A. Plants and plant products

1. The principles set out in this Annex should have been applied on the parcels, form or farm units during a conversion period of at least two years before sowing, or in the case of perennial crops other than grassland, at least three (3) years before the first harvest of products as referred to in paragraph 1 l(a) of these guidelines. The competent authority, or where delegated, the official or officially recognized certification body or authority may decide in certain cases (such as idle use for two years or more) to extend or reduce that period in the light of previous parcel use but the period must equal or exceed 12 months, unless in individual cases the inspection body has adequate justification to reduce further this period.

2. Whatever the length of the conversion period it may only begin once a production unit has been placed under an inspection system as required by 6.2 and once the unit has started the implementation of the production rules referred to in Section 4 of these Guidelines.

3. In cases where a whole farm is not converted at one time, it may be done progressively whereby these guidelines are applied from the start of conversion on the relevant fields. Conversion from conventional to organic production should be effected using permitted techniques as defined in these guidelines. In cases where a whole farm is not converted at the same time, the holding must be split into units as referred to in Annex 3, part A, paragraphs 3 and 11.

4. Areas in conversion as well as areas converted to organic production must not be alternated (switched back and forth) between organic and conventional production methods.

5. In cases where a whole farm is not converted at the same time, the holding must be split into units as referred to in Annex 3, part A, paragraphs 3 and 11.

6.5. The fertility and biological activity of the soil should be maintained or increased, where appropriate, by:

• (a) cultivation of legumes, green manures or deep-rooting plants in an appropriate multi-annual rotation programme;
• (b) incorporation in the soil of organic material, composted or not, from holdings producing in accordance with these guidelines. By-products from livestock farming, such as farmyard manure, may be used if they come from livestock holdings producing in accordance with these guidelines;

Substances, as specified in Annex 2, Table 1 may be applied only to the extent that adequate nutrition of the crop or soil conditioning are not possible by the methods set out in 6 5 (a) and above or, in the case of manures, they are not available from organic farming

(c) for compost activation, appropriate micro-organisms or plant-based preparations may be used;

(d) biodynamic preparations from stone meal, farmyard manure or plants may also be used for the purpose covered by paragraph 6 5.

8.7.Only in cases of imminent or serious threat to the crop and where the measures identified in 6. (above) are, or would not be effective, recourse may be had to products referred to in Annex 2.

9.8. Seeds and vegetative reproductive material should be from plants grown in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1 of these guidelines for at least one generation or, in the case of perennial crops, two growing seasons. Where an operator can demonstrate to the official or officially recognized certification body or authority that material satisfying the above requirements is not available, the certification body or authority may support:

• (a) in the first instance, use of untreated seeds or vegetative reproductive material, or
• (b) if (a) is not available, use of seeds and vegetative reproductive material treated with substances other than those induded in Annex 2.

The compenent authority may establish criteria to limit the application of the derogation in 8 above

10. 9. The collection of edible plants and parts thereof, growing naturally in natural areas, forests and agricultural areas, is considered an organic production method provided that:

• the products are from a clearly defined collection area that is subject to the inspection/certification measures set out in Section 6 of these guidelines;
• those areas have received no treatments with products other than those referred to in Annex 2 for a period of three years before the collection;
• the collection does not disturb the stability of the natural habitat or the maintenance of the species in the collection area;
• the products are from an operator managing the harvesting or gathering of the products, who is clearly identified and familiar with the collection area.

Pest management

2.1. For pest management and control the following measures, in order of preference, should be used:

• (a) Preventative methods, such as disruption and elimination of habitat and access to facilities by pest organisms, should be the primary methodology of pest management;
• (b) If preventative methods are inadequate, the first choice for pest control should be mechanical, physical and biological methods;
• (c) If mechanica/physical and biological methods are inadequate for pest control, pesticidal substances appearing in Annex 2 table 2 (or other substances allowed for use by a competent authority in accordance with section 5.2) may be used provided that they are accepted for use in handling, storage, transportation or processing facilities by the competent authority and so that contact with organic products is prevented

3. Pests should be avoided by good manufacturing practice. Pest control measures within storage areas or transport containers may include physical barriers or other treatments such as sound, ultra-sound, light, ultra-violet light, traps (pheromone traps and static bait traps) controlled temperature, controlled atmosphere, (carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen) and diatomaceous earth. listed in Annex 2, Table 4.

4. 11.(6.) Use of pesticides not listed in Annex 2 for post harvest or quarantine purposes should not be permitted on products prepared in accordance with these guidelines and would cause organically produced foods to lose their organic status. Irradiation is not permitted as a pest control measure under the organic system.

2. Ionizing radiation should not be used on organic products for the purpose of pest control or sanitation.

Processing and manufacturing

5. Processing methods should be mechanical, physical or biological (such as fermentation and smoking) and avoid minimise the use of non-agricultural ingredients and incidental additives as listed in Annex 2, Tables 3 & 4.

• Processing methods should be chosen that retain as much of the nutrient content of the raw agricultural product as possible;
• A processing aid or other incidental additive listed in Annex 2, Table 6 (or other processing aid or incidental additive allowed for use by a competent authority in accordance with section 5.2) should be used only when required, in accordance with good manifacturing practice, for the safe handling of the product or when the composition, consistency and appearance of the product cannot be obtained without such use;
• When a processing aid or other incidental additive is used, a natural substance is preferred;
• Genetically modified organisms, alive or killed, shall not be used in the processing of organic products;
• Not volatile synthetic solvent should be used to extract an "organic" product.

Packaging

6. When choosing packaging materials for organic agriculture products the following guidelines should be adhered to:

• (a) Packaging materials should contain no prohibited substances that could comprise the status of the organic product; and
• (b) Packaging materials should preferably be chosen from that are bio-degradable, recycled or recyclable sources.

Storage and transport

2.7. Product integrity should be maintained during any storage and transportation and handling by use of the following precautions:

• (a) Organic products must be protected at all times from co-mingling with non-organic products; and
• (b) Organic products must be protected at all times from contact with materials and substances prohibited not permitted  for use in organic farming and handling.

8 (1) Where only part of the unit is certified, other product not covered by these guidelines should be stored and handled separately and both types of products should be clearly identified.

9 (2) Bulk stores for organic product should be separate from conventional product stores and clearly labelled to that effect.

10.(3) Storage areas and transport containers for organic product should be cleaned using methods and materials permitted in organic production. Measures should be taken to prevent possible contamination from any pesticide or other treatment not listed in Annex 2 before using a storage area or container that is not dedicated solely to organic products.