5.5 Feed

For additional rules specific to the USA market please refer to point 2.2 Supplementary requirements for Organic Operators producing for the USA market.
 
5.5.1 Feed is intended to ensure quality production rather than maximising production, while meeting the nutritional requirements of the livestock at various stages of their development animals must have ample access to feed and water. Force-feeding is forbidden.

5.5.2 Livestock must be fed on organically produced feeding stuffs.

5.5.3 Furthermore, livestock must be reared in accordance with the rules set out in this standard, preferably using feed from the unit or when this is not possible using feed from other units or enterprises subject to the provisions of this standard.

5.5.4 When the in conversion feeds come from the unit of the own holding up to 60% can be in conversion. For the calculation of feeding allowances only, feed produced on the farm unit during the first year of organic management, may be classed as organic. This refers only to feed for animals that are being produced within the farm unit. Such feed may not be sold or otherwise marketed as organic.

The prevailing part (at least more than 60%) of the feed shall come from the farm unit itself or be produced in co-operation with other organic farms in the region. The feeding of young mammals must be based on natural milk, provided by maternal milk or organic milk from their own species. All mammals must be fed on natural milk for a minimum period, depending on the species concerned, which shall be three months for bovines (including bubalus and bison species) and equidae, 45 days for sheep and goats and 40 days for pigs.  Operators may provide non-organic milk when organic is not available.
 
5.5.5 For a transitional period, the use of a limited proportion of conventional feedstuffs is authorised where the farmer is unable to obtain feed exclusively from organic production. The maximum percentage of conventional feedstuffs authorised per year is 5 % in the case of herbivores during the period from 25 August 2005 to 31 December 2007 and;
 15% for other species during the period from 25 August 2005 to 31 December 2007.
 10% during the period from 25 August 2008 to  31 December  2009
 5% during the period from  1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011.
 These figures shall be calculated annually as a percentage of the dry matter of feedstuffs from all sources. To be approved by TPA prior to use. The maximum percentage authorized of conventional feed in the daily ration is 25% calculated as a percentage of the dry matter.

5.5.6 When forage production is lost, in particular as a result of exceptional weather conditions, AsureQuality can authorise for a limited period and in relation to a specific area, a higher percentage of conventional feed where such an exception is warranted.

5.5.8 Roughage, fresh or dried fodder, or silage must be added to the daily ration for pigs and poultry.
 All animals have access to roughage.

5.5.9 Only products listed in Section 10 Table 5, paragraphs 1.5 – Preservatives and 1.7 – Processing aids used in Feedstuffs can be used as additives and processing aids, respectively, in silage. 

5.5.10 Conventional feed materials of agricultural origin can be used for animal feeding only if listed in Section 10 Table 7, and subject to the quantitative restrictions imposed in this standard. Feeds obtained by Hexane extraction are not permitted.

5.5.11 In order to satisfy nutritional requirements of livestock, only products listed in Section 10 Table 7 Section 3 (feed materials from mineral origin), and Table 5, Sections 1.1 (trace elements) and 1.2 (vitamins, pro-vitamins and chemically well-defined substances having a similar effect), can be used for animal feeding.

5.5.12 Feeds, feed materials, compound feedstuffs, feed additives, processing aids for feeds and certain products used in animal nutrition must not have been produced with the use of genetically modified organisms or products derived from GMOs.