Egyptian Organic Regulations. Draft. Version 1.
Article 1. General Objectives
1. Organic production is an overall system of food production that ensures best environmental practices, a
high level of biodiversity, the preservation of natural resources, the application of high animal welfare
standards.
2. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products produced from or by GMOs are incompatible with
the concept of organic production. GMOs and ingredients produced by GMOs may not be used in
organic products. Precautions shall be detailed to prevent cross contamination.
3. Organic farming should primarily rely on renewable resources within locally organised agricultural
systems. Wastes and by-products of plant and animal origin should be recycled to return nutrients to the
land.
4. Organic plant production should contribute to maintaining and enhancing soil fertility and to help to
prevent soil erosion. Plants should be fed through the soil eco-system and not through soluble fertilisers
added to the soil.
5. The essential elements of the 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 approved within this regulation.
6. Organic Animals should have, whenever possible, access to open air or grazing areas. Organic stock
farming should respect high animal welfare standards and meet animals' species-specific behavioural
needs. Animal-health management should be based on disease prevention. The implementing rules for
livestock production should at least ensure compliance with Egyptian Rules on animal welfare. {Ref
needed }. Organic livestock production system should aim to complete the production cycles of the
different livestock species with organically reared animals. It should encourage the increase of the gene
pool of organic animals.
7. Food shall be labelled as organic only where all or almost all the ingredients of agricultural origin are
organic.
8 There may be flexibility on the application of production rules, to make it possible to adapt organic
standards and requirements to local climatic or geographic conditions, but exceptions from the
requirements applicable to organic production shall be strictly limited and approved by the competent
authority.
9. The word organic in English and …… in Arabic shall not be used for any non-organic products.
10 All farms and processors must be who wish to produce or sell organic products must be subject to a
control system overseen by the Egyptian Competent authority.
11. Egyptian operators should be able to import organic products and ingredients providing they are
produced according to standards equivalent to these standards. The Egyptian Competent Authority will
decide on which standards are equivalent to these standards.
12. The assessment of equivalency with regard to imported products should take into account the
international standards laid down in Codex Alimentarius.
Article 2. Aim and scope
1. This Regulation shall apply to
a. agricultural crop and livestock products;
b. processed agricultural products for use as food;
c. feed for livestock
d. vegetative propagating material and seeds for cultivation.
2. This Regulation shall apply to all operators involved in activities, at any stage of production, preparation
and distribution of rrganic products.
Article 3. Principles
The overall principles of Organic Agriculture in Egypt are as follows:
1. The maintenance and enhancement 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.
2. External inputs to organic systems are limited to inputs from organic production, natural or
naturally-derived substances and low solubility mineral fertilizers as listed in annex I & II
3. Chemically synthesized inputs are limited to a very few cases listed in annex II and III.
4. The of the use of non-renewable resources and inputs from outside the farm will be minimised
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5. The recycling of wastes and by-products of plant and animal origin as input in plant and livestock
production is encouraged
6. Account is taken of the local or regional ecological balance when taking production decisions;
7. the maintenance of animal health by encouraging the natural immunological defence of the animal,
and selection of appropriate breeds and husbandry practices,
8. the maintenance of plant health by preventative measures, such as the choice of appropriate
species and varieties resistant to pests and diseases, appropriate crop rotations, mechanical and
physical methods and the protection of natural enemies of pests,
9. the observance of a high level of animal welfare respecting species-specific needs,
10. the production of organic livestock that have been raised on organic holdings since birth or hatching
and throughout their life,
11. the choice of breeds having regard to the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their
vitality and their resistance to disease or health problems,
12. the feeding of livestock with organic feed composed of agricultural ingredients from organic farming
and of natural non-agricultural substances,
13. the application of 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 pastureland where appropriate,
14. the exclusion of rearing of artificially induced polyploid animals,
15. the prevention of production of and the exclusion of us of nano materials.
16. Exemption. Operators with a total turnover of less than 50000Egyptian Pounds per annum shall be
exempt from requirements of certification. Products from exempt operations shall not be used as
ingredients in organic products produced by certified operators.
Article 4. Specific principles applicable to processing of organic food & feed
In addition to the overall principles for agriculture set out in Article 3, the following are principles for
production of processed organic food in Egypt:
1. the production of organic food is from organic agricultural ingredients, except where an ingredient is
not available on the market in organic form;
2. food additives, flavours, micronutrients and processing aids are minimised to cases of essential
technological need or for particular nutritional purposes;
3. substances and processing methods that might mislead about the true nature of the product are
prohibited
4. Lists of permitted additives, processing aids and permitted non organic ingredients are maintained
by the Egyptian Competent Authority and published in annex VII of this regulation.
5. the production of organic feed is from organic feed materials, except where a feed material is not
available on the market in organic form
6. the use of feed additives and processing aids is limited to a minimum extent and only in case of
essential technological or zootechnical needs or for particular nutritional purposes. Only feed
additives and processing aids listed in Annex VI of this regulation may be used.
Article 5. General Production rules.
1. 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, microorganisms and animals in organic production.
2. With the exception of organic products or ingredients operators must obtain confirmation from
suppliers to confirm that they do not contain GMOs and are not made with GMOs. Operators must
take steps to verify that confirmation according to the risk of inclusion of GMOs.The use of ionising
radiation for the treatment of organic food or feed, or of raw materials used in organic food or feed is
prohibited.
3. The entire agricultural holding shall be managed in compliance with the requirements applicable to
organic production.
4. For plants and plant products to be considered organic, all requirements of this regulation must have
been applied to the whole area of land during a conversion period of at least two years before
sowing. For perennial crops the period of conversion is at least three years before the first harvest of
organic products.
5. The competent authority may decide, in certain cases, where the land had been a contaminated with
product not authorized for organic production, to extend the conversion period beyond the period
referred to in paragraph 5 or that such land may not be used for organic production.
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6. Buffer zones shall be established to prevent risk of contamination with prohibited substances from
adjacent agriculture. They may include trees, hedges, ditches, fences etc.
7. Consideration must also be given to possible run off of water from adjacent land, eg by provision of
ditches.
8. Certification bodies shall assess the buffer zone system in place at the first inspection and may
impose requirements for additional areas or protection.
9. At first application operators shall provide to the certification body a production plan for each area,
product and process.
10. This plan shall be assessed for adequacy, and compliance with these rules as part of the first
assessment of each operation by a certification body.
11. Plans shall be reviewed annually and the results of that review assessed by certification body as
part of their annual inspection.
12. The plan shall specifically address biodiversity in the proposed area of production, and include
assessments of existing biodiversity, ongoing assessment of biodiversity and measures to improve
and limit reduction of or damage to biodiversity.
