Animal welfare and a link to the land
Organic livestock production is land-related: the animals are fed mainly with feed from the holding, graze outdoors, and the manure is returned to the soil. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 sets requirements for the origin, feeding, husbandry and treatment of the animals. The aim is health through prevention and natural behaviour.
Conversion period
The conversion period for animals starts after control begins and is:
- bovine and equine animals for meat: 12 months and at least three quarters of their lifetime;
- sheep, goats and pigs: 6 months;
- animals for milk production: 6 months;
- poultry for meat: 10 weeks (brought in before they are 3 days old); laying hens: 6 weeks.
Pastures and forage areas have a conversion period of 2 years. In the case of simultaneous conversion of the whole holding, the overall period may be shortened.
Main requirements
- Origin: the animals are born and raised on organic holdings. Bringing in non-organic breeding animals is limited in number and conditions and must be documented.
- Feed: organic only. For herbivores at least 70% of the feed must come from the holding itself or from the same region, and for pigs and poultry - at least 30%. Herbivores are fed mainly on roughage.
- Husbandry: permanent access to open-air areas and grazing when conditions allow. Minimum indoor and outdoor areas depending on the species. Tethering and keeping in cages are, as a rule, prohibited.
- Veterinary treatments: phytotherapeutic and homeopathic products are preferred. Synthetic medicines are used when needed on the prescription of a veterinarian, with a doubled withdrawal period (at least 48 hours). An animal that has received more than three courses of treatment within 12 months (or more than one if its productive life cycle is less than one year) loses its organic status.
- Separation: the same species cannot be reared both organically and conventionally on one holding at the same time.
- Manure: nitrogen from livestock manure must not exceed 170 kg/ha per year.
What is inspected on site
The inspector examines the buildings, pastures and feed store. He or she checks the ear tags and the number of animals against the registers, and checks the origin of new animals, feed purchases and the veterinary logbook. The inspector also checks the records of births, sales, deaths and grazing.
Documents
- application, contract and annual production programme;
- animal register and documents of origin;
- veterinary treatment logbook;
- feed purchase documents, grazing plan, sales documents.
How the process works
Enquiry or application
- you describe the species and number of animals, your buildings and your land.
Offer and contract
- we calculate the price and conclude a contract. You notify the MAF within 10 days.
Documents
- you submit the annual production programme and the registers.
On-site inspection
- the inspector visits the farm.
Decision and certificate
- the certificate is renewed every year.
Price
The fee consists of a basic annual fee and a price per livestock unit, which depends on the species and purpose of the animals. The exact amounts are in our price list.
Private standards and markets
- KRAV - KRAV's additional animal welfare requirements are higher than those of the EU. We verify them for the Swedish market.
- NOP (USDA) - when exporting to the USA, products from animals treated with antibiotics cannot be sold as organic. An additional certificate of non-use of antibiotics under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2304 is also required, which we issue at your request after an inspection.
Subsidies
Certification of the animals and the land is a condition for the eco-scheme for organic livestock production under the Strategic Plan 2023-2027. Livestock holdings must be registered under the Veterinary Activity Act.