Questions and Answers

Can I graze the livestock from my Bud farm on non-organic alpine pasture?

Grazing of livestock on non-organic alpine pasture is permitted provided the conditions of the Ordinance on contributions for high-altitude summer pastures are met. The products may not be labelled organic. The livestock and any products from them can be marketed as "organic" again as soon as the animals are back on their home farm.

See OBio art. 15b and Bio Suisse Instruction on "Absence of stock from the home farm"

Can I import manure from an ÖLN holding (holding with "environmental performance record") onto my Bud farm?

Do I have to enter into an inter-farm waste movement contract?
Manure may only be imported onto Bud farms from label holdings (e.g. IP-Suisse, QM-Schweizerfleisch, Coop Naturafarm, SEG-Poulets). Holdings importing farmyard manure in excess of 1 livestock unit (LU) per year must have an inter-farm waste movement contract authorised at Cantonal level. When organic inspection is carried out, these holdings must also be able to provide evidence of the manure supplier's ÖLN environmental performance record and labelling scheme.

See the Bio Suisse Instructions on "Nutrient supply" and the Bio Suisse implementing regulations on "Importing and exporting farmyard manure"

In principle, products purchased before the new list of approved auxiliary inputs was issued (e.g. February 2011) may be used up during the current year. Products may also be added to or reinstated on the list at any time.

 

Regular updates of changes and corrections to the list of approved auxiliary inputs can be found at http://www.betriebsmittelliste.ch/de/betriebsmittel/korrigenda-betriebsmittelliste.html

We have bought in 8 t organic silage maize. What documentation do we need for the inspection?

 

For bought-in roughage, it is necessary to present a valid certificate of the consignor (the issuer of the invoice) and documentation of purchase that states the quantities. If the trader is not certified, only packaged and labelled goods are allowed to be bought in. The label must state, in clear terms, the consignor and the certification body.

 

 

Case 4 triggers a sanction because of bought-in feed from non-organic cultivation.

I would like to feed the cows on my holding with non-organic maize silage. Is this permitted?

Ruminants must be fed 100% organically produced feed. On Bio Suisse holdings, in addition, 90% of the feed used must be Bud quality.
Holdings may apply to the certification body for a derogation to purchase non-organically produced roughage in the following cases:

• Crop failure due to exceptional weather conditions (e.g. drought, wet weather)

• Crop failure due to force majeure (e.g. flood, hailstorm, avalanche, landslide)

• Crop failure due to pest infestation (e.g. damage caused by mice or grubs)

• Loss of roughage stocks as a result of fire or other event
  
  

See Article 39 of the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance (BioV) for a list of criteria for derogations.

Will I be allowed to let my cows graze on my neighbour's non-organic pasture in the autumn?

 

Yes, livestock put to summer pasture may temporarily graze on non-organic agricultural land, provided that at most spot treatment of weeds has been carried out. On a Bud farm (Knospe-Betrieb), the proportion of non-organic pasturage must not exceed 10% (= 36 days/head) of the total annual feed consumption. For holdings managed on the basis of the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance the figure is max. 5% (=18 days/head).

See OBio art. 16a and Bio Suisse Standards Annex 5

From 2010 onwards, no more derogations are granted for conventional sugar beet slices. Exemptions from this rule are now only possible in the event of harvest failure (e.g. caused by drought/wetness or pest calamities).

We are a Bud farm and would like to buy hay from an organically managed holding in Italy. Can we do this?

 

Yes you can. However, 90% of ruminant feed must be Bud quality. You can use not only hay, but any roughage that has been certified organic under EU regulations. The following are considered roughage according to Annex 3 of the Bio Suisse Standards: 

 

• Linseed
• Dextrose
• Molasses from sugar production
• Fruit syrup
• Potato protein
• Maize gluten*
• Brewer's yeast*

 

In the case of items marked with an asterisk * you must have a signed InfoXgen [GMO declaration] form. See Bio Suisse Standards, Annex 3 and 5

I want to keep a few more laying hens. However, as my nutrient balance is already close to the limit a colleague recommended the use of NPr feed. Am I allowed to feed this?