Article 6. Plant production rules
1. In addition to the general production rules laid down in Article 5, the following rules shall apply to
organic plant production:
a. organic plant production shall 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,
b. the fertility and biological activity of the soil shall be maintained and increased by 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,
c.
crop rotation plans shall be prepared at least annually and updated. They must be assessed
and approved by the certification body for completeness, for separation of types of crops to reduce
disease and for fertility building. The certification body may require changes to the rotation to ensure
that these requirements are met in full.
d. fertilisers and soil conditioners may only be used if they have been authorised for use in organic
production and are listed in Annex II,
e. mineral nitrogen fertilisers shall not be used,
f.
all plant production techniques used shall prevent or minimise contamination of the environment,
g. 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,
h. in the case of an established threat to a crop, plant protection products may only be used if they
have been authorised for use in Annex III,
i. only organically produced seed and propagating material shall be used. Ie. the mother plant in
the case of seeds and the parent plant in the case of vegetative propagating material shall have been
produced in accordance with these organic rules for at least one generation, or, in the case of
perennial crops, two growing seasons,
j. where organic seeds or propagating material is not available the certification body may
authorise use of in seed or propagating material from plants grown on land in conversion to organic
production.
k. where in conversion seeds or propagating material are not available the competent authority
may authorise use of non-organic seeds or propagating material.
l. Certification bodies shall notify the competent authority and each other of permissions granted
to use in conversion or non-organic seed or propagating material.
m. Treated seeds and propagating material must not be used in organic production.
n. soil management systems including rotations shall be designed to reduce risk of desertification
and shall be assessed against this requirement annually.
o. perennial plants shall be accompanied by undersown ground cover plants.
2. Soil management and fertilisation
a. Where the nutritional needs of plants cannot be met by measures above, fertilisers and soil
conditioners referred to in Annex II may be used, only to the extent necessary.
b. Operators shall keep documentary evidence of the need to use the product, for approval by their
certification body.
c. The operator shall demonstrate to the certification body that the total amount of nitrogen applied
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to organic land will not create pollution and eutrophication of waters
d. Appropriate preparations of micro-organisms or plant extracts may be used to improve the
overall condition of the soil or the availability of nutrients in the soil or in the crops, or for activation of
composts.
e. Hydroponic production may not be certified as organic.
f. Sewage sludge may not be used as a fertilser on organic land.
3. Pest, disease and weed management
a. Where plants cannot be adequately protected from pests and diseases by measures provided for
above, only products in Annex III may be used. Operators shall keep evidence of the need to use the
product, for approval by their certification body.
b.Co-formulants such as inerts and synergists in formulated pest and disease management products
must be assessed to ensure that they are not carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens or neurotoxins.
c. For products used in traps and dispensers, except pheromone dispensers, the traps and/or
dispensers, shall prevent the substances from being released into the environment and prevent contact
between the substances and the crops being cultivated. The traps shall be collected after use and
disposed off safely.
4. Irrigation. {specific rules to be developed to control irrigation water to reduce risk of contamination with
incoming pesticides, contamination of ground water, salinisation, and water shortage for human use etc}
Article 7. Wild Plant collection
1. The collection of wild plants and parts thereof, growing naturally in natural areas and forests is
considered an organic production method provided that:
a. the 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 organic production in this regulation,
b. the collection does not affect the stability of the natural habitat or the maintenance of the species
in the collection area.
c. operators wishing to harvest and sell wild products as organic must be certified as organic
according to the controls laid down in this regulation.
2. Wild plants may be sold as organic providing:
a. an agreement is drawn up whereby the operator responsible for collection of the wild plants
limits his activity to the collection of specified organic wild plants;
b. the operator indicates the collection areas and premises where processing and/or packaging
takes place,
c. the certification body concerned can satisfy itself by inspection on the ground and of maps,
records and agreements that the total collection activity in the area concerned is sustainable and
that all is controlled by certification to prevent collection by non-authorised organisations.
Article 8. Livestock production
This Chapter lays down detailed production rules for the following species: bovine including cattle and
bison, equidae, ovine, caprine, poultry species and bees.
1. General Livestock production rules.
In addition to the general farm production rules above, the following rules shall apply to livestock
production:
a. with regard to the origin of the animals
(i) organic livestock shall be born and raised on organic holdings;
(ii) for breeding purposes, non-organically raised animals may be brought onto a holding
under specific conditions. Such animals and their products may be deemed organic
after compliance with the conversion period referred to in Article 5.4.
(iii) animals existing on the holding at the beginning of the conversion period and their
products may be deemed organic after compliance with the conversion period referred
to in Article 5.4.
b. Landless livestock production, by which the operator of the livestock does not manage
agricultural land is prohibited.
2. Simultaneous production of organic and non-organic livestock.
Non-organic livestock may be present on the holding provided they are reared on units where
the buildings and land are separated clearly from the units producing organic livestock and
provided a different species is involved.
b. Non-organic livestock may not use organic pasturage.
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c. For the purpose of pollination an operator may run organic and non-organic beekeeping units
on the same holding, provided that all the requirements of the organic production rules are
fulfilled, with the exception of the provisions for the siting of the apiaries. In that case the product
cannot be sold as organic.
e. Organic livestock shall be identified permanently 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.
f. Where non-organic animals exist on a holding at the beginning of the conversion period their
products may be deemed organic if there is simultaneous conversion of the complete production
unit, including livestock, pasturage and/or any land used for animal feed. The total combined
conversion period for both existing animals and their offspring, pasturage and/or any land used
for animal feed, may be reduced to 24 months, if the animals are mainly fed with products from
the holding.
3. Breeding:
a. Artificial insemination is allowed.
b. reproduction shall not be induced by treatment with hormones or similar substances, unless as a
form of veterinary therapeutic treatment in case of an individual animal,
c. other forms of artificial reproduction, such as cloning and embryo transfer, shall not be used,
d. appropriate breeds shall be chosen. The choice of breeds shall also contribute to the prevention of
any suffering and to avoiding the need for the mutilation of animals;
4. The capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality and their resistance to disease shall be
considered in choosing a breed of animals. 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. Preference is to be given to indigenous breeds and strains.
5. The competent authority may authorise on a temporary basis, 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;
6. With regard to husbandry practices and housing conditions:
(i)
personnel keeping animals shall possess the necessary basic knowledge and skills as
regards the health and the welfare needs of the animals;
(ii)
husbandry practices, including stocking densities, and housing conditions shall ensure
that the developmental, physiological and ethological needs of animals are met;
(iii)
the livestock shall 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;
7. Access to open air areas
a. Open air areas may be partially covered.
b. Herbivores shall have access to pasturage for grazing whenever conditions allow.
c. Poultry shall have access to an open air area for at least one third of their life.
d. Open air areas for poultry shall be mainly covered with vegetation and be provided with protective
facilities and permit fowl to have easy access to adequate numbers of drinking and feeding troughs.
e. When the rearing of each batch of poultry has been completed, runs shall be left empty to allow
vegetation to grow back.
8. With regard to husbandry practices and housing conditions:
a. organic livestock shall be kept separate from other livestock.
b. tethering or isolation of livestock shall be prohibited, unless for individual animals for a limited period
of time, and in so far as this is justified for safety, welfare or veterinary reasons;
c. duration of transport of livestock shall be minimised;
d. Loading and unloading of animals shall be carried out without the use of any type of electrical
stimulation to coerce the animals.
e. suffering, including mutilation, shall be kept to a minimum during the entire life of the animal, including
at the time of slaughter;
f. Operations such as attaching elastic bands to the tails of sheep, tail-docking, cutting of
teeth, trimming of beaks and dehorning shall not be carried out routinely in organic farming.
