CAN 032-0310-2008-eng (standards June2011)

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CAN/CGSB-32.310-2006Supersedes CAN/CGSB-32.310-99

Amended October 2008,December 2009 and June 2011

Organic Production SystemsGeneral Principles and ManagementStandards

ICS 67.040

National Standard o Canada


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The CANADIAN GENERAL STANDARDS BOARD (CGSB),under whose auspices this National Standard of Canada has beendeveloped is a government agency within Public Works andGovernment Services Canada. CGSB is engaged in the productionof voluntary standards in a wide range of subject areas through themedia of standards committees and the consensus process. Thestandards committees are composed of representatives of relevantinterests including producers, consumers and other users, retailers,governments, educational institutions, technical, professional andtrade societies, and research and testing organizations. Any givenstandard is developed on the consensus of views expressed bysuch representatives.

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NATIONAL STANDARD OF CANADA CAN/CGSB-32.310-2006

Supersedes CAN/CGSB-32.310-99


ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMSGENERAL PRINCIPLES AND MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

CETTE NORME NATIONALE DU CANADA EST DISPONIBLE EN VERSIONSFRANAISE ET ANGLAISE.

NATIONAL STANDARD OF CANADA CAN/CGSB-3.14-2006

Prepared by the Approved by the

Canadian General Standards Board Standards Council o Canada

Published September 2006 by theCanadian General Standards BoardGatineau, Canada K1A 1G6

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA,as represented by the Minister o Public Works and Government Services,

the Minister responsible or the Canadian General Standards Board (2006).

No part o this publication may be reproduced in any orm without the prior permission o the publisher.


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CANADIAN GENERAL STANDARDS BOARD

COMMITTEE ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

(Voting membership at date o approval)

ChairmanMonaghan, K. International Organic Inspectors Association

General Interest CategoryBeavers, R. Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network Bou ard, D.-P. Conseil des Appellations Agro-alimentaires du QubecDoermer, D. Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaEisen, R. British Columbias Organic Extension ServicesGibson, J. Organic Food Council o ManitobaGravel, F. Table Filire Biologique du QubecHammermeister, A. Organic Agriculture Centre o CanadaHenning, J. McGill UniversityNodge, G. Canadian Organic Certi cation Cooperative Ltd.Reimer, P. Manitoba Organic AllianceSnider, S. Going OrganicVoroney, P. University o GuelphZettel, T. Organic Council o Ontario

Producer CategoryBlackman, S. Canadian Produce Marketing AssociationBostock, M. Ecological Farmers Association o OntarioBouchard, G. La Fdration dagriculture biologique du QubecBuchler, H. British Columbia Wine Grape CouncilCrichton, J. Canadian Council Grocery DistributorsDuval, J. Bio-ActionEdwards, L. BC Organic Tree Fruit AssociationFalck, D. Small Scale Food Producers AssociationHolmes, M. Organic Trade Association in CanadaHui, B. Canadian Health Food AssociationLampron, P. Dairy Farmers o CanadaLowndes, J. Canadian Organic Livestock Association Inc.Macey, A. Canadian Organic GrowersMussar, K. IE CanadaNickel, R. Egg Farmers o CanadaPreater, R. Canadian Seed Growers AssociationSt-Onge, A. Fdration des producteurs acricoles du QubecTaylor, A. Saskatchewan Organic Directorate

Regulator CategoryAlexander, I. Health Canada, Veterinary DrugsCorrigan, E. Canadian Food Inspection AgencyHollinger, J. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural InitiativesScott, R. British Columbia Ministry o Agriculture and LandsTurgeon, N. Ministre de lAgriculture, des Pcheries et de

lAlimentation du Qubec (MAPAQ)User Category

Dcary-Gilardeau, F. Option ConsommateursDoherty, P. British Columbia Food Systems Network Hillard, J. Consumers Interest AllianceKehler, C. Canadian Herb, Spice and Natural Health Products CoalitionKneen, C. Food Secure CanadaLemire, L. Consumer Council o Canada

Secretaries (Non-members)Caron, A. and Schuessler, M. Canadian General Standards Board

Acknowledgment is made or the translation o this National Standard o Canada by the Translation Bureau o Public Works and Government Services Canada.