Organic NPr feed may be used on an organic holding. Such feed does not contain phytase, but in turn has a higher nutrient content than non-organic NPr feed. A feeding plan and an agreement with the feed supplier must be on file. These must be approved by the cantonal implementing authority so that the lower P205 content can be taken into account in the Suisse-Bilanz (nutrient balance). NPr is more expensive.

See DZV (Swiss Ordinance on Direct Payments) Art. 6 and Appendix 1

Bio Weide-Beef is a labelling scheme that stands for high-quality organically reared grass-fed Swiss beef. Standards for this scheme are set by Migros.

We advise you first of all to contact a Bio Weide-Beef livestock seller/distributor and enter into a contract with them which states the quantity you will produce. Migros accepts Bio Weide-Beef from the following sellers/distributors:

• Beef Pool Management GmbH
• IPS Kuvag
• Linus Silvestri AG

• Viegut AG Unternährer

Register with bio.inspecta AG for the Bio Weide-Beef scheme. Wherever possible, inspection takes place at the same time as the annual organic inspection.

A summary of the key points concerning production and sale of Bio Weide-Beef can be found under the tab headed "Information" on the IG Bio Weide-Beef website. For full details of the regulations that apply, please consult the Bio Weide-Beef Standards.

The BWB Standards are available from the IG Bio Weide-Beef website http://www.bioweidebeef.ch/ or from http://www.bioattualita.ch/fr/les-directives-bio.html

Am I allowed to castrate calves myself if they are being produced for Bio Weide-Beef?

Castration of bull calves is essential for practical and safety reasons, and should be carried out before the calf is 14 days old. Castration using a rubber ring may be carried out by farmers who have undertaken appropriate skills training. Surgical castration using Burdizzo clamps must be carried out by a vet.

 

See FiBL guide to pasture-based cattle fattening in organic production, "Bioweidemast"

 

Can a calf be put out to summer pasture and later sold as Bio Weide-Beef?

 

Summer pasturing on alpine meadows (in accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on contributions for high-altitude summer pastures) or on common pasture is permitted. The animal must return to the Bio Weide-Beef farm, however, before it is sold.

 

See Bio Weide-Beef guidelines Section 5, "Production requirements for Bio Weide-Beef"

 

Am I allowed to buy calves and sell them later as Bio Weide-Beef?

Yes, provided that:

• the calves are at least 3 weeks old when purchased

• they come from a farm with the full Bud label or a holding in its second year of conversion to the Bud scheme

• the waiting period of 12 months is observed in full, and

• the animals are kept on the Bio Weide-Beef holding for at least 6 months before slaughter.

 

See Bio Suisse Standards 3.1.10, and
Bio Weide-Beef guidelines, Section 5: "Production requirements for Bio Weide-Beef"

 

In 2011 und 2012 you need to score 12 points. In 2011 organic inspections will take into account any biodiversity points declared by holdings (on presentation of a completed MVP score chart).

 

From 1 October 2011 random checks will be carried out to check whether holdings are achieving the required 12-point score.

If you do not manage to achieve the required 12-point score this year, we recommend that you take additional biodiversity measures and seek further advice on this matter. From 2013 the target score will be 17 points, 15 of which must be achieved by taking measures to promote biodiversity.

www.bioweidebeef.ch -> login -> members -> MVP -> open Excel file for lowland or mountain region.

Please contact your seller/distributor, as s/he is able to keep grass-fed animals indoors even after the deadlines have expired (20 days after birth, 7 days after purchase).

According to the checklist, feeding of fish oil, fish meal and crustaceans is not permitted. Can I give my cattle Walser-Tran?

 

Since May 2008 the feeding of Walser-Tran is permitted under Soil Association Standards.

 

The carbon copy of the assessment report for the holding is considered a certificate of inspection. Please keep it on file. The certification decision will be notified directly to the milk purchaser and to the Soil Association Certification Limited.

I want to buy Valais Blackneck goats but cannot find any from organic holdings. What should I do?

 

In principle, any livestock you buy in must have been reared on a certified organic holding. If you cannot find organically reared livestock, the following rules apply:

 

• You may bring in young adult nulliparous animals (females that have not yet given birth) from non-organic holdings. These animals should make up no more than 10% of your adult equine or bovine livestock and no more than 20% of your adult pigs, sheep and goats.

• If you want to bring in a higher percentage of livestock, or adult livestock, you need to obtain a derogation from the certification body.