9. Housing conditions
a. Insulation, and ventilation of the building shall ensure that air circulation, dust level, temperature,
relative air humidity and gas concentration, are kept within limits which are not harmful to the animals.
b. The building shall permit plentiful natural ventilation and light to enter.
c. The stocking density in buildings shall provide for the comfort, the well being and the species-specific
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needs of the animals which, in particular, shall depend on the species, the breed and the age of the
animals. It shall also take account of the behavioural needs of the animals, which depend in particular on
the size of the group and the animals' sex.
d. 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.
10. Specific housing conditions and husbandry practices for mammals
a. Livestock housing shall have smooth, not slippery, not slatted floors.
b. The housing shall be provided with a comfortable, clean and dry laying/rest area of sufficient size,
consisting of a solid construction which is not slatted.
c. Ample dry bedding strewn with litter material shall be provided in the rest area.
d. The litter shall comprise straw or other suitable natural material.
11. Specific housing conditions and husbandry practices for poultry
a. Poultry shall not be kept in cages.
b. Water fowl shall have access to water sufficient for bathing whenever the weather and hygienic
conditions permit.
c. Buildings for all poultry shall meet the following conditions:
(i)
at least two thirds of the floor area shall be solid, that is, not of slatted or of grid
construction, and covered with a litter material such as straw, wood shavings, sand or turf;
(ii)
they shall have perches of a size and number commensurate with the size of the group
and of the birds.
(iii)
they shall have exit/entry pop-holes of a size adequate for the birds, and these popholes shall have a combined length of at least 4 m per 100 m 2 area of the house available to the birds;
(iv)
each poultry house shall not contain more than, 4800 chickens,3000 laying hens, 5200
guinea fowl, 4000 female ducks or 3200 male ducks.2500 capons, geese or turkeys;
(v) Poultry houses shall be constructed to allow all birds easy access to open air area.
(iv)
Slow-growing poultry strains shall be used. The competent authority shall define the
criteria of slow-growing strains.
12. With regard to feed:
a.
livestock shall be fed with organic feed that meets the animal's nutritional requirements.
b.
livestock shall have permanent access to pasture or roughage;
c.
Animal feed shall not include urea or similar nitrogen compounds, appetite stimulants or
colouring agents.
13. In-conversion feed
Up to 30% of the feed formula of rations on average may comprise in-conversion feedingstuffs. When
the in-conversion feedingstuffs come from the same holding itself, this percentage may be increased to
60%.
14. Feed meeting animals' nutritional requirements
a. All young mammals shall be fed on maternal milk in preference to natural milk, for a minimum period
of three months for cattle including bubalus and bison species and horses, 45 days for sheep and
goats.
b. Rearing systems are to be based on maximum use of grazing pasturage. At least 60 % of the dry
matter in daily rations of herbivores shall consist of roughage, fresh or dried fodder, or silage.
c. Roughage, fresh or dried fodder, shall be added to the daily ration for poultry.
d. Force-feeding is forbidden.
e. Feeding of slaughter waste and other animal derived products to herbivores is prohibited.
15. 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 shall be used only if they are
listed in Annex VI
16. Use of non-organic feed of agricultural origin
a. the use of a limited proportion of non-organic feed of plant origin is allowed where farmers are
unable to obtain feed exclusively from organic production.
b. The maximum percentage of non-organic feed authorised per period of 12 months for species other
than herbivores shall be 5%.The figures shall be calculated 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.
c. The operator shall keep documentary evidence of the need for the use of this provision.
17. Catastrophic circumstances. The competent authority may authorise on a temporary basis the use of
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18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
non-organic feedingstuffs for a limited period and in relation to a specific area by individual operators,
when forage production is lost or as a result of exceptional meteorological conditions, etc.
Growth promoters and synthetic amino-acids shall not be used,
Suckling mammals shall be fed with natural, preferably maternal, milk,
With regard to disease prevention:
a. disease prevention shall be based on breed and strain selection, husbandry
b. management practices, high quality feed and exercise, appropriate stocking density and
adequate and appropriate housing maintained in hygienic conditions;
c. Where livestock is obtained from non-organic units, special measures such as
screening tests or quarantine periods may apply, depending on local circumstances.
d. disease shall be treated immediately to avoid suffering to the animal
e. 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 is inappropriate.
f. The use of chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics for
preventive treatment is prohibited,
g. the use of immunological veterinary medicines is allowed;
h. treatments related to the protection of human and animal health imposed on the basis
of Egyptian legislation shall be allowed,
i. The use of substances to promote growth or production (including antibiotics, coccidiostatics
and other artificial aids for growth promotion purposes) and the use of hormones or similar
substances to control reproduction or for other purposes (e.g. induction or synchronisation of
oestrus), is prohibited.
Housing, pens, equipment and utensils shall be properly cleaned and disinfected to
prevent cross-infection and the buildup of disease carrying organisms.
Faeces, urine and uneaten and spilled feed shall be removed as often as necessary to
minimize smell and to avoid attracting insects or rodents.
Buildings shall be emptied of livestock between each batch of poultry reared. The
buildings and fittings shall be cleaned and disinfected during this time.
With regard to Veterinary treatment
a. Where animals become sick or injured they must be treated immediately, if necessary in isolation
and in suitable housing.
b. Phytotherapeutic, homoepathic products, trace elements and products listed in Annex VI shall be
used in preference to chemically-synthesized allopathic veterinary treatment or antibiotics.
c. If the use of measures referred to in paragraph a and b is not effective in combating illness or
injury, and if treatment is essential to avoid suffering or distress of the animal, chemically
synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics may be used under the
responsibility of a veterinarian.
d. With the exception of vaccinations, treatments for parasites and compulsory eradication schemes
where an animal or group of animals receive 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, the livestock
concerned, or produce derived from them, may not be sold as organic products.
e. Records of documented evidence of the occurrence of such circumstances shall be kept for the
certification body.
f. The withdrawal period between the last administration of an allopathic veterinary medicinal product
to an animal under normal conditions of use, and the production of organically produced foodstuffs
from such animals, is to be twice the legal withdrawal period as stipulated by the Egyptian Ministry
of Agriculture.
Article 9. Specific requirements for beekeeping
1.
An area with a radius of 3 km from the organic apiary site will consist essentially of organically
produced crops and/or spontaneous vegetation, to provide pollen and nectar for the hives.
2.
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;
3.
The Competent Authority may designate regions or areas where beekeeping complying with
organic production rules is not practicable.
4.
Beekeeping products can be sold as organic only when the organic production rules have been
complied with for at least one year. During the conversion period the wax shall be replaced with
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wax coming from organic beekeeping.
The hives shall be made basically of natural materials.
The bees wax for new foundations shall come from organic production units.
Only natural products such as propolis, wax and plant oils can be used in the hives.
The use of synthetic repellents is prohibited during honey extractions operations.
The use of brood combs is prohibited for honey extraction.
Mutilation such as clipping the wings of queen bees is prohibited.
For the renovation of apiaries, 10% per year of the queen bees may be replaced by non-organic
queen bees.
12.
Preference shall be given to the use of Apis mellifera and their local ecotypes.
13.
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 may
be approved by certification bodies.
14.
The destruction of bees in the combs as a method of harvesting of beekeeping products,
including royal jelly is prohibited,
15.
In the case of bees, at the end of the production season hives shall be left with sufficient
reserves of honey and pollen to survive the non-productive season.
16.
The feeding of bee colonies is only permitted where the survival of the hives is endangered due
to climatic conditions and only between the last honey harvest and 15 days before the start of
the next nectar or honeydew flow period. Feeding shall be with organic honey, organic sugar
syrup, or organic sugar.
