Certification according to EU Regulation 2092/91

The organic production distinguishes between organic plant production and animal husbandry. The instructions for production can be found in article 6 and in annex I of the EU Regulation. Organic animal husbandry is described in annex I B. Annex I C concerns bees.

For the organic mushroom production there are special requirements which are described in annex I A 5.

Annex II lists all allowed fertilizers, land improvement agents and pesticides.

Please check the website of the EU Regulation 2092/91 for further details.

BCS has developed the BCS control criteria that help interpret the EU Regulation 2092/91. They apply only outside of Europe (third countries). There are control criteria for the following topics:

• Conversion
• Buffer zones
• Seeds and propagation materials

Which products require inspection?

• Unprocessed agricultural crop products, also livestock and unprocessed livestock products – i.e. grain, oilseed, vegetables, meat products and sausages, and calves; moreover plants from wild collection – such as wild berries and mushrooms – require inspection, when they are put on the market as organic products.
• Processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption – such as i.e. parfaits and spreads, farinaceous food, deep-frozen vegetable produce. This does not apply to cosmetics and medicines.
• Animal feed – i.e. concentrated feed mixtures for cattle.

How often will inspections take place?

The monitoring plan requires at least one (announced) inspection per year for farms and companies involved in organic production complemented by random spot checks.

Who has to be inspected?

The monitoring plan for organic products distinguishes three different groups:

• producers of agricultural organic products
• processing companies for organic products
• exporters of organic products