CAN/CGSB-32.310-2006

Amended October 2008, December 2009 and June 2011


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PREFACE

This National Standard o Canada, Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards , waspublished in September 2006 and amended in October 2008, and it includes Amendment No. 1 published in December 2009.This 2011 amended standard includes signi cant changes in content and, consequently, a list o revised paragraphs has not beenprovided.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION (In ormative) ............................................................................................................. iiiI. Description ................................................................................................................................................. iiiII. General Principles o Organic Production .............................................................................................. iii

III. Organic Practices ........................................................................................................................................iv

1. SCOPE ..........................................................................................................................................................1

2. REFERENCED PUBLICATIONS.............................................................................................................2

3. DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................... 2

4. ORGANIC PLAN ........................................................................................................................................7

5. CROP PRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 85.1 Land Requirements or Organic Crop Production ..................................................................................85.2 Environmental Factors ................................................................................................................................ 95.3 Seeds and Planting Stock ............................................................................................................................9

5.4 Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrient Management .........................................................................................95.5 Manure Management ................................................................................................................................105.6 Crop Pest, Disease and Weed Management ............................................................................................11

6. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION .................................................................................................................116.1 General .......................................................................................................................................................116.2 Origin o Livestock ....................................................................................................................................126.3 Transition to Organic ................................................................................................................................126.4 Livestock Feed ............................................................................................................................................136.5 Breeding ......................................................................................................................................................146.6 Transport and Handling ...........................................................................................................................146.7 Livestock Health Care ...............................................................................................................................146.8 Livestock Living Conditions .....................................................................................................................17

6.9 Manure Management ................................................................................................................................216.10 Pest Management .......................................................................................................................................21

7. SPECIFIC PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................217.1 Apiculture ...................................................................................................................................................217.2 Maple Products ..........................................................................................................................................247.3 Mushroom Production ..............................................................................................................................287.4 Sprout Production .....................................................................................................................................287.5 Greenhouse Crops Production .................................................................................................................297.6 Wild Crops .................................................................................................................................................30


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INTRODUCTION (In ormative)

I. Description

Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and tness o diverse communitieswithin the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal o organicproduction is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.

CAN/CGSB-32.310, Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards , describesthe principles and management standards o organic production systems.

CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists , provides lists o substances thatare allowed or use in organic production systems.

As in the case o all products sold in Canada, organic inputs, such as, but not limited to, ertilizers, eed supplements,pesticides, soil amendments, veterinary treatments, processing additives or aids, sanitizing and cleaning material;and products derived rom organic agriculture, such as, but not limited to, eed and ood should comply with allapplicable regulatory requirements.

II. General Principles o Organic Production

Organic production is based on principles that support healthy practices. These principles aim to increase thequality and the durability o the environment through speci c management and production methods. They also

ocus on ensuring the humane treatment o animals.

The general principles o organic production include the ollowing:

1. Protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biologicalproductivity and promote a sound state o health.

2. Maintain long-term soil ertility by optimizing conditions or biological activity within the soil.

3. Maintain biological diversity within the system.

4. Recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise.

5. Provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs o livestock.

6. Prepare organic products, emphasizing care ul processing, and handling methods in order to maintain theorganic integrity and vital qualities o the products at all stages o production.

7. Rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems.


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III. Organic Practices

Neither this standard 1 nor organic products in accordance with this standard represent speci c claims about thehealth, sa ety and nutrition o such organic products.

Management methods are care ully selected in order to restore and then sustain ecological stability within theenterprise and the surrounding environment. Soil ertility is maintained and enhanced by promoting optimalbiological activity within the soil and conservation o soil resources. Weeds, pests and diseases are managed usingbiological and mechanical control methods, and cultural practices, including minimized tillage. Crop selection androtation are important or managing nutrient cycling, recycling o plant and animal residues, water management,augmentation o bene cial insects to encourage a balanced predatorprey relationship, and the promotion o biological diversity, and ecologically based pest management.

Under a system o organic production, livestock are provided with living conditions and space allowancesappropriate to their behavioural requirements, and organically produced eed. These practices strive to minimizestress, promote good health and prevent disease.

Organic products are produced and processed under a system that strives to preserve the integrity o the principlesin this standard.

Organic practices and this standard cannot assure that organic products are entirely ree o residues o substancesprohibited by this standard and o other contaminants, since exposure to such compounds rom the atmosphere,soil, ground water and other sources may be beyond the control o the operator. The practices permitted by this

standard are designed to assure the least possible residues at the lowest possible levels.