17.
The feeding of bees with organic honey, organic sugar or organic sugar syrup may be done in
the case of long lasting exceptional weather conditions or catastrophic circumstances, which
hamper the nectar or honeydew production.
19.
Specific rules on disease prevention and veterinary treatment in beekeeping
a. 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 Annex II, are
permitted.
b. Physical treatments for disinfection of apiaries such as steam or direct flame are permitted.
c. The practice of destroying the male brood is permitted only to isolate the infestation of Varroa
destructor.
d. If despite all preventive measures, the colonies become sick or infested, they shall be treated
immediately and, if necessary, the colonies can be placed in isolation apiaries.
e. Formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, menthol, thymol, eucalyptol or camphor may be
used in cases of infestation with Varroa destructor.
20. If a treatment is applied with chemically synthesized allopathic products, except those listed in e)
above during the application period, the colonies treated shall be placed in isolation apiaries and all
the wax shall be replaced with wax coming from organic beekeeping. Subsequently, the conversion
period of one year will apply to those colonies.
21. A map identifying the location of hives shall be provided to the certification body by the beekeeper.
22. The beekeeper shall provide the certification body with documentation and evidence, including
suitable analyses if necessary, that the areas accessible to his colonies meet the conditions required
in this Regulation.
23. The following information shall be entered in the register of the apiary with regard to the feeding of
bees: type of product, dates, quantities and hives where it is used.
24. If veterinary medicinal products are used, the type of product, including the indication of the active
pharmacological substance, together with details of the diagnosis, the dosage, the method of
administration, the duration of the treatment and the legal withdrawal period shall be recorded
clearly and declared to the certification body before the products are marketed as organically
produced.
25. The zone where the apiary is situated shall be registered together with the identification of the hives.
The certification body shall be informed of the moving of apiaries by a deadline agreed on with the
body.
26. The use of smoke shall be minimised and smoke for subduing bees shall only be made from natural
materials.
27. Particular care shall be taken to ensure adequate extraction, processing and storage of beekeeping
products.
28. The removal of supers and the honey extraction operations shall be recorded in the register of the
apiary.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
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Article 10 Criteria for authorisation of products and substances used in organic farming
1. The Competent Authority shall authorise for use in organic production and include in a restricted list
the products and substances, which may be used in organic farming for the following purposes:
a. as plant protection products
b. as fertilisers and soil conditioners
c. as non-organic feed materials from plant origin, feed material from animal and mineral origin
and certain substances used in animal nutrition
d. as feed additives and processing aids
2. Products and substances contained in the restricted lists may only be used if the corresponding use
is authorised in general agriculture in Egypt.
3. For products destined for export consideration shall be given to the permissions for use of plant
protection products in the country to which the organic products will be exported.
4. The authorisation of the products and substances is subject to the objectives and principles laid
down in Article 3 and the following criteria.
a. their use is necessary for sustained production and essential for its intended use;
b. all products and substances shall be of plant, animal, microbial or mineral origin except
where products or substances from such sources are not available in sufficient quantities or
qualities or if alternatives are not available
c. if products are not of plant, animal, microbial or mineral origin and are not identical to their
natural form, they may be authorised only if their conditions for use preclude any direct
contact with the edible parts of the crop;
d. for fertilizers and soil conditioners they may only be authoised if their use is essential for
obtaining or maintaining the fertility of the soil or to fulfil specific nutrition requirements of
crops, or specific soil-conditioning purposes;
e. in the case of feed materials and additives they may only be authorised if they are are
necessary to maintain animal health, animal welfare and vitality and contribute to an
appropriate diet fulfilling the physiological and behavioural needs of the species concerned
or it would be impossible to produce or preserve such feed without having recourse to such
substances;
f. feed of mineral origin, trace elements, vitamins or provitamins shall be of natural origin. In
case these substances are unavailable, chemically well-defined analogic substances may
be authorised for use in organic production.
g. The Competent Authority may, lay down conditions and limits as regards the agricultural
products to which the products and substances referred to in paragraph 1 can be applied to,
the application method, the dosage, the time limits for use and the contact with agricultural
products and, if necessary, decide on the withdrawal of these products and substances.
Article 11 Conversion
1. The following rules shall apply to a farm on which organic production is started:
2. The conversion period starts when the operator has notified his activity to the certification body and
has been inspected according to the control system
3. During the conversion period all rules in this Regulation shall apply;
4. On a holding partly under organic production and partly in conversion to organic production, the
operator shall keep the organic and in-conversion products and animals separate or readily
separable and keep adequate records to show the separation;
5. Animals and animal products produced during the conversion period shall not be marketed as
organic.
Article 12. Storage of Organic products
1. For all organic products the storage shall be managed 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 allowed in
organic production rules.
2. Organic products shall be clearly identifiable at all times.
3. In case of organic farms, storage of input products other than those allowed under this regulation
is prohibited in the production unit.
4. In case where operators handle both non-organic products and organic products and the latter are
stored in storage facilities in which also other agricultural products or foodstuffs are stored:
a. organic products shall be kept separate from other foodstuffs;
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b. consignments shall be identified and mixtures or exchanges with non-organic productsshall
be avoided;
c. suitable cleaning measures, the effectiveness of which has been checked shall have been
carried out before the storage of organic products
d. operators shall record these operations.
Article 13. Rules on the production of animal feed
1. Production of processed organic feed shall be kept separate in time or space from production of
processed non-organic feed.
2. Organic feed materials, or feed materials from production in conversion, shall not enter simultaneously
with the same feed materials produced by non-organic means into the composition of the organic
feed product.
3. Any feed materials used or processed in organic production shall not have been processed with the
aid of chemically synthesised solvents.
Article 14. Rules for the production of processed feed and food
1. Additives, processing aids and other substances and ingredients used for processing food or feed
and any processing practice applied, shall respect the principles of good manufacturing practice.
2. Operators producing processed feed or food shall:
a. establish and update appropriate procedures based on a systematic identification of critical
processing steps.
b. take precautionary measures to avoid the risk of contamination by unauthorised substances
or products, and document those measures.
c. implement suitable cleaning measures, monitor their effectiveness and record these
operations
d. guarantee that non-organic products are not labelled or sold as organic.
e. Carry out the operations continuously until the complete run has been dealt with, separated
by place or time from similar operations performed on non-organic products;
f. Store organic products, before and after the operations, separate by place or time from nonorganic products;
g. keep available an updated register of all operations and quantities processed, for inspection
by the certification body
h. Take the necessary measures to ensure identification of lots and to avoid mixtures or
exchanges with non-organic products;
i. Carry out operations on organic products only after suitable cleaning of the production
equipment.
j. ensure that packaging material does not contaminate or taint organic foods.
3. Operators shall ensure that organic products are transported to other certified operators, only in
appropriate packaging, containers or vehicles closed so that substitution or contamination cannot be
achieved without manipulation or damage of the seal and provided with a label or accompanying
document stating,
a.
the name and address of the operator.
b.
the name of the product or a description of the feed and confirmation of its organic
status,
c.
the code number of the certification body to which the operator is subject
d.
a lot identification mark.
4. Specifically for feed, organic feed must be kept separate at all stages from in conversion feed, and
non organic feed.
