farming of triploid organisms and genetically engineered species or breeds is not allowed, and neither is the use of genetically engineered eggs, fry and fish.

The stocking density should be adjusted in line with the environmental conditions and the carrying capacity of the farming facilities.

Article 126

Fish for stocking must be obtained from organic fish farms. In exceptional cases, and in cooperation with the inspection body, fry from conventional fish farms may be stocked, provided that at the end of the production the fish have spent at least 2/3 of their lifespan in the organic fish farms, and only then they can be labelled as organic products.

Article 127

The use of hormones to control reproduction or for raising parent fish is not allowed.

Parent fish must be sourced from certified organic fish farms.

It is permitted to raise parent fish, and to place their eggs, in heated (solar-heated if possible) hatcheries for warm-water fish

Artificial spawning, controlled reproduction and artificial feeding shall be permitted in regions and years with extreme weather conditions.

Article 128

Only organic fertilizers (farmyard manure, hay, grass) coming from an organic production system may be used for pond fertilization.

It is permitted to use calcium carbonate as a pond fertilizer.

It is prohibited to use synthetic feed materials, or feed produced from or containing ingredients produced from genetically modified organisms.

7. Fish health protection

Article 129

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAA legal or natural person who is an owner of the fish farm must take particular care of hygiene and fish health. Upon the first signs of disease in fish, a veterinarian or a fish farming expert should be called.

After use of drugs prescribed by a veterinarian, it is necessary to double the prescribed withholding period before the fish can be sold for consumption.

Cleaning and disinfecting products and drugs used in the fish farm must lose their effectiveness already during the fish rearing period.

8. Fish nutrition

Article 130

Feed for aquaculture fish must be balanced according to the nutritional needs of the organisms. Feed should be offered to the organisms in a way that allows natural feeding behaviour, with minimum loss of feed to the environment.

9. Health and welfare

Article 131

Production practices must be directed at achieving a high level of resistance against disease and preventing infections. All techniques, especially where production levels and speed of growth are concerned, must be directed at good health and welfare of the organisms.

Production practices should exclude the possibility of a fish disease outbreak when production conditions are changed. When treatment is necessary, the use of natural methods and medicines should be the first choice.

The well-being of the organisms is paramount in the choice of illness treatment. Disease treatment should be carried out in a way that minimises harmful effects on the environment.

Chemical drugs may only be used if no other justifiable alternative is available, and/or if required according to separate regulations.

Article 132

The use of synthetic hormones and synthetic growth promoters is not allowed.

Article 133

Production records shall contain information pertaining to disease management. The information shall include:

– identification of the organisms concerned,

– details of treatment and duration,

– names of drugs used.


10. Transportation

Article 134

The transportation medium should be appropriate for the species with regards to water quality, temperature, oxygen etc. Transportation distance and frequency should be minimized.

Transportation of live fish and other aquatic organisms should be done in the most considerate manner, and live fish and other aquatic organisms should be looked after regularly during transportation.

Transportation must not cause unnecessary stress or physical injury to the animals.

Transportation equipment and/or materials must not contain toxic substances nor have potentially toxic effects.

Article 135

The inspection body shall set appropriate transportation requirements regarding:

– water quality, including temperature, oxygen contents,

– water quantity,

– stock density,

– distance and/or time,

– precautions against escape.

Article 136

Chemically synthesised tranquillisers or stimulants shall not be given to the animals prior to or during transport.

The person responsible for transportation shall be responsible for the well-being of the animals.

11. Slaughter

Article 137

Stress connected with the slaughter process should be minimized.

The organisms should be in a state of unconsciousness before bleeding to death. Equipment used for stunning must be in good working order and must affect the deep laying parts of the brain in one quick act. Surveillance for proper functioning must be carried out regularly. Equipment relying on gas or electricity shall be monitored continuously.

The inspection body shall specify slaughterhouse requirements based on local species and cultural customs. This shall include:

– recovery from transport,

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJA– timing between unconsciousness and bleeding,

– type and quality of equipment,

– contact between living and slaughtered organisms.

Article 138

While carrying out their activities, fish farm owners must, because of environmental responsibility, take care that they protect the rearing of native fish species (non-native fish that are produces should be set apart and may not be sold live).

Article 139

Care must be taken that from the slaughtering phase onward the cold chain is maintained, which must not be interrupted.

Ingredients used in processing should, in principle, be organically produced.

Article 140

This Ordinance shall enter into force on the eighth day following its publication in the Official Gazette.

Classification: 011-02/02-01/16

File number: 525-1-02-1

Zagreb, 29 January 2005

Minister

Božidar Pankretić, m.p.

