Organic farming standards

To be accepted by the public and the operators, the implementation of the EEC regulation should be in clear accordance with the four principal objectives of this regulation protection of the consumer, fair competition, transparency in the marketplace and encouragement of organic farming. Standards for organic production must be simple and transparent. While the call for simplicity becomes more and more popular, authorities must still be convinced that this is the best approach. Member states should learn to accept that interpretation... 

Water is an important factor in the nutrition of poultry and should be provided in sufficient amounts and quality. As a medium for vaccines, medications and other supplements, water also plays an important role. Although hens are able to drink from nipples without any problems, they prefer to drink from open water surfaces, as this matches their normal drinking behaviour. In some organic farming standards/regimes, the use of nipples is forbidden. However, open water surfaces may pose hygiene risks, as the water often becomes polluted. 

Owing to the prohibition of chemosynthetic pesticides under organic farming standards, there is a greatly reduced availability of intervention/treatment-based methods for disease and pest control in organic fruit production systems. The efficacy of the permitted biological control, extract or mineral element (e.g. S and Cu)-based crop protection products is also usually lower than of chemosynthetic pesticides. Permitted plant protection products show efficacies of between 60 and 80% while chemosynthetic fungicides and pesticides often have efficacy levels >95% (Tamm et al., 2004). 

It is important to keep in mind that organic farming standards use two methods to achieve the desired environmental results ... 

Organic farming standards already set a narrow range for nutrient input by restricting mineral and organic fertiliser and feedstuff input. The consumption of limited resources is comparably low. 

Organic farming standards often stipulate the use of alternative products or the avoidance of a specific prohibited material. Some substanees prohibited for organic farming, such as OP-dips, dietary supplements of eopper and zine and avermectins, for example, have an impaet on the environment. 

On the other hand, the assumption that substances permitted as natural pesticides by the organic farming standards are harmless to non-target animals and humans still has to be proven. An urgent call for further investigation exists as recent studies of Neem (Azadirachta indicd) extracts, for example, demonstrated their harmful potential by affecting abortion pregnancy of rats, baboons and monkeys (Talwar et al. 1997). 

Crushed fruit is mixed with organic sugar or honey that complies with organic farming standards, without heating. Approximately equal amounts of fruit and sugar are used. The target values for dry matter content are applicable here also. 

Livestock production sheep farming, extensive production, production periods, animal feeding, health How to improve organic farming standards to meet consumer requirements ... 

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