• Derogation applications must always be submitted to bio.inspecta before livestock is purchased.

 

See Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance Article 16 and Bio Suisse Standards 3.3.10

 

For further information and application forms, click on → “Download documents” or → “Request for permission”

If in doubt, give us a call.

You can reach us on weekdays from 8 am – 12 noon and 1 pm – 5 pm at

062 865 63 33

 

In accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS) the animals must be able to consume a substantial part of their feed, i.e. about 25% of their daily feed intake, out on pasture. The following overview provides estimates of the area of pasture land required for the different livestock categories. You must have these areas available for your livestock:

 

Cattle, water buffalo, sheep and goats

Zone	Minimum area of pasture
Valley and hill zone	8 a / LU
Mountain zones I-IV	11 a / LU

 

Example 1: Dairy herd, 25 animals in the mountain zone (= 25LU*11a) = 275 ares
Example 2: Sheep flock, 17 sheep in the hill zone (= 17*0.17 LU*8a)  = 23.12 ares
Example 3: 40 dairy goats in the mountain zone (=40*0.2 LU*11a) = 88 ares

 

 

Horses

In principle, 8 ares per horse, if more than five equines are kept the area may be reduced by 20%.
Example 1: 1 horse and a donkey (=2*8a) =16 ares
Example 2: 5 horses and a pony (=6*8a-20%) = 38.4 ares

 

Using your holding's data you can use this Excel sheet to do exact calculations which will show you whether your holding has enough pasture land available for your livestock throughout the year to meet the requirements of the RAUS Ordinance.

 

1 are (a) = 100 m²

LU = Livestock Unit

 

RAUS (Ordinance of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs on regular outdoor management of livestock)

On a number of occasions we have found that farmers are not sufficiently familiar with the requirements of RAUS, resulting in shortcomings. Such shortcomings in the implementation of RAUS requirements may result in reduced direct payments.

Basic principle of RAUS requirements
Cattle, horses, goats and sheep

 

must be out on pasture -> for 26 days per month -> from 1 May to 31 October
have outdoor access -> for 13 days per month -> from 1 November to 30 April

 

Access only to an exercise yard instead of pasture is only allowed in the following exceptional cases:

• during adverse weather conditions
• if grass is not ready for use as pasture in May
• during the first ten days of the drying-off period.

No outdoor access, i.e. no access either to pasture or an exercise yard is allowed in the following exceptional cases:

• 10 days prior to and 10 after parturition
• in the case of surgery (must be recorded in the veterinary treatment record)
• 2 days prior to a transport.

Other derogations require Cantonal permission:

• If the holding does not have access, at a reasonable distance to the farm, to sufficient lands that can be properly grazed.
• If the stock can not be put out to pasture for 26 days per month because it can not reasonably be expected to be moved to some of the plots due to difficult access (e.g. very busy road).
  

Prior approval must be sought for derogations from the authority responsible for direct payments in your Canton. Please find the contact persons for some of the Cantons below:

Canton	Dep.	Name	Tel.
BE	Abteilung Direktzahlungen	Scherz Ueli	031 910 54 02
GR	ALG Amt für Landwirtschaft & Geoinformation	Rudolf Bucher	081 257 24 49
JU	Service de l’écon. rurale	Eric Amez-Droz	032 420 74 09
NE	Service de l’agriculture	Félix Würgler	032 889 36 90
NW	Amt für Landwirtschaft	Heiri Niederberger	041 618 40 06
OW	Amt für Landw. & Umwelt	Niklaus Ettlin	041 666 64 75
TI	Sezione dell’agricoltura	Diego Forni	091 814 35 60
UR	Beratungsdienst Uri	Damian Gisler	041 871 05 66
SZ	Amt für Landwirtschaft	Daniel von Euw	041 819 15 12
VS	Service de l’agriculture	Paul Rey-Bellet	027 606 75 20

Feeding:
As a general rule, livestock on organic farms licensed under the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance (BioV) and on Bio Suisse farms must be fed a 100% organic ration. On Bio Suisse farms, at least 90% of this must consist of Bud feeds or feeds approved by Bio Suisse as Bud auxiliary inputs; up to 10% of feed approved under the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance or the EU Organic Regulation may be bought in.