5. On receipt of an organic product, the operator shall check the closing of the packaging or container
and the presence of the confirmation of the organic status. The result of these verifications shall be
recorded
Article 15. Composition of organic processed food:
1. The product shall be produced mainly from ingredients of agricultural origin; in order to determine
whether a product is produced mainly from ingredients of agricultural origin added water and
cooking salt shall not be taken into account;
2. Additives, processing aids, flavourings, water, salt, preparations of micro-organisms and enzymes,
minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids and other micronutrients may be used only if they
are listed in Annex VII
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3. Non-organic agricultural ingredients may be used only if they have been authorised for use in
organic production by the competent authority or are listed in Annex VIII.
4. An organic ingredient shall not be present together with the same ingredient in non-organic form or
the same ingredient in conversion
5. Food from in-conversion crops shall contain only one crop ingredient of agricultural origin.
Article 16. Criteria for products and substances used in processing of Organic Food.
1.
The Competent Authority shall authorise products and substances for use in organic production
and maintain a restricted list in this regulation.
2.
Products and substances contained in the restricted lists may only be used if the corresponding
use is authorised in general agriculture in Egypt
3.
The authorisation of the products and substances is subject to the objectives and principles laid
down in Article 3 and the following criteria.
a. only if alternatives authorised in accordance with this chapter are not available;
b. only if without having them, it would be impossible to produce or preserve the food or to
fulfil dietary requirements
c. in addition, the products and substances approved must be found in nature and have only
undergone only mechanical, physical, biological, enzymatic or microbial processes
4.
The Competent Authority may, lay down conditions and limits as regards the products and
substances for processing organic food, with regard to how and in which products they may be
used and, if necessary, decide on the withdrawal of these products and substances.
5.
Only substances listed in Annex VII of this regulation may be used.
Article 17 Labelling
1.
Only products that comply with this regulation in full can carry the word organic or the word …
{Arabic version of organic}
2.
Organic products must list ingredients and the list must indicate which ingredients are from
organic agriculture and which are not.
Article 17. Flexibility
1. The Competent authority grant exceptions from the production rules laid down.
2.
Exceptions as referred to above shall be kept to a minimum and, where appropriate, limited in time
and may only be provided for in the following cases:
a. where they are necessary to ensure that organic production can be started or maintained on
holdings confronted with climatic, geographical or structural constraints;
b. where it is necessary to ensure access to feed, seed and vegetative propagating material, live
animals and other farm inputs, where such inputs are not available on the market in organic
form;
c. where it is necessary to ensure access to ingredients of agricultural origin, where such
ingredients are not available on the market in organic form;
d. where they are necessary to solve specific problems related to the management of organic
livestock;
e. where they are necessary to ensure production of well established food products in organic
form;
f. where temporary measures are necessary to allow organic production to continue or
recommence in the case of catastrophic circumstances;
3. Where the competent authority permits such flexibility, the statement of flexibility, the conditions and
the time period for which that flexibility shall be made available to all certification bodies and
operators.
Article 18. Use of words referring to organic production
1. The word identified in Article 1. 9 shall only be used on a product which has been duly certified as
organic according to this regulation.
2. Advertising of any agricultural products may only use those words if all the ingredients of that product
have also been produced in accordance with the requirements of this regulation.
3. As regards processed food, the terms may be used in the sales description and/or advertising of a
product provided that:
a.
the processed food complies with Article 15
b.
at least 95 % by weight, of its agricultural ingredients are organic;
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4. Where terms organic or …. are used the code number or name of the certification body of the
operator who has carried out the most recent production or preparation operation shall also
appear in the labeling.
5. Organic products for export from Egypt shall only carry certification codes and marks relevant to other
states, if the product is certified by a certifier approved in the receiving states.
Article 19. Control system
1.
The control system set up under this Regulation shall be administered by the Egyptian
Competent Authority.
2.
Operators producing and processing organic products shall be inspected at least once per year.
3.
Inspection and control shall be by certification bodies approved by the competent authority and
accredited by the Egyptian Accreditation Agency (EGAC) to ISO ISO Guide 65 (General
requirements for bodies operating product certification systems). EGAC will be known as the
accreditation authority in this regulation.
4.
In particular the certification body must :
a.
have the expertise, equipment and infrastructure required to carry out the tasks
delegated to it
b.
have sufficient suitably qualified and experienced staff; and
c.
be impartial and free from any conflict of interest as regards the exercise of the tasks
delegated to it;
5.
The certification body must communicates the results of the inspections carried out to the
competent authority annually or whenever the competent authority so requests. If the results of
the inspections indicate non-compliance the certification body shall immediately inform the
competent authority;
6.
The competent authority will verify the effectiveness of the certification body’s controls;
7.
The competent authority will note any irregularities or infringements found and monitor
corrective measures applied.
8.
The competent authority will issue a code to each certification body approved.
9.
The competent authority will liaise with the accreditation authority and if necessary withdraw
approval of bodies where they fail to satisfy the requirements in this regulation and ISO guide
65.
10.
Certification bodies shall give the competent authority and accreditation authority access to their
offices and facilities and provide any information and assistance deemed necessary by the
competent authorities for the fulfilment of their obligations.
11.
The certification bodies and competent authority must ensure that any operator who complies
with the rules of this Regulation, and who pays a reasonable fee for control expenses, is entitled
to be covered by the control system
12.
The competent authority may identify areas where no organic production may take place due to
high value conservation value of certain natural areas. It may also make additional requirements
over and above this regulation to protect such high value areas in case of organic agriculture or
wild harvesting being allowed. Details of areas prohibited for organic production and details of
any additional requirements shall be published.
Article 20. Adherence to the control system
1
Any operator who produces, prepares, stores, or imports organic products or who places such
products on the market shall,
a.
notify his activity to an approved certification body.
b.
submit his undertaking to the control system.
2.
When the control arrangements are first implemented, the operator shall draw up and
subsequently maintain:
a.
a full description of the unit and/or premises and/or activity;
b
all the practical measures to be taken at the level of the unit and/or premises and/or
activity to ensure compliance with the organic production rules;
c
the precautionary measures to be taken in order to reduce the risk of contamination by
unauthorised products or substances and the cleaning measures to be taken in storage places
and throughout the operator's production chain.
3
The description and the measures referred to in paragraph 2 shall be contained in a declaration,
signed by the operator. In addition, this declaration shall include an undertaking by the operator:
a.
to perform the operations in accordance with the organic production rules;
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4.
5.
b.
to accept, in the event of infringement or irregularities, the enforcement of the measures
of the organic production rules, including to inform in writing the buyers of organic product in
case of manifest infringement of these regulations to ensure that the indications referring to the
organic production method are removed from non conforming product.
The operator shall notify any change in the description or of the measures in 3 above to the
certification body in due time.
The labels of organic products shall in addition to the word organic carry the certification code of
the certification body as issued by the competent authority to indicate which certification body
has certified the last packing operation.
Article 21. Certificate
1.
The certification bodies shall provide a certificate to any operator who is subject to their controls
and meets the requirements laid down in this Regulation. The certificate must allow the
identification of the operator, the type or range of products and the period of validity.
2.
The operator shall check the certificate of his suppliers & record that check.
Article 22. Control visits
1.
The certification body shall carry out at least once a year a physical inspection of all operators.