In the development o the standard, it was recognized that di erences between Canadas agricultural regionsrequire varying practices to meet production needs.

This standard is intended or certi cation and regulation to prevent deceptive practices in the marketplace. Thecerti cation o a process, rather than a nal product, demands responsible action by all involved parties.

1 Re erences throughout this document to this standard re er to CAN/CGSB-32.310, Organic Production Systems GeneralPrinciples and Management Standards .


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1. SCOPE

1.1 Foods and other agricultural products shall re er to organic production methods only i they come rom aarm system employing management practices that seek to nurture ecosystems in order to achieve sustainable

productivity; and that provide weed, pest and disease control through enhancement o biodiversity, recycling o plant and animal residues, crop selection and rotation, water management, tillage and cultivation.

1.2 This standard applies to the ollowing products:

a. Unprocessed plants and plant products, livestock and livestock products, to the extent that the principles o production and speci c veri cation rules or them are described in the standard

b. Processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended or human consumption or use and derived romthe items mentioned in par. 1.2 a.

c. Livestock eed

d. Processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended or animal consumption or use and derived romthe items mentioned in par. 1.2 a.

1.3 Quantities and dimensions in this standard are given in metric units with yard/pound equivalents, mostly obtainedthrough so t conversion, given in parentheses. The metric units shall be regarded as o cial in the event o dispute

or un oreseen di culty arising rom the conversion.

1.4 Prohibited Substances, Methods or Ingredients in Organic Production and Handling

1.4.1 When producing or handling organic products, it is orbidden to use any o the ollowing substances ortechniques:

a. All materials and products produced rom genetic engineering as these are not compatible with the generalprinciples o organic production and there ore are not accepted under this standard, except or vaccinesonly that have been grown on genetically engineered substrates but are not themselves a product o geneticengineering, as speci ed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists

b. Synthetic pesticides (e.g. de oliants and desiccants, ungicides, insecticides and rodenticides), wood

preservatives (e.g. arsenate) or other pesticides, except as speci ed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic ProductionSystems Permitted Substances Lists

c. Fertilizer or composted plant and animal material that contains a substance prohibited by par. 1.4.1 (and notincluded in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists)

d. Sewage sludge, in any orm, as de ned in this standard, as a soil amendment

e. Synthetic growth regulators


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. Synthetic allopathic veterinary drugs, including antibiotics and parasiticides, except as speci ed in thisstandard

g. Synthetic processing substances, aids and ingredients, and ood additives and processing aids includingsulphates, nitrates and nitrites, except as speci ed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists

h. Ionizing radiation and orms o irradiation on products destined or ood or their inputs, as de ned in thisstandard, except as speci ed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances

Lists

i. Equipment, packaging materials and storage containers, or bins that contain a synthetic ungicide, preservativeor umigant

j. Substances that are not included in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists , except as provided by this standard

k. Cloned arm animals and their descendants. A producer shall know the lineage o any non-organic animalbrought under organic management.

l. Intentionally manu actured nano-technology products, or nano-processes involving intentional manipulationo matter at the nano scale to achieve new properties or unctions that are di erent than properties and

unctions o the materials at the macro scale, except naturally occurring nano sized particles, or thoseproduced incidentally through normal processes such as grinding four, or nano sized particles used in a waythat guarantees no trans erence to product.

1.4.2 The same ingredient in both an organic and non-organic orm shall not be present in an organic product.

2. REFERENCED PUBLICATIONS

2.1 The ollowing publications are re erenced in this standard:

2.1.1 Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)

CAN/CGSB-32.311 Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists.

2.1.2 Health Canada

Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870).

2.2 A dated re erence in this standard is to the issue speci ed. An undated re erence in this standard is to the latestissue. The sources are given in the Notes section.

3. DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

3.1 The ollowing de nitions and terms apply in this standard:

Aeroponics (Aroponie)A soil- ree cultivation method whereby plants are suspended with their roots partially or even totally exposed to

the air.

Agricultural Product (Produit agricole)An animal, a plant, an animal or a plant product, or a product, including any ood or drink wholly or partly derived

rom an animal or a plant.

Agro-ecosystem (Agrocosystme)A system consisting o the orm, unction, interaction and equilibrium o the biotic and abiotic elements presentwithin the environment o a given agricultural enterprise.


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Allopathic (Allopathique)Using allopathy.