 

Approach to be taken in case of feed shortages:

1. Clarify whether organic feed is available (e.g. offers on http://www.bioaktuell.ch/de/markt/bioboerse/bb-startseite.html)
2. If organic roughage is not available for purchase, a derogation must be obtained from bio.inspecta. A derogation may be granted under the following circumstances:
   
   

• Yield losses due to exceptional weather conditions (e.g. drought, high rainfall)
• Yield losses due to force majeure (e.g. flooding, hail, avalanche, landslide)
•  Yield losses due to pests (e.g. damage by mice or scarab grubs)
• Loss of roughage stocks as a result of fire or other event
  

You can find the application form at: www.bio-inspecta.ch (→ Agriculture
→ Request for permission → Purchasing animal feed). You can either submit the online form to us or print out the form and send the completed form by post to bio.inspecta, Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland.

 

I am a farmer and beekeeper. Now I want to convert my farm to organic under Bio Suisse Standards. Does my apiary also need to be inspected?

The whole farm approach also applies to bees and hence these will also need to be inspected. There is a simplified inspection process for hobby beekeepers with less than 10 hives. However, the provisions regarding feeding and management also apply in this case. If the honey is sold, hobby status no longer applies, even if there are fewer than 10 hives.

See Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) on organic farming (EVD-Verordnung), Article 6

  

The beekeeping operation may also be outsourced. It is possible to lease it out to a person (including spouses) not involved in farm management. In such cases the apiary is not subject to obligatory inspection and certification and the honey must not be labelled as originating from the organic holding.

See Bio Suisse implementing regulations

 

As a Bio Suisse holding, do I have to feed my bees Bud-labelled honey?

No, it is sufficient to use sugar certified under the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance or sugar certified under the EU Organic Regulation.

See Bio Suisse Instruction on Beekeeping, Feeding

What does the site map of hives have to show?

A radius of 3km around the hives must be marked, i.e. a diameter of 6km; on an A4 copy of a 1:25.000 topograhical map this circle is slightly bigger than the shorter side of the page.

See ordinance of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) on organic farming Art. 9, Bio Suisse Instruction on Beekeeping, Siting of beehives

How long is the conversion time for bees?

One year. A farm holding which is in-conversion to organic farming and is in its second conversion year can sell its apiary products as organic in the second conversion year, provided the organic standards are being met.

There is no »marketing in-conversion« for apiary products and colonies, there is only either non-organic or organic marketing.

See ordinance of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) on organic farming Art. 7, Bio Suisse Standards Art. 4.2.9

I keep a few rabbits as a hobby. What are the standards I have to meet?

Up to three adult animals or up to six litters are considered a hobby group. In such cases the requirements for management and feeding as set out in the Bio Suisse Standards must be met but animals can be bought in from non-organic sources. Hobby keepers must meet the conditions of the BTS (Swiss federal programme for high welfare animal housing) by analogy. Existing cages can be adapted with modest effort! By providing a compartment as an activity area with a raised sitting area and a darkened compartment as a nest area the rabbits' standard of living will be much improved.

Please note: The animals must not be notified under the RAUS programme (Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock) or the BTS programme. Records need not be kept.

See Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.1 to 3.1.12

How are rabbits to be kept on Bud farms?

The conditions of the BTS (Swiss federal programme for high welfare animal housing) must be met. In must be noted in particular that the animals must be kept in groups. Additionally, houses must have a raised area to which does can retreat and which is out of reach of young stock.

See Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.1 to 3.1.12 and BTS Ordinance

Do I have to test my laying hens for Salmonella?

If eggs are sold Salmonella tests must be carried out. The annual test for Salmonella can be carried out by submitting faeces samples or by having 20 eggs tested for antibodies. Preferably the tests are carried out when the birds are between 30 and 40 weeks old. The composite faeces sample (60-100g of fresh faeces) must be submitted to the lab by A-Post (next day delivery) and labelled "Salmonella test". Laboratory address:

Institut für Veterinärbakteriologie
Abteilung Geflügel
Winterthurstrasse 268/270
CH-8057 Zürich
Telephone: 044 635 86 31
Internet: www.vetbakt.unizh.ch

 

In flocks of more than 50 chickens the Canton normally takes the faecal sample. The test report must be presented at the farm inspection.
See the Bio Suisse Instruction on "Poultry keeping", 3.1 Salmonella test

Is it still permitted to keep horses in a tie stall?