2.
The certification body may take samples for testing of products not authorised for organic
production or for checking production techniques not in conformity with the organic production
rules. Samples may also be taken and analysed for detecting possible contamination by
products not authorised for organic production. However, such analysis must be carried out
where the use of products not authorised for organic production is suspected.
3.
A control report shall be drawn up after each visit and countersigned by the operator of the unit
or his representative.
4
The certification body shall carry out random control visits, primarily unannounced, based on the
evaluation of the risk of non-compliance with the organic production rules, taking into account at
least the results of previous controls, the quantity of products concerned and the risk for
exchange of products.
5.
As a minimum 5% of operators shall receive unannounced inspection by their certification body
each year.
6.
The control visit shall comprise a full physical inspection of all premises.
7.
The certification body shall make targeted visits based on the potential risks of non-compliance
with the organic production rules.
8.
The certification body shall pay particular attention to the critical control points pointed out for
the operator, with a view to establishing whether the surveillance and checking operations are
carried out correctly.
Article 23. Records.
1.
Organic operators shall:
a. give the certification body access to all parts of the unit and all premises, as well as to the
accounts and relevant supporting documents
b. provide the control authority or certification body with any information reasonably necessary
for the purposes of the control;
c. Submit, when requested by the certification body, the results of its own quality assurance
programmes.
d. Keep stock and financial records that enable the operator to identify and the certification body
to verify
i. the supplier or the exporter of the products,
ii the nature and the quantities of organic products delivered to the unit
iii. details of all materials bought and the use of such materials,
iv. the nature and the quantities of organic products held in storage at the premises;
v. the nature, the quantities and the consignees and, where different, the buyers, of any
products which have left the unit
2.
The documentary accounts shall also include the results of the checks on arrival of organic
products and any other information required by the certification body for the purpose of proper
control.
3.
The accounts shall demonstrate the balance between the input and the output.
4.
Plant production records shall be kept and made available to the certification bodiy at all times.
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They shall include for each area of land concerned:
a. regarding fertilizer, the date of application, type and amount of fertilizer and the land area
concerned;
b. regarding plant protection products, reason and date of treatment, type of product, method of
treatment;
c. regarding farm inputs: date, type and amount purchased.
d. regarding harvest, date, type and amount of organic or in conversion crop production.
5. Livestock production records shall be kept and made available to the certification body at all times.
They shall include for each type of animal and holding.
a. When the control system was first implemented,
b. a full description of the livestock buildings, pasturage, open air areas, etc
c. where applicable, the premises for the storage, packaging and processing of livestock,
livestock products, raw materials and inputs;
d.a full description of the installations for the storage of livestock manure.
e. a plan for spreading manure agreed with the certification body together with a full description
of the areas given over to crop production;
f. a management plan for the organic-production livestock unit providing a full description of the
herd or flock management system comprising at least the following information:
i. regarding animals arriving at the holding, origin and date of arrival, conversion period,
identification mark and veterinary record
ii. regarding livestock leaving the holding, age, number of heads, weight in case of
slaughter, identification mark and destination
iii. details of any animals lost and reasons thereof;
iv. regarding feed, type, including feed supplements, proportions of various ingredients
of rations and periods of access to free-range areas.
v. regarding disease prevention and treatment and veterinary care. date of treatment,
details of the diagnosis, dosage, type of treatment product, the indication of the active
pharmacological substances involved method of treatment and veterinary prescription
for veterinary care with reasons and withdrawal periods applying before livestock
products can be marketed labelled as organic.
Article 24. Measures in case of infringements and irregularities
1. Where an irregularity is found as regards compliance with the requirements laid down in this
Regulation, the certification body shall ensure that no reference to the organic production method is
made in the labelling and advertising of the entire lot or production run affected by this irregularity.
2. Sanctions shall be proportionate to the relevance of the requirement that has been violated and to
the nature and particular circumstances of the irregular activities.
3. Where a severe infringement or an infringement with prolonged effect is found, the certification body
shall prohibit the operator concerned from marketing products which refer to organic production for a
period to be agreed with the competent authority.
4. Information on cases of irregularities or infringements affecting the organic status of a product shall
be immediately communicated between the certification body and the competent authority.
5. The level of communication shall depend on the severity and the extent of the irregularity or
infringement found.
6. Where an operator considers or suspects that a product which he has produced, prepared, imported
or that he has received from another operator, is not in compliance with organic production rules, he
shall initiate procedures prevent further sale of the product with any indication of the word organic
and shall ensure that organic product is not contaminated with the suspected product, until and
unless that suspicion is subsequently removed.
7. In case of such suspicion, the operator shall immediately inform the certification body. The
certification body shall establish that sufficient steps have been taken to ensure the product cannot
be placed on the market as an organic prod until it is satisfied, by the information received from the
operator or from other sources, that the doubt has been eliminated.
8. Where a certification body has a substantiated suspicion that an operator intends to place on the
market a product not in compliance with this regulation with the word organic the certification body
can require that the operator may not market the product as organic for a time period to be set by
that certification body.
9. However, if the suspicion is not confirmed within the said time period, the decision to prevent sale as
organic shall be cancelled not later than the expiry of that time period.
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10. The operator shall cooperate fully with the certification body in resolving the suspicion.
11. The competent authority shall take whatever measures and sanctions are required to prevent
fraudulent use of the word organic
Article 25. Social Justice
1. Employees and workers shall be guaranteed basic human rights and fair working conditions
in accordance with national and international conventions and laws.
2. Operators shall not use forced or involuntary labour.
3. Employees including casual workers and contractors of organic operations shall have the freedom to
associate, the right to organize, and the right to bargain collectively.
4. Employees shall have equal opportunities and equal wages when performing the same level
of work, regardless of colour, creed, ethnicity or gender.
5. The operator shall not hire child labour. Children may work on their family’s farm or a
neighbouring farm provided that such work is not dangerous to their health and safety and does not
jeopardize their educational, moral, social and physical development. Such work shall be supervised
by adults and authorized by a legal guardian.
6. The operator shall provide adequate health and safety measurers for employees, casual
workers and contractors.
7. An operator employing five or more permanent workers shall have a documented policy
covering employment requirements.
8. All employment shall comply with the laws of Egypt.
Article 26. Exchange of information
1. The competent authority, certification bodies and the accreditation authority shall exchange relevant
information on the results of their controls with each other on request or on their own initiative.
{Note: Items in brackets thus {} and italic are notes on areas where further development of these standards is
needed by experts in Egyptian agriculture and others}
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Annex I
Definitions
a. ‘organic production’ means the use of the production method compliant with the rules
established in this Regulation.
b. ‘organic’ means coming from or related to organic production
c. ‘operator’ means the natural or legal persons responsible for ensuring that the requirements of
this Regulation are met within the organic business under their control
d. ‘plant production’ means production of agricultural crop products including harvesting of wild
plant products for commercial purposes
e. ‘livestock production’ means the production of domestic or domesticated terrestrial animals
(including insects)
f. ‘conversion’ means the transition from non organic to organic farming within a given period of
time, during which the provisions concerning the organic production have been applied
g. ‘competent authority’ means the central Egyptian authority responsible for official controls in the
field of organic production in accordance with the provisions set out under this Regulation
h. ‘control body’ means a third party carrying out inspection and certification in the field of organic
production in accordance with the provisions set out under this Regulation
i. the definition of ‘Genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism produced using
techniques of Genetic engineering, including, but not limited to, recombinant DNA or RNA
technology, using processes such as vector transfer, direct injection, micro encapsulation,
protoplast fusion etc.
j
‘produced from GMOs’ means derived in whole or in part from GMOs but not containing or
consisting of GMOs
k. ‘produced by GMOs’ means derived by using a GMO as the last living organism in the
production process, but not containing or consisting of GMOs nor produced from GMOs
l. ‘equivalent’, in describing different systems or measures, means that they are capable of
meeting the same objectives and principles by applying rules which ensure the same level of
assurance of conformity
m. the definition of ‘ionising radiation’ is defined as food treatment with any form of radiation above
the minimum level as defined in Codex Alimentarius.