Allopathy (Allopathie)A method o treating disease with substances that produce a reaction or e ects di erent rom those caused bythe disease itsel .

Annual Seedling (Semis annuel)A young plant grown rom seed that will complete its li e cycle or produce a yield and be able to be harvestedwithin the same crop year or season in which it was planted.

Antibiotic (Antibiotique)Various substances that contain any quantity o any chemical substance produced by a micro-organism, likepenicillin, and that are used to inhibit or destroy the growth o micro-organisms to prevent or treat disease.

Apiculture (Apiculture)The management and production o honeybees and queens and their products (e.g. honey, beeswax, pollen, royal

jelly, propolis and bee venom).

Biodegradable (Biodgradable)Capable o biological decomposition into simpler biochemical or chemical components.

Bu er Zone (Zone tampon)

A clearly de ned and identi able boundary area that separates an organic production unit rom adjacent non-organic areas.

Cloned Animals (Animaux clons)Identical animals resulting rom human manipulation o embryos and embryo trans er, using techniques such assomatic cell nuclear trans er, embryonic cell nuclear trans er or embryo splitting.

Commercially Available (Disponible sur le march)The documented ability to obtain a production input or an ingredient in an appropriate orm, quality, quantity orvariety in order to ul l an essential unction in an organic arming, preparation or handling system.

Commingling (Mlange)Physical contact between bulk, unbound or unpackaged organic products and non-organic products during

production, preparation, transportation, storage or handling.Compost (Compost)The product o a care ully managed aerobic process by which non-synthetic materials are digested by micro-organisms. Organic materials or compost shall be managed appropriately to reach temperatures or the durationnecessary to e ectively stabilize nutrients and kill human pathogens.

Compost Tea (Th de compost)A soil amendment solution created by steeping mature compost in order to promote bene cial bacterial growth.

Crop Rotation (Rotation des cultures)The practice o alternating crops grown on a speci c eld in a planned sequence in successive crop years so thatcrops o the same species or amily are not continuously grown on the same eld. Perennial cropping systemsemploy techniques such as alley cropping, intercropping and hedgerows to introduce biological diversity in lieuo crop rotation.

Perennial Crop (Culture vivace)Any crop, other than a biennial crop, that can be harvested rom the same planting or more than one crop yearor that requires at least one year a ter planting be ore harvest.


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Feed Additive (Additi pour alimentation animale)A substance added to eed in small quantities to ul l a speci c nutritional need (i.e. essential nutrients in the ormo amino acids, vitamins and minerals).

Feed Supplement (Supplment alimentaire)Supplement means a eed that is used with another eed to improve the nutritive balance o the total and that isintended to be

a. ed undiluted as a supplement to other eeds,

b. o ered ree choice with other parts o the ration separately available, or

c. urther diluted and mixed to produce a complete eed.

Note: In Canada, regulations require that the resulting eed must be acceptable or registration.

Fertilizer (Engrais)A single or blended substance composed o one or more recognized plant nutrient(s).

Food Additive (Additi alimentaire)Food additive has the same meaning as in Section B.01.001 o Part B o the Food and Drug Regulations .

Food Irradiation (Irradiation des aliments)A sanitation or preservative method or packaged or bulk oodstu s that controls insect in estation and that reducesmicrobial load by ionizing radiation rom Cobalt-60 or Cesium-137; or X-rays generated by a machine sourceoperated at or below an energy level o 5 MeV; or rom electrons generated by a machine source operated at orbelow an energy level o 10 MeV.

Forage (Fourrage)Vegetative material in resh, dried or ensiled state (pasture, hay or silage), which is ed to livestock.

Genetic Engineering (Gnie gntique)Re ers to techniques by which the genetic material o an organism is changed in a way that does not occurnaturally by multiplication and/or natural recombination. Examples o the techniques used in genetic engineeringinclude but are not limited to

recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques that use vector systems;

techniques involving the direct introduction into the organism o hereditary materials prepared outside theorganism;

cell usion (including protoplast usion) or hybridization techniques that overcome natural physiological,reproductive or recombination barriers, where the donor cells/protoplasts do not all within the same taxonomic

amily.

Unless the donor/recipient organism is derived rom any o the above techniques, examples o techniques notcovered by this de nition include

in vitro ertilization;

conjugation, transduction, trans ormation, or any other natural process;

polyploidy induction;

cell usion (including protoplast usion) or hybridization techniques where the donor cells/protoplasts are inthe same taxonomic amily.