Since January 1, 2005 horses must no longer be kept tied up. Exception: For working horses a derogation request may be filed with the Bio Suisse Label Commission "Production".

See Bio Suisse Standards 3.1.3

My Bud farm is involved in the livery business. Can I feed these horses non-organic concentrates?

Yes, in contrast to other livestock categories, livery horses may continue to be fed non-organic concentrate feeds. However, overall livery horses must be fed a minimum of 90% Bud feeds. If non-organic feed is given, at least a signed InfoXgen form is required (or a Confirmation for Feedstuff).

See Bio Suisse Implementing Regulation on "Feeding, Feedstuffs"

We have heard that a derogation can be obtained for barbed wire use. Where can I get this?
There is no blanket derogation. The transition period for the ban came to an end on 1 January 2011. The Cantons of Berne and Jura are operating an "extended deadline" for equine summer pasture holdings. Applications may be submitted, stating your reasons for applying, to the cantonal veterinary office.

See Article 63 of the Swiss Animal Protection Ordinance (TSchV)

Addresses: Canton Jura: Service vétérinaire, Courtemelon, C.p. 65,

                   2852 Courtételle
                   Canton Berne: Veterinärdienst, Herrengasse 1, 3011 Berne

How do I correctly fill in the records on grazing and free ranging periods when my cows are permanently out on pasture during the summer?

Generally, daily records must be kept for cows. The only exception are situations where the pasture is permanently accessible. "Permanent" is taken to mean 24 hours a day. If this is the case a "P" can be entered into the record on the first day and a line drawn down for the entire period.

See the Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS)

Do I also have to put dry cows out to pasture?

When cows are being dried off they may be kept in an exercise yard for the first seven days of the drying-off period instead of being put out to pasture.

See the Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS)

Am I allowed to dock my lambs' tails?

Surgical interventions carried out on livestock must be kept to a minimum. Tail-docking in lambs is not permitted except in cases where these unavoidably contract diarrhoea caused by their diet (on alpine pastures) and dagging does not remedy this. Tail-docking must be carried out by a qualified person. The lambs must not be older than 7 days. Tail-docking must be recorded in the veterinary treatment record.

See Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.12

Can I continue to keep my goats in tie stalls?

 

Until the end of 2013, goats housed in buildings constructed before 1 January 2001 may be kept tethered, in agreement with the certification body, provided that the animals are kept in comfortably littered areas and are given individual care. Goats are very active animals. If at all possible, loose housing is the preferred system.

 

See Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.3 and Instructions on "Caprine holding"

We have heard that there are organic farmers who show their holdings to interested visitors. Where are these farms and how can we get in touch?

 

The farm managers of the organic pilot farms are willing to explain organic management practices to you as exemplified by their holding, and to share experience with you. This is supported by Bio Suisse.

If you are interesting in converting to organic management, please get in touch directly with one of the farms and agree a date on which you can visit it.

 

List of organic pilot farms

I want to convert my holding to organic production. I still have supplies of concentrated feed and roughage. Will I still be able to use up these supplies during conversion?

 

You will not have to get rid of these supplies. Holdings can use up existing supplies of concentrated feed that are not on the list of permitted auxiliary inputs, as long as they contain no prohibited additives (antibiotics, GMO, etc.), up to 1 May of the first year of conversion. A longer period applies for using up supplies of roughage.

See Section 3.2.2 and Bio Suisse Instructions

What exactly happens as regards the status of my livestock and the waiting period during conversion?

As a matter of principle, the status of the livestock or product is never higher than the status of the holding.

1. Animals born on the holding in conversion before or during the conversion period
Once inspection and certification has been carried out, but at the earliest from 1 May of the first year of conversion and up to 31 December of the second year of conversion, these animals are considered in-conversion livestock.
From 1 January of the third year, they are considered organic livestock.

2. Organically reared animals bought in by the holding in conversion
These are considered in-conversion livestock during the conversion period and organic livestock from 1 January of the third year.