ANNEX 1

FEED MATERIALS FROM PLANT ORIGIN USED IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION

Cereals, grains, their products and by-products

Oats (grains, flakes, middlings, hulls and bran)Rice (grains, rice broken, bran, and germ expeller)Millet (grains)Rye (grains, middlings, bran and feed)SorghumWheat (grains, middlings, bran, gluten and germ)Spelt TriticaleMaize (grains, middlings, bran, germs and gluten


MaltBrewers' grains

Oil seeds, oil fruits, their products and by-products

Rape seed, expeller, and hullsSoya bean (as bean, toasted, expeller and hulls)Sunflower seed (as seed and expeller)Cotton (as seed and seed expeller)Linseed (as seed and expeller)Sesame seed (as seed and expeller)Palm kernels as expellerTurnip rape seed (as expeller and hulls)Pumpkin seed as expellerOlive pulp (from physical extraction of olives).

Legume seeds, their product and by-products

Chick peasChickling vetch seeds (submitted to heat treatment)Peas (as seeds, middlings, and bran)Broad beansVetchesLupin

Tuber roots, their products and by-products

Sugar beet pulpDried beetPotatoSweet potatoManiocPotato pulp (by-product of the extraction of potato starch)Potato starchPotato proteinTapioca

Other seeds and fruits, their products and by-products

Carob podsCitrus pulpApple vinegarTomato pulpGrape pulp

Forages and roughages LucerneLucerne mealCloverClover mealGrass (obtained from forage plants)Grass mealHaySilageStrawRoot vegetables

Other plants, their products and by-products

Molasses as a binding agent in mixtures of seaweed meal (obtained by drying and crushing seaweed and washed to reduce


iodine content)Powders and extracts of plantsPlant protein extracts (solely provided to young animalsSpicesHerbs


ANNEX 2

FEED MATERIALS FROM MINERAL ORIGIN USED IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION

A. MINERALS

Sodium unrefined sea saltcoarse rock saltsodium sulphatesodium carbonatesodium bicarbonatesodium chloride

Calcium lithotamnion and maerlshells of aquatic animals (including cuttlefish bones)calcium carbonatecalcium lactatecalcium gluconate

Phosphorus dicalcium phosphate precipitate defluorinated dicalcium phosphatedefluorinated monocalcium phosphate

Magnesium anhydrous magnesiamagnesium sulphatemagnesium chloridemagnesium carbonate

Sulphur sodium sulphate

B. FEED ADDITIVES (MICRO-ELEMENTS) that can be used for feed preparation and processing

E1 Iron ferrous (II) carbonateferrous (II) sulphate monohydrateferric (III) oxide

E2 Iodine calcium iodate, anhydrouscalcium iodate, hexahydratesodium iodide

E3 Cobalt cobaltous (II) sulphate monohydrate and/or heptahydratebasic cobaltous (II) carbonate, monohydrate

E4 Copper copper (II) oxidebasic copper (II) carbonate, monohydratecopper (II) sulphate, pentahydrate

E5 Manganese manganous (II) carbonatemanganous oxide and manganic oxidemanganous (II) sulfate, mono- and/or tetrahydrate

MVPEI,Zavod za prevođenjeRADNA VERZIJAE6 Zinc zinc carbonate

zinc oxidezinc sulphate mono- and/or heptahydrate

E7 Molybdenum ammonium molybdate, sodium molybdateE8 Selenium sodium selenate

sodium selenite

ANNEX 3

ENZYMES, MICROORGANISMS AND OTHER ADDITIVES

Enzymes

3-phytase

– preparation of 3-phytase produced by Aspergillus niger having a minimum activity of 5,000 FTU/g for solid and liquid preparations

Microorganisms

Bacillus cereus var. toyoi

Bacillus lichteniformis / Bacillus subtilis

– preparation of Bacillus cereus var. toyoi containing a minimum of 1010 CFU/g additive

– mixture of Bacillus lichteniformis and Bacillus subtilis containing 3.2 ¢ 109 CFU/g

additive (1.6 ¢ 109 CFU/g of each bacteria)

Binders, anti-caking agents and coagulants

E 551b E 551c E 553 E 558 E 559 E 561 E 599

– Colloidal silica – Kieselgur– Sepiolite– Bentonite– Kaolinitic clays– Vermiculite– Perlite

Processing aids used in feedingstuffs– sea salt, coarse rock salt, enzymes, yeasts, whey, sugar, sugar beet pulp, cereal flour, molasses and lactic, acetic, propionic and formic bacteria.

– when weather conditions do not allow for adequate fermentation, the inspection body may authorise the use of lactic, formic, propionic and acetic acids in the production of silage.

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