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Handling (Manutention)Any operation or portion o operation that receives or otherwise acquires agricultural products or resale, including

nal retailers o agricultural products, who process and trans orm, repack or relabel such products.

Herbivore (Herbivore)An animal that eeds chiefy on plants.

Homeopathic (Homopathique)Using homeopathy.

Homeopathy (Homopathie)A treatment o disease based on the administration o minute doses o a substance that in massive amountsproduce symptoms in healthy animals similar to those o the disease itsel .

Hydroponics (Hydroponie)Cultivation o plants (fowers and vegetables) in aqueous nutrient solutions without the aid o soil. The soil isreplaced by an inert culture medium (e.g. coarse sands, expanded clay, rockwool). Plants are cultivated by using anutritive solution that is brought to each plant by taking into account the requirements o the species.

Ingredient (Ingrdient)Any substance, including a ood additive, used in the manu acture or preparation o a product. The substance ispresent in the nal product, possibly in a modi ed orm.

Input (Intrant)Substances that are used or directly applied to the organic production system: particularly ertilizers, eedsupplements, pesticides, soil amendments, veterinary treatments, processing additives or aids, sanitizing andcleaning materials.

Livestock (Animaux dlevage)Livestock means any domestic or domesticated animal including bovine (e.g. bu alo and bison), ovine, porcine,caprine, equine, poultry and bees raised or ood or in the production o ood. The products o hunting or shingo wild animals shall not be considered part o this de nition.

Manure (Djections animales)Livestock eces, urine and other excrement, and bedding used (or soiled) by livestock and that have not beencomposted.

Nanotechnology (Nanotechnologie)Nanotechnology is a eld described generally as the control and structuring o matter at dimensions typicallybetween 1 and 100 nm to create materials, devices and systems with undamentally new properties and unctions.Nanoscale chemical substances, or nanomaterials, behave di erently rom their macroscale counterparts, exhibitingdi erent mechanical, optical, magnetic and electronic properties.

Non-synthetic (Non synthtique)A substance derived rom mineral, plant or animal matter that does not undergo a synthetic process as de ned inaccordance with this standard.

Nutrient Management Plan (Plan de gestion des nutriments)A nutrient budgeting plan in which the timing and rate o nutrient application is based on soil nutrient status (soil

test results), crop nutrient needs, amendment (manure, compost, plow-down crop or other permitted substance),nutrient contents and expected nutrient release rates. The goal o a nutrient management plan is to minimizenutrient loss, protect water quality, maintain soil ertility and ensure e ective use o permitted soil amendments.

Operator (Exploitant)Any person, rm or organization that produces, prepares or imports, with a view to the subsequent marketing o products re erred to as organic.


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Organic Integrity (Intgrit biologique)The maintenance o the inherent organic qualities o a product rom the reception o ingredients through to the endconsumer, in accordance with this standard.

Organic Product (Produit biologique)Any commodity or output produced by a system con orming to this standard.

Organic Production (Production biologique)A method o agricultural production, including any subsequent preparation, storage and transportation, con ormingto this standard.

Parallel Production (Production parallle)The simultaneous production, preparation or handling o organic and non-organic (including transitional) crops,livestock and other organic products o the same or similar, visually indistinguishable varieties.

Pest (Organisme nuisible)An organism causing damage to humans or to resources used by humans, such as some viruses, bacteria, ungi,weeds, parasites, arthropods and rodents.

Pesticide (Pesticide)Any substance or mixture o substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pests or plants.

Planting Stock (Matriel de reproduction vgtale)

Any plant or plant tissue, other than annual seedlings but including rhizomes, shoots, lea or stem cuttings, rootsor tubers, bulbs or cloves, used in plant production or propagation.

Preparation (Prparation)Includes, in respect o an agricultural product, processing, slaughtering, storing, inspecting, grading, packing,assembling, pricing, marking and labelling.

Processing Aids (Auxiliaires de production)Substances that are added to a ood or a technological e ect during processing and that are not present in the

nished ood product or are present at insigni cant and non- unctional levels.

Production Unit (Unit de production)An identi able portion o an operation that produces, raises or prepares an organic product under a speci c

management plan.

Records (Registres)Any in ormation in written, visual or electronic orm that documents the activities undertaken by a producer or aperson engaged in the preparation o organic products, in accordance with this standard.