3. Non-organically reared animals bought in by the holding in conversion
These are considered in-conversion livestock during the conversion period. From 1 January of the third year they are considered organic livestock, provided that the required waiting periods have been observed in full (see below).
The following restrictions apply regarding buying in non-organically reared livestock:
Organic or in-conversion holdings may buy in non-organically reared livestock in the following amounts per year:
• 10% nulliparous female equine or bovine animals
• 20% nulliparous female porcine, ovine or caprine animals
• Male animals may be bought in freely for breeding, but not for fattening.

The percentages above refer to the percentage of new stock relative to the holding's current stock of adult female animals. For organic holdings with fewer than 10 bovine or equine animals or fewer than five porcine, ovine or caprine animals, stock renewal is limited to one animal per year. A derogation must be obtained from the certification body in order to purchase a higher percentage of young animals or adult animals from non-organic production. Derogations are only issued in special cases.

Waiting periods for livestock bought in from non-organic production

• 12 months for equines and bovines (including bubalus and bison species) for meat production, and, in the case of animals with a short lifespan, for at least three quarters of their life
• 6 months for small ruminants and pigs
• 6 months for animals for milk production
• 56 days for poultry for meat production brought in before they were 3 days old
• 6 weeks for poultry for egg production  

4. Sale of livestock from a holding in conversion to an organic holding

After the waiting period (see above), these animals are considered organic livestock. The animals may spend the waiting period entirely on the holding in conversion or partly on the organic holding.

 

Example:
In mid-May an organic production unit buys a cow from an in-conversion holding in the second year of conversion. The organic production unit can then sell the milk from this cow as organic milk from 1 July. Meat from this cow, on the other hand, can only be sold as organic from 1 January of the following year.

Sale of milk and eggs
The waiting periods set out above refer to animals for breeding and slaughter. After the start of the conversion period, milk and eggs may be sold as in-conversion products as soon as the holding has been certified, but at the earliest from 1 May. This also applies to all plant products, as illustrated in the figure.

 

 

Grafik: aus dem FiBL-Merkblatt "Umstellung auf Bio"

 

 

Responsibility for preventing residues, erroneous substitution of seeds or the use of unapproved auxiliary inputs lies with the organic holding. Therefore, a number of essential precautions must be taken. Here's the most important advice:

 

• 1. The contractor must, at the very least, be aware that s/he is carrying out work on an organic farm.
• 2. S/he must be instructed to thoroughly clean and blow-clean seeders, fertilizer spreaders and harvesters prior to using them on the organic holding.
• 3. It is essential that the seeds and auxiliary inputs to be used are clearly specified. Better still: buy them yourself and provide them to the contractor.
• 4. Inter-farm use of sprayers is not advisable. The risk of contamination with unapproved plant protection products is too great.

 

In cases where greater volumes of contracting work are to be undertaken, it is advisable that an agreement is entered into in writing that sets out the precautions to be taken.

For further information please consult the FiBL information note on risks involved in using external equipment.

I want to set up a production cooperative with a non-organic holding. How do I go about it?

  

Before the end of the calendar year you must notify the Cantonal Office for Agriculture of your intention to set up a production cooperative. You must also notify the inspection and certification body that the partner holding will undergo conversion to organic production. The production cooperative can then be established at the beginning of the next year at the earliest and will be treated as a single production unit.

The following rules apply to production cooperatives:

•  The part of the production unit that was formerly non-organic will be in conversion for two years.

• Livestock cannot be taken over by the production cooperative unless a derogation is obtained from the certification body.

• All land, crops, feed and livestock have in-conversion status.

• Parallel marketing (Organic and In-conversion) can only be used for permanent crops (fruit, grapes) and requires a derogation from the certification body.

• In-conversion feed may be used for 100% of feed of livestock on the portion of the production cooperative that is in conversion, or for a maximum of 60% of the total feed given to all production cooperative livestock.

• The new partner must undertake the specified compulsory training.
  
  

See Bio Suisse Standards 4.1

Application forms for making derogation requests can be found by clicking on → “Download documents” or on → “Request permission”

 

You will find the laboratories certified for the Swiss ÖLN (documentation of ecological services) scheme under the following link:

 

laboratories

 

The 2011 harvest year is the basis of assessment. All farms under the obligation to produce a nutrient balance in accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on Direct Payments (DZV) must present a new nutrient balance for the 2011 harvest year. Older nutrient balances can no longer be accepted! However, following this special year, the principle that a nutrient balance will remain valid for a period of four years as long as there are no changes on the holding in terms of areas, livestock, fertilizer imports and exports, and sales of roughage, will once again apply.

