5.4 Animal Origin

For additional rules specific to the USA market please refer to point 2.1 Supplementary requirements for Organic Operators producing for the USA market.

In the choice of breeds or strains, account must be taken of the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality, and their resistance to disease. In addition, breeds or strains of animals shall be selected to avoid specific diseases or health problems associated with some breeds or strains used in intensive production (e.g. porcine stress syndrome, PSE Syndrome, sudden death, spontaneous abortion, difficult births requiring caesarean operations etc.)

Livestock must come from production units, which comply with the rules on the various types of livestock production laid down in this Standard. Throughout their life, this system of production must be applied.

Subject to the prior approval by AsureQuality , livestock existing on the livestock production unit, not complying with the rules of this Standard can be converted.

When a herd or flock is constituted for the first time and organically reared animals are not available in sufficient numbers, non-organically reared livestock may be brought into an organic livestock production unit, subject to the following conditions:

- pullets for the production of eggs must be less than 18 weeks old.
- chicks for broiler production must be less than two days old at the time when they leave the production unit where they were produced.
- dairy calves must be less than 4 weeks old have received colostrum and are fed a diet consisting mainly of full milk.
- piglets up to 6 weeks and after weaning.

This exception, which must be authorised beforehand by AsureQuality.

By way of a third derogation, the renewal or reconstitution of the herd or flock shall be authorised by AsureQuality when organically reared animals are not available, and in the following cases:

a) High mortality of animals caused by health or catastrophic circumstances.
b) Pullets for egg production no more than 18 weeks old.
c) Poultry for meat production less than 3 dats old

Case (b) and (c) is authorised for a transitional period expiring on 31 December 2008.

In the case of pigs, pullets and poultry for meat production, this transitional exception will be re-examined before the date of expiry to see if there are grounds for an extension to this deadline.

By way of a fourth derogation, subject to a yearly maximum of 10% of adult equine or bovine (including bubalus and bison species of the adult porcine, ovine and caprine livestock, livestock may be brought in as female (nulliparous) animals, from non organic-production stock farms per year, for supplementing natural growth and for the renewal of the herd or flock, when organically reared animals are not available, and only when authorised by AsureQuality Limited.

Non-organic animals brought in under derogation for breeding purposes may not be sold as organic.

This percentage may be increased due to:

- unforeseen severe natural or man made events
- considerable enlargement of the farm
- establishment of a new type of animal production on the farm
- holdings with less than 10 animals
- Specific time limits will be set for any derogations.

Males for breeding may be brought in from non organic-production stock farms provided that the animals are subsequently reared and fed in accordance with the rules laid down in this standard.  Conventional animals brought in for breeding purposes may not be sold as organic.

Where livestock come from units not complying with 5.1.1 to 5.1.15 above, the periods laid down in paragraph 5.3.2 must be observed if the products are to be sold as being from organic production and during these periods all the rules set out in this Standard must be complied with.

Where livestock is obtained from units not complying with this Standard the animals must be held in a quarantine area for twice the withholding period of any treatment that they have received.