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Annex II
Fertilisers and soil conditioners referred to in Article 3(1)
Name
Description, compositional requirements, conditions for
use
Compound products or products containing only
materials listed hereunder:
Product comprising a mixture of animal excrements and
vegetable matter (animal bedding).
Farmyard manure
Factory farming origin forbidden
Dried farmyard manure and dehydrated poultry
manure
Factory farming origin forbidden
Composted animal excrements, including poultry
manure and composted farmyard manure
included
Factory farming origin forbidden
Use after controlled fermentation and/or appropriate
dilution.
Liquid animal excrements
Factory farming origin forbidden
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
Mushroom culture wastes
Worm composts
Composted or fermented mixture of vegetable
matter
Products or by-products of animal
origin as below:
blood meal
hoof meal
horn meal
bone meal or degelatinized bone
meal
fish meal
meat meal
feather, hair and ‘chiquette’ meal
wool
fur
hair
Product obtained from mixtures of vegetable matter,
which have been submitted to composting or to
anaerobic fermentation for biogas production
Maximum concentration in mg/kg of dry matter of
chromium (VI): 0
dairy products
Products and by-products of plant origin for
fertilizers
Examples: oilseed cake meal, cocoa husks, malt culms
Seaweeds and seaweed products
Including processed products.
Sawdust, wood chips, wood ash and composted
wood bark
Wood not chemically treated after felling
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Soft ground rock phosphate
Cadmium content less than or equal to 90 mg/kg of P205
Cadmium content less than or equal to 90 mg/kg of P205
Aluminium-calcium phosphate
Crude potassium salt or kainit
Potassium sulphate, possibly containing
magnesium salt
Calcium carbonate (chalk, marl, ground limestone,
Breton ameliorant, (maerl), phosphate chalk)
Only of natural origin
Magnesium and calcium carbonate
Only of natural origin e.g. magnesian chalk, ground
magnesium, limestone
Magnesium sulphate (kieserite)
Only of natural origin
Calcium chloride
Calcium sulphate (gypsum)
Only of natural origin
Industrial lime from sugar production & vacuum salt
production
Elemental sulphur
Trace elements
Sodium chloride
Only mined salt
Stone meal and clays
Biodynamic preparations
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Annex III Pesticides and plant protection products.
1. Substances of crop or animal origin
Name
Description, compositional requirement, conditions for
use
Azadirachtin extracted from Azadirachta indica
(Neem tree)
Hydrolysed proteins.
Attractant
Lecithin
Plant oils (e.g. mint oil, pine oil, caraway oil).
Aqueous plant extracts, eg chilli.
Except Nicotiana extracts.
Pyrethrins extracted from Chrysanthemum
cinerariaefolium
Quassia extracted from Quassia amara.
Diammonium Phosphate
Ferric phosphate (iron (III) orthophosphate
2. Micro-organisms used for biological pest and disease control
Name
Description, compositional requirement, conditions for
use
Micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi)
3. Substances produced by micro-organisms
Name
Description, compositional requirement, conditions for
use
Only where measures are taken to minimize the risk
to key parasitoids
Spinosad
4. Substances to be used only in traps and/or dispensers
Name
Description, compositional requirement, conditions for
use
Pheromones
Pyrethroids (only deltamethrin or
lambdacyhalothrin)
5. Other substances from traditional use in organic farming
Name
Description, compositional requirement, conditions for
use
Copper in the form of copper hydroxide, copper
oxychloride, (tribasic) copper sulphate, cuprous
oxide, copper octanoate
{Limits on maxiumu quantity applied to be identified}
Fatty acid potassium salt (soft soap)
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Name
Description, compositional requirement, conditions for
use
Potassium aluminium (aluminium sulphate)
(Kalinite)
Lime sulphur (calcium polysulphide)
Paraffin oil
Mineral oils
Potassium permanganate
Quartz sand
Sulphur
Calcium hydroxide
Potassium bicarbonate
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Annex IV
Minimum surface areas indoors and outdoors and other characteristics of housing in the different species
1.
BOVINES, EQUIDAE, OVINE, CAPRINE.
Indoors area
Outdoors area
(net area available to animals)
(exercise area,
excluding pasturage)
M2/head
Live weight
minimum
(kg)
Breeding and fattening
bovine and equidae
M2/head
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
Dairy cows
Bulls for breeding
Sheep and goats
3,7 with a minimum of
0,75 m2/100 kg
6
4,5
10
30
1,5 sheep/goat
0,35 lamb/kid
2,5
0,5
2. POULTRY
Indoors area
Outdoors area
(net area available to animals)
(m2 of area available
in rotation/head
No animals/m2
cm
perch/animal
Laying hens
6
18
Fattening
poultry (in
fixed
housing)
10 with a
maximum of 21 kg
liveweight/m2
20 (for
guinea
fowl only)
nest
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
4 broilers and guinea
fowl
4,5 ducks
10 turkey
15 geese
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In all the species
mentioned above the
limit of 170 kg of
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N/ha/year is not
exceeded
Fattening
poultry in
mobile
housing
16 in mobile
poultry houses with
a maximum of
30 kg liveweight/m 2
2,5, provided that
the limit of 170 kg of
N/ha/year is not
exceeded
(1) Only in the case of mobile houses not exceeding 150 m2 floor space.
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Annex V
Permitted Organic Feed materials
Non-organic feed materials of plant origin
Cereals, grains, their products and by-products:
Oats as grains, flakes, middlings, hulls and bran
Barley as grains, protein and middlings
Rice germ expeller
Millet as grains
Rye as grains and middlings
Sorghum as grains
Wheat as grains, middlings, bran, gluten feed, gluten and germ
Spelt as grains
Triticale as grains
Maize as grains, bran, middlings, germ expeller and gluten
Malt culms
Brewers' grains
Oil seeds, oil fruits, their products and by-products:
Rape seed, expeller and hulls
Soya 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 expeller
Palm kernels as expeller
Pumpkin seed as expeller
Olives, olive pulp
Vegetable oils (from physical extraction).
Legume seeds, their product and by-products:
Chickpeas as seeds, middlings and bran
Ervil as seeds, middlings and bran
Chickling vetch as seeds submitted to heat treatment, middlings and bran
Peas as seeds, middlings, and bran
Broad beans as seeds, middlings and bran
Horse beans as seeds middlings and bran
Vetches as seeds, middlings and bran
Lupin as seeds, middlings and bran
Tuber, roots, their products and by-products:
Sugar beet pulp
Potato
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Sweet potato as tuber
Potato pulp (by-product of the extraction of potato starch)
Potato starch
Potato protein
Manioc.
