Padel, Susanne and Lowman, Steve (2005) Conversion, livestock and animal products - UK Compendium 2005. [Organic rules - Differences between other regulations/standards and EEC No 2092/91]
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Summary
During the conversion period, livestock, except poultry, reared for organic meat must be reared from birth as organic. If their offspring are to be used as organic meat animals, breeding ewes, female goats and sows must be managed as organic from mating. Breeding cattle must be managed as organic for at least 12 weeks before the birth of offspring to be reared for organic meat. There are other periods specified for other classes of livestock to be managed as organic if their products are to be sold as organic.
Difference
UK Compendium specifies that, for offspring to be sold as organic meat, the breeding female must be in organic management after mating for small ruminants and pigs, for at least 12 weeks before birth for cattle, and all these offspring must be reared as organic from birth. EU Regulation 2092/91 requires that organic management must be for at least 12 months or three quarters of lifetime, whichever is longer, for bovines and equidae reared for meat, and six months for small ruminants and pigs. EU Regulation makes no mention here of the management of breeding females after mating. For milk production, UK Compendium requires that cattle must be in organic management for 9 months before the milk can be sold as organic, with organic feed management for at least 6 months. EU Regulation requires 6 months organic management for all milk producing animals.
Justification
The UK Compendium livestock conversion rule aims to eliminate any possible consumer health risks that might arise from non-organic livestock management by ensuring that organic meat animals have been in organic management since birth, and even during their gestation. UK Compendium makes no mention of equidae because this is a class of livestock rarely used for food in UK. The amendment was requested by UK inspection bodies.
EU Regulation
| Item type: | Organic rules - Differences between other regulations/standards and EEC No 2092/91 |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | General areas of Organic Agriculture > Organic integrity Conversion Animal husbandry Pollution risks/non permitted inputs |
| Country/Standard: | Europe > UK > Governmental regulation |
| Principles: | Principle of care Principle of health |
| ID Code: | 128 |
| Deposited By: | INVALID USER |
| Deposited On: | 29 Oct 2005 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Nov 2008 08:18 |
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