Rationale: In the autumn of 2010, the amendments to the "Principles of fertilizer use in arable farming and forage-crop production" (Grundlagen für die Düngung im Acker- und Futterbau 2009, GRUDAF 2009) came into force. These amendments first applied to the 2011 contribution year. Therefore, from 1 January 2012 onwards only nutrient balances (see DZV Annex Section 2.2.(2)) will be accepted that have been calculated and assessed on the basis of GRUDAF 2009.

All farms under the obligation to produce nutrient balances (in accordance with the Annex to the Swiss Ordinance on Direct Payments with reference to the ÖLN/environmental performance record, Section 2.1 (7)), must present a new nutrient balance for the 2011 harvest year calculated on the basis of the new principles. This will be checked at the occasion of the 2012 organic inspection. You can let an advisor calculate the new nutrient balance (2011 harvest year) prior to the inspection or you can commission its preparation by bio.inspecta AG during the inspection.

If you wish to let your products be processed off-farm, you, as a producer, have three options:

 

Option 1: Sub-contract a processor

• The processor must not carry out processing for more than five organic producers.

• Inspection of processing (incl. records) takes place at the farm holding.

• Recipes for the processed products must be kept on file in writing on the holding.

Option 2: Look for a certified contract processor

• The processor has an inspection contract with an inspection/certification body.

• Inspection of processing takes place at the contractor's premises.

• The farmer keeps the product list and the organic certificate (with the relevant product on the product list) of the processor on file.

Option 3: Market products as non-organic

• Processing is carried out as non-organic and is not inspected

• When the resultant products are marketed there must not be any indication of organic production.

• An up-to-date product list and a processing record must be available at the organic inspection.

See the Bio Suisse Instruction and the BioV (Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance), Art. 2, 26, 27 and 30

If the butcher does not himself undergo organic inspection and certification, you must enter into a subcontracting agreement with him, listing all the fresh meat produced.

 

Templates for subcontracting agreements can be found here:
http://www.bio-inspecta.ch/htm/landwirtschaftdownloaddokumente.htm

In other cases the following rules apply:

 

No inspection*
The farmer delivers his animals to the butcher, who slaughters them and delivers the half-carcasses back to the farmer.
→ The butcher does not require certification
→ Subcontracting agreement between farmer and butcher is not required.

 

Inspection
The farmer delivers his animals to the butcher, who slaughters and quarters them. All the meat is returned to the farmer.
→ If the butcher has more than 5 organic clients, he must undergo inspection and certification.
→ If the butcher has fewer than 5 organic clients a subcontracting agreement is sufficient (see example above).

 

The butcher processes the meat and delivers the meat products back to the farmer.
→ The butcher must have a valid certificate with a list of all the organic products he produces. The butcher is responsible for the preparation, ingredients and chain of custody of the meat products.
→ If the butcher has fewer than 5 organic clients a subcontracting agreement is sufficient. The agreement must contain a list of all meat products. The farmer is responsible for preparation, ingredients and chain of custody of the meat products.

 

The butcher processes the meat and sells some or all of the meat products himself.
→ The butcher must have his own certification. If he wants to sell products with the Bud label, he must also enter into a licensing contract with Bio Suisse.

*) Only for the slaughter of animals is no inspection and certification required. All other processing steps are subject to inspection and certification.

 

See Article 2 f of the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance and Article 1.3.1 of the Bio Suisse Instructions for licence holders and on-farm processors.

Under the RAUS programme (regular outdoor management of livestock) pigs must have several hours of outdoor access daily. During each suckling period, lactating sows must be given at least one hour of outdoor access on at least 20 days. For up to 5 days before farrowing, breeding sows may be kept in a farrowing crate without outdoor access. Breeding sows may also be kept in an individual pen without outdoor access during the mating period for up to 10 days.

Calves must be given outdoor access from 11 days old. If calves have permanent access to an outdoor run, they do not have to be taken to pasture. Calves must not be kept tethered.

From 1 May through to 31 October, organic farmers must provide their cattle, horses, sheep and goats with pasture access at least 26 times a month. This rule applies even if grass in May is not yet ready for grazing. In this case access to an outdoor yard may be substituted for pasture access.