Other seeds and fruits, their products and by-products:
Carob
Carob pods and meals thereof
Pumpkins,
Citrus pulp
Apples, quinces, pears, peaches, figs, grapes and pulps thereof
Chestnuts
Walnut expeller
Hazelnut expeller
Cocoa husks and expeller
Acorns.
Forages and roughages:
Lucerne
Lucerne meal
Clover
Clover meal
Grass (obtained from forage plants)
Grass meal
Hay
Silage
Straw of cereals
Root vegetables for foraging
Other plants, their products and by-products:
Molasses
Seaweed meal (obtained by drying and crushing seaweed and washed to reduce iodine content)
Powders and extracts of plants
Plant protein extracts (solely provided to young animals)
Spices
Herbs
Feed materials of animal origin
Milk and milk products:
Raw milk
Milk powder
Skimmed milk, skimmed-milk powder,
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Buttermilk, buttermilk powder
Whey, whey powder, whey powder low in sugar, whey protein powder (extracted by physical treatment)
Casein powder
Lactose powder
Curd and sour milk
Fish, other marine animals, their products and by-products:
Under the following restrictions: Products origin only from sustainable fisheries and to be used only for
species other than herbivores
Fish
Fish oil and cod-liver oil not refined
Fish molluscan or crustacean autolysates
Hydrolysate and proteolysates obtained by an enzyme action, whether or not in soluble form, solely provided
to young animals
Fish meal
Egg and egg products
Eggs and egg products for use as poultry feed, primarily from the same holding.
Feed materials of mineral origin
3.1 Sodium:
-
unrefined sea salt
-
coarse rock salt
-
sodium sulphate
-
sodium carbonate
-
sodium bicarbonate
-
sodium chloride
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
-
Potassium:
potassium chloride
Calcium:
lithothamnion and maerl
shells of aquatic animals (including cuttlefish bones)
calcium carbonate
calcium lactate
calcium gluconate
Phosphorus:
defluorinated dicalcium phosphate
defluorinated monocalcium phosphate
monosodium phosphate
calcium-magnesium phosphate
calcium-sodium phosphate
Magnesium:
magnesium oxide (anhydrous magnesia)
magnesium sulphate
magnesium chloride
magnesium carbonate
magnesium phosphate
Sulphur:
sodium sulphate.
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Annex VI
Feed additives and certain substances used as in animal nutrition referred to in Article 22(4)
Feed additives
Additives listed must have been approved under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament
and of the Council on additives for use in animal nutrition
Nutritional additives
Vitamins:
Vitamins derived from raw materials occurring naturally in feedingstuffs;
Synthetic vitamins identical to natural vitamins for monogastric animals;
Synthetic vitamins A,D, and E identical to natural vitamins for ruminants with prior authorisation of the
Member States based on the assessment of the possibility for organic ruminants to obtain the necessary
quantities of the said vitamins through their feed rations.
Trace elements.
E1 Iron:
ferrous (II) carbonate
ferrous (II) sulphate monohydrate and/or heptahydrate
ferric (III) oxide;
E2 Iodine:
calcium iodate, anhydrous
calcium iodate, hexahydrate
sodium iodide;
E3 Cobalt:
cobaltous (II) sulphate monohydrate and/or heptahydrate
basic cobaltous (II) carbonate, monohydrate;
E4 Copper:
copper (II) oxide
basic copper (II) carbonate, monohydrate
copper (II) sulphate, pentahydrate;
E5 Manganese:
manganous (II) carbonate
manganous oxide and manganic oxide
manganous (II) sulfate, mono- and/or tetrahydrate;
E6 Zinc:
zinc carbonate
zinc oxide
zinc sulphate mono- and/or heptahydrate;
E7 Molybdenum:
ammonium molybdate, sodium molybdate;
E8 Selenium:
sodium selenate
sodium selenite.
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Zoo-technical additives:
Enzymes and micro-organisms
Technological additives
Preservatives
E 200
Sorbic acid
E 236
Formic acid*
E 260
Acetic acid*
E 270
Lactic acid*
E 280
Propionic acid*
E 330
Citric acid.
only when weather conditions do not allow for adequate fermentation.
Antioxidant substances
E 306 - Tocopherol-rich extracts of natural origin used as an antioxidant
Binders and anti-caking agents
E 470
Calcium stearate of natural origin
E 551b
Colloidal silica
E 551c
Kieselgur
E 558
Bentonite
E 559
Kaolinitic clays
E 560
Natural mixtures of stearites and chlorite
E 561
Vermiculite
E 562
Sepiolite
E 599
Perlite.
Silage additives
Enzymes, yeasts and bacteria can be used as silage additives
The use of lactic, formic, propionic and acetic acid in the production of silage shall only be permitted when
weather conditions do not allow for adequate fermentation
Yeasts
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Annex VII
Non-organic material for use as food additives or processing aids.
Code
Name
Additive
Processing
Aid
X
E 170
Calcium carbonate
X
E 270
E 290
E 296
E 300
E 301
E 306
E 322
E 325
E 330
E 331
E 333
E 334
E 335
E 336
E 341 (i)
E 400
E 401
E 402
E 406
E 407
E 410
E 412
E 414
E 415
E 422
E 440 (i)
E 464
Lactic acid
Carbon dioxide
Malic acid
Ascorbic acid
Sodium ascorbate
Tocopherol-rich extract
Lecithins
Sodium lactate |
Citric acid
Sodium citrates
Calcium citrates
Tartaric acid (L(+)–)
Sodium tartrates
Potassium tartrates
Monocalcium-phosphate
Alginic acid
Sodium alginate
Potassium alginate
Agar
Carrageenan
Locust bean gum
Guar gum
Arabic gum
Xanthan gum
Glycerol
Pectin
Hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose
Sodium carbonates
Potassium carbonates
Ammonium carbonates
Magnesium carbonates
Calcium chloride
Sulphuric Acid
Calcium sulphate
Sodium hydroxide
Silicon dioxide
Talc
Argon
Helium
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Tannic Acid
Egg white albumen
Casein
Gelatin
Isinglass
Silicon dioxide gel or
colloidal solution
Activated carbon
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
E 500
E 501
E 503
E 504
E 509
E523
E 516
E 524
E 551
E 553b
E 938
E 939
E 941
E 948
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X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Specific conditions
Shall not be used for colouring or
calcium enrichment of products
Anti-oxidant for fats and oils
X
X
Raising Agent
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Only as encapsulation material for
capsules
Only in sugar production
Gel or colloidal solution
X
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Code
Name
Additive
Talc
Bentonite
Kaolin
Hazelnut shells
Carnauba wax
Ethylene
Processing
Aid
X
X
X
X
X
X
Specific conditions
Releasing agent
For degreening fruit and
vegetables & sprout suppression
of potatoes and onions.
Annex VII
Other permitted substances in organic foods.
1. Preparations of micro-organisms and enzymes normally used in food processing;
2. Natural flavouring substances, only if the substance is not available in organic form.
3. Drinking water and salt (with sodium chloride or potassium chloride as basic components) generally used in
food processing
4. Minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids and micronutrients, only authorised if they are required for
use in the foodstuff under Egyptian Legislation, and only if not produced by GMOs.
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