Sewage Sludge (Boues dpuration)A solid, liquid or semisolid material typically ormed as a precipitate rom wastewater treatment o liquid andsolid human domestic waste, among other compounds, which is accumulated predominantly in municipal orindustrial sewage treatment acilities, sewers and drains. Sewage sludge includes, but is not limited to, domesticseptage; scum or solids removed in primary, secondary or advanced wastewater treatment processes; or materialderived rom sewage sludge.

Soil (Sol)A mixture o minerals, organic matter and living organisms.

Split ProductionSplit Operation (Production ractionneExploitation ractionne)An operation that produces, prepares or handles organic and non-organic agricultural products (includingtransition).


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Synthetic Substance (Substance synthtique)A man-made substance ormulated or manu actured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically alterscompounds extracted rom plant, micro-organisms, and animal or mineral sources. This term does not apply tocompounds synthesized or produced by biological processes, including heat and mechanical processing.

Traceability (Traabilit)A documentation control procedure that can determine the origin, trans er o ownership, and transportation process(i.e. supply chain) o an organic product or a product containing organic ingredients.

Transition (Conversion)Set o steps taken by the operator o a non-organic production system to establish organic management practices,in accordance with this standard.

Transitional Period (Priode de conversion)The period o time between the start o an organic management program in a production unit and the attainmento organic status by a production unit, in accordance with this standard.

Transplant (Plant repiqu)A seedling that has been removed rom its original place o production, transported and replanted. Veterinary Biologic (Produit biologique vtrinaire)A helminth, protozoa or micro-organism; or a substance or mixture o substances derived rom animals, helminths,protozoa or micro-organisms; or a substance o synthetic origin that is manu actured, sold or represented oruse in restoring, correcting or modi ying unctions in animals or or use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigationor prevention o a disease, disorder, abnormal physical state, or the symptoms thereo , in animals. Veterinarybiologics include vaccines, bacterins, bacterin-toxoids, immunoglobulin products, diagnostic kits and anyveterinary biologic derived through biotechnology.

Veterinary Drug (Mdicament vtrinaire)Any substance or mixture o substances represented or use or administrated in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigationor prevention o disease, disorder, abnormal physical state or its symptoms in animals; restoring, correcting ormodi ying unctions in animals.

Wild Crop (Plante sauvage)Naturally growing plants in their natural habitat collected or harvested rom a site that is not maintained undercultivation or other agricultural management.

4. ORGANIC PLAN

4.1 The operator o an enterprise shall prepare an organic plan outlining the details o transition, production,preparation, handling and management practices, in accordance with this standard.

4.2 The organic plan shall be updated annually to address changes to the plan or management system, problemsencountered in executing the plan, and measures taken to overcome such problems.

4.3 The organic plan shall include a description o the internal record-keeping system, with documents su cient tomeet traceability requirements as speci ed in par. 4.4.1 and record-keeping requirements.

4.4 Record Keeping and Identifcation The operator seeking to comply with this standard shall maintain records

and relevant supporting documents concerning the inputs and details o their use, production, preparation, handlingand transport o organic crops, livestock and products. The operator is responsible or maintaining the organicintegrity o the product and shall ully record and disclose all activities and transactions in su cient detail as tobe readily understood, and to demonstrate compliance.

4.4.1 Records shall make it possible to trace

a. the origin, nature and quantities o organic products, as stated within this standard, that have been deliveredto the production unit;


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b. the nature, quantities and consignees o products, as stated within this standard, that have le t the productionunit;

c. any other in ormation, such as the origin, nature and quantities o ingredients, additives and manu acturingaids delivered to the unit, and the composition o processed products, or the purposes o proper veri cationo the operations in accordance with this standard.

4.4.2 Records shall be maintained or not less than ve years beyond their creation.

4.4.3 An identi cation system shall be provided or distinguishing organic and non-organic crops, livestock (e.g. general

appearance, colour, variety and types) and products.5. CROP PRODUCTION

5.1 Land Requirements or Organic Crop Production

5.1.1 This standard shall be ully applied on a production unit or at least 12 months be ore the rst harvest o products.Substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1 and substances not in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists , shall not have been used or at least 36 months be ore the harvest o any organiccrop.

Note: The Canadian Organic Products Regulations require operators to document that they have not used substances prohibited by this standard and substances not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic ProductionSystems Permitted Substances Lists . The Organic Products Regulations also require that, in the case o an initial application or an organic certifcation o feld crops , the application or certifcation must be fled 15 months be ore the day on which the product is expected to be marketed. During that period o time, complianceto (or with) this standard will be assessed by the certifcation body, and this assessment must at least include oneinspection o the production unit during production in the year be ore feld crops may be eligible or certifcationand one inspection during production in the year feld crops are eligible or certifcation.

5.1.2 The enterprise shall aim at a complete transition o its production. During the transition period, the enterprisecan maintain, in addition to the production in transition, a non-organic system o production (split operation) thatshall be entirely separate and identi ed separately, pending its incorporation into the overall transition process.The enterprise can be converted one unit at a time, and each converted unit shall respect the requirements o this standard. The exception to this norm, parallel production, is only allowed in the ollowing cases: perennialcrops (already planted), agricultural research acilities, production o seed, vegetative propagating materials andtransplants. The ollowing special conditions shall be observed or parallel production:

a. The operator shall clearly demonstrate that the identity o the crops so produced can be maintained duringtheir production, harvesting, storage, processing, packaging and marketing.

b. The operator shall maintain veri able, accurate records o both non-organic and organic produce and productstorage, transportation, processing and marketing.

Note: Parallel production crops both organic and non-organic must be inspected just prior to harvest and an audit o all parallel production crops must occur a ter harvest.

5.1.3 All production units shall have distinct, de ned boundaries.

5.1.4 When unintended contact with substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1 is possible, distinct bu er zones or other eaturessu cient to reasonably prevent contamination are required.

a. Bu er zones shall be at least 8 m wide.

b. Permanent hedgerows or plant windbreaks, arti cial windbreaks, permanent roads or other adequate physicalbarriers may be used instead o bu er zones.

5.1.5 Crops grown in bu er zones shall be considered non-organically grown products whether they are used on thearm or not.


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5.1.6 Production units shall not be alternated between organic and non-organic production methods.

5.2 Environmental Factors

5.2.1 Measures shall be taken to minimize the physical movement o substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1 rom neighbouringareas onto organic armland and crops. Similarly, measures shall be taken to minimize the contamination o landand crops with such substances.

5.2.2 The use o posts or wood treated with materials other than those in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic ProductionSystems Permitted Substances Lists , is prohibited.

a. Continued use and recycling o existing (prohibited) posts within the arm are allowed.

b. Acquisition o any additional material with these wood treatments is prohibited or new installations orreplacement purposes. Exceptions may be granted in vast rangeland and semi-arid regions, and will considerthe availability o alternate materials.

5.3 Seeds and Planting Stock

5.3.1 The operator shall use organic seed, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, annual seedlings, transplants and other propagulesproduced in accordance with this standard.

5.3.2 Exceptions or Conditions

5.3.2.1 A variety o non-organic untreated seed and planting stock or seed treated only with substances in accordance withthis standard may be used provided that the organically produced seed or planting stock variety

a. is not available rom the enterprise;

b. is not commercially available, and a reasonable search involving potential, known organic suppliers has beenconducted.

5.3.2.2 Non-organic perennial planting stock may be used provided that the organic products were harvested a ter suchplants have been maintained in accordance with this standard or at least one year. The land on which the stock isplanted shall meet the requirements in par. 5.1.1.

5.3.2.3 Plant varieties, seeds, seed inoculant, germ plasm, scions, rootstocks or other propagules developed through theuse o genetic engineering are prohibited, in accordance with par. 1.4.1.

5.4 Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrient Management

5.4.1 The main objective o the soil ertility and crop nutrient management program shall be to establish and maintaina ertile soil using practices that maintain or increase soil humus levels, that promote an optimum balance andsupply o nutrients, and that stimulate biological activity within the soil.

5.4.2 The ertility and biological activity o the soil shall be maintained or increased, where appropriate, by

a. crop rotations, which shall be as varied as possible and include plough-down, legumes, catch crops or deep-rooting plants;

b. incorporating plant and animal matter that can be obtained rom organic production in compliance with thisstandard and that include the ollowing:

i. Composted animal and plant matter

ii. Non-composted plant matter, speci cally legumes, plough-down crops or deep-rooting plants within theramework o an appropriate multiyear rotation plan


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iii. Non-processed animal manure, including liquid manure and slurry

iv. Animal manures that have been processed using physical (e.g. dehydration), biological or chemicaltreatment only with substances permitted by CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists . Techniques or processing animal manure shall minimize the loss o nutritionalelements.

