Title: Organic Livestock Production Regulations

Category: EU Regulation

Date: 1999

References: EC 1804/99 [Full text] (supplement EC 2092/91)

General Description:

These regulations supplement previous regulations (2092/91) and seek to harmonise the rules on production, labelling and inspection of organic livestock products.

The rules address issues such as the:

• avoidance of environmental pollution on organic units including nitrate leaching;
• encouragement of biodiversity;
• exclusion of GMO's.

They also provide definitions of organic animal husbandry including rules for:

• livestock feedstuffs (grass, fodder and other approved organic feedstuffs only) excluding the use of non-organic feeds unless specific authorisation has been given;
• the use of diet additives such as vitamins and minerals;
• animal-health management such as the use of phytotherapeutic and homeopathic medicinal products, minimising the use of chemically-synthesised allopathic medicines;
• the provision of free range grazing and exercise areas;
• housing including ventilation, light, space, comfort;
• the minimisation of any activity which could cause livestock stress, harm, disease or suffering including handling, transport and slaughtering;
• farm inspections; and
• organic produce labelling.