Standards
The Association developed the first Standards of organic production in Ukraine, which underwent a positive review in Swiss Research Institute of Organic Production. The Standards totally meet the EU Council Regulation #2092/91 as well as the standards of the Internation Federation of Organic Movement (IFOAM)
A short review of Ukrainian Standards Principles of organic agriculture Organic agriculture must support and strengthen health of soil, plants, animals, people and the whole planet integrally and in full. Organic agriculture must consider circling functioning of the live ecological system; it must improve it without any intervention and violation.Organic agriculture must be based on the relations that guarantee social justice taking into consideration social life and life possibilities. Organic agriculture must be run in a rational way and baring responsibility in order to protect health and wellbeing of the environment for the present and future generation. Ecosystems Operators should maintain a significant part of their farm for ecosystems to facilitate biodiversity and to save the environment of the wild nature. · Ecozone must occupy not less than 7% of the total area of the farm business.
· If a farm is surrounded by the above said lots, which are not the property of the farm, the operator may use buffer zones as ecozones. Soil and water conservation Organic farming methods conserve and grow soil, maintain water quality and use water efficiently and responsibly. Genetic engineering Genetic engineering is excluded from organic production and processing
General Requirements for Crop Production and Animal HusbandrySplit Production and Parallel Production· Upon split production organic and conventional parts should be strictly separated.
· Simultaneous production of the same organic and non-organic crops or animal products (parallel production) is not permitted
· Where a conversion plan is available, step by step conversion of different sections of the farm is allowed. Conversion period cannot exceed 5 years
· The prohibited materials must be stored in special places, separated from storages of organic products.
· The operator must demonstrate that the production system does not constantly switch from organic to traditional and vice versa. Plant productionChoice of Crops and Varieties Species and varieties cultivated in organic agriculture systems are selected for adaptability to the local soil and climatic conditions and tolerance to pests and diseases. It is allowed to use seeds and materials for vegetative propagation if they were not treated and if the latter can be proved. Duration of conversion period (plant production) · Products of organic agriculture can be certified if the standards demands have been met for at least 24 months from the production beginning. Perennials (except for meadows and pastures) can be certified 36 months before harvest. Crop Rotation Crop rotation must include minimum 20% of plants which improve soils and accumulate nutrient supplements, such as:
· Grain-legumes or a mixture of grain-legumes (soy, peas, lupine, an oat-pea mixture, vetch, holy clover and other).
· Green manure.
· Plant rests with natural green coverage.
· Perennial legumes plants (Lucerne, clover in plant mixtures). The maximum part for each major plant per crop rotation corresponding to the crop acreage is the following:
· Cereals, rice, grain-legumes – 67%
· Wheat, corn - 50% Soil Fertility and Fertilization Upon an organic system of farming it is necessary to apply sufficient quantity of microbiological material of plant nature or animal origin to increase or at least to preserve fertility and biological activity of the soil.
· Mineral fertilizers shall be applied in the form in which they are naturally composed and extracted and shall not be rendered more soluble by chemical treatment, other than addition of water and mixing with other naturally occurring, permitted inputs.
· The total amount of fertilizers should not exceed 170kg per year.
· It is forbidden to use nitrate and all other nitrogenous synthetic fertilizers, including urina. Pest, Disease, Weed, and Growth Management Pests, diseases and weeds should be managed by the knowledgeable application of one, or a combination, of the following measures:
· choice of appropriate species and varieties;
· appropriate correspondent crop rotation;
· mechanical cultivation;
· protection of natural enemies of pests through provision of favorable habitat, such as hedges, nesting sites and ecological buffer zones that maintain the original vegetation to house pest predators;
· Thermal weeding;
· natural enemies including release of predators and parasites;
· acceptable biodynamic preparations from stone meal, farmyard manure or plants;
· Mulching and hay mowing;
· Grazing of animals;
· mechanical controls such as traps, barriers, light and sound Animal Husbandry The conditions of cattle management should ensure:
· a. free access to fresh water and food in accordance with the animals’ needs;
· b. animals have enough place to stay naturally, to lay down easily, to turn over, to clean themselves and to take natural postures and movements, for example stretching etc.;
· c. all animals that need bedding, must be provided with natural materials;
· d. construction provides isolation, heating, cooling and ventilation of the housing, that allows to control air circulation, to keep the dust level, temperature, humidity and gas concentration within limits that are not dangerous for animals;
· e. poultry, rabbits and pigs should not be kept in cages;
· f. animals are protected from the attack of wild animals. The system of landless management is forbidden. Duration of the conversion method If the animals that already exist on the farm are converted to the organic, they must go through the so called period of conversion, according to the following schedule: | Production | Conversion Period | meat
with the exception of small cattle and swine: | 12months
6 months | | diary products: | 90 days | | eggs: | 42 days |
Animals Origin Organic animals must be born and raised on organic holdings.
When organic livestock is not available conventional animals may be bought according to the following age limits: a. 2 day old chickens for meat production;
b. 18 week old hens for egg production;
c. 2 weeks for any other poultry;
d. piglets up to 6 weeks and after weaning;
e. dairy calves up to 4 weeks old that have received colostrum and are fed a diet consisting mainly of full milk.
Breeding stock can be bought from traditional farms with maximum annual part of 10% of adult stock of the correspondent specie on the farm. Breeds and Breeding The species, which are adapted to the local conditions. The animals must propagate in a natural way. Mutilations Mutilations is forbidden.The following exceptions may be only if animal suffering is minimized and anesthetics are used where appropriate:
a. castrations;
b. tail docking of lambs;
c. dehorning;
d. ringing;
e. mulesing only for breeds that require mulesing. Nutrition · Animals should be fed by organic food.
· Operators have rights to feed a limited amount of non organic food within a limited period in the following cases: -
- The organic food is of a bad quality or is in shortage;
- On territories, where organic agriculture is developing on early stages.
· The major part of food (more than 50%) must be stored up directly on the farm or on other farms as a result of cooperation with other farms of the region.
· Operators should use vitamins, microelements, and natural filling agents.
· All ruminant animals must get rough feed every day.
· The following ways of food conservation can be used:
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- Bacteria, fungi, and enzymes;
- By-products of food industry (i.e. food molasses);
- Products on a plant basis.
· Synthetic chemical means for food preserving such as vinegar, propenoic acid, as well as vitamines can be used in cases of severe weather.
Veterinary medicine Operators should maintain animal health and practice disease prevention through the following techniques:
a. Selection of appropriate breeds or strains of animals;
b. Adoption of animal husbandry practices appropriate to the requirements of each species, such as regular exercise and access to pasture and/or open-air runs, to encourage the natural immunological defense of animal to stimulate natural immunity and tolerance to diseases;
c. Provision of good quality organic feed;
d. Appropriate stocking densities;
e. Grazing rotation and management.Operators must use more or less natural medicine and means. If a disease occurs an operator must define the cause of the disease and prevent the appearance of new centers of disease by means of change of the management methods. Transport and Slaughter Organic animals should be subjected to minimum stress during transport and slaughter.
· Animals be handled calmly and gently during transport and slaughter
· The use of electric prods and other such instruments is prohibited.
· It is forbidden to use chemical synthetical tranquilizers and stimulators before or in the process of transportation.
· The duration till the slaughterhouse should not exceed 8 hours. Processing and Transportation Processing and transport enterprises must store and process organic products separate from non organic products in time and space respect. Standards:
· Processing and transport enterprises must not mix organic products with non organic.
· All organic products must have a readable label. They must be stored and transported in such a way so that to prevent contacts with non organic products during the whole process. Ingredients Organically processed products contain only organic ingredients.
· If a product consists of organic ingredients up to 95%, such product is considered to be organic. Pest and Disease Control · A handler or processor is required to manage pests and shall use the following methods according to these priorities:
· a. preventative methods such as disruption, elimination of habitat and access to facilities;
· mechanical, physical and biological methods;
· substances according to Appendix of the Standards
· substances (other than pesticides) foreseen in Appendix used in traps. Labeling When the full standards requirements have been fulfilled, products should be labeled as “produce of organic agriculture” or of a conversion to the organic agriculture”.
· The name or the address of the person or of the company that bears an official responsibility for the product or its processing must be stated on a label.
· All ingredients of a multicomponent product must be listed on the label in order of reduction of their percentage. The mark if an ingredient is organic or no organic must be absolutely readable and must cover all ingredients. All ingredients must be fully titled.
· Labels of non organic products must be distinguishably different from labels of organic products. Control and Certification The control must be conducted at least once a year and must cover the whole farm, including products, processed on this farm. The inspection and control must be carried out by certification bodies. The establishment of prices and the use of trade mark BIOLan is allowed only after successful certification.
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