5.4.3 The operator shall select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve the physical,chemical and biological condition o soil, that minimize damage to the structure and tilth o soil, and that minimize

soil erosion.5.4.4 The operator shall manage plant and livestock materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter content, crop

nutrients, and soil ertility in a manner that does not contribute to the contamination o crops, soil or water, byplant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals or residues o substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1.

5.4.5 Except as provided in par. 5.5.1, the organic matter produced on the enterprise shall be the basis o the nutrientcycling program and may be supplemented with o - arm organic and non-organic nutrient sources speci ed inCAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists .

5.4.6 The operator shall not use burning to dispose o crop residues produced on the operation, except that burning maybe used to suppress the spread o disease or to stimulate seed germination.

5.5 Manure Management

5.5.1 Manure Sources The operator shall rst use all available animal manure produced on the organic operation (on-arm) and then may use manure rom other organic operations (o - arm). When manure rom organic operations

is not available in su cient quantities, the operator may use manure rom non-organic arm operations providedthat

a. the non-organic operation is not a ully caged system where livestock are not able to turn 360;

b. livestock are not permanently kept in the dark;

c. the source o manure, type o livestock, evaluation o the criteria mentioned in par. 5.5.1 a. and b., andquantity shall be recorded.

Note: Organic operations should make it a priority to use manure obtained rom transition or extensive livestock operations and not originating rom landless livestock production operations or rom livestock operations usinggenetically modifed organisms (GMOs) and their derivatives in animal eeds.

5.5.2 Land Application o Manure

5.5.2.1 The essential elements o an organic manure application program shall address land area, rate o application, timeo application, soil incorporation and retention o nutrient components.

5.5.2.2 All soil amendments including liquid manure, slurries, compost tea, solid manure, raw manure, compost and otherapproved substances shall be applied to land in accordance with nutrient management planning principles.

Note: In Canada, some additional provincial requirements may also apply.

5.5.2.3 Where manure is applied, the soil shall be su ciently warm and moist to ensure active bio-oxidation.

5.5.2.4 In season, the timing, rate and method o manure application shall be designed to ensure that manure application

a. does not contribute to the contamination o crops by pathogenic bacteria;

b. minimizes the potential or run-o into ponds, rivers and streams;

c. does not signi cantly contribute to ground and sur ace water contamination.


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5.5.2.5 The non-composted solid or liquid manure shall be

a. incorporated into the soil at least 90 days be ore the harvesting o crops or human consumption that do notcome into contact with soil,

b. incorporated into the soil at least 120 days be ore the harvesting o crops having an edible part that is directlyin contact with the sur ace o the soil or with soil particles.

5.6 Crop Pest, Disease and Weed Management

5.6.1 Pest, disease and weed control shall be centred on organic management practices aimed at enhancing crop healthand reducing losses caused by weeds, disease and pests. Organic management practices include cultural practices(e.g. rotations, establishment o a balanced ecosystem, and use o resistant varieties) and mechanical techniques(e.g. sanitation measures, cultivation, traps, mulches and grazing).

5.6.2 When the organic management practices alone cannot prevent or control crop pests, disease or weeds, a biologicalor botanical substance, or other substances in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists , may be applied. However, the conditions or using the substance shall be documented in theorganic plan, in accordance with section 4.

5.6.3 Application equipment (e.g. spray equipment) used or soil nutrient supplements, disease or pest managementon the enterprise shall be cleaned thoroughly between applications to remove residues o applied substances. I products presenting a contamination risk have been previously applied with the equipment, equipment parts romwhich residue cannot be removed shall be replaced.

6. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

6.1 General

6.1.1 Livestock or organic production shall be raised according to this standard.

6.1.2 Livestock can make an important contribution to an organic arming system by

a. improving and maintaining the ertility o the soil,

b. managing the fora through grazing,

c. enhancing biodiversity and acilitating complementary interactions on the arm.

6.1.3 Livestock production is a land-related activity.

a. Herbivores shall have access to pasture during the grazing season and access to the open air at other timeswhenever weather conditions permit. Calculated on the basis o dry matter intake, the consumption o grazed

orage during the grazing season o the region shall represent a minimum o 30% o the total orage intakeduring this period or ruminants that have reached sexual maturity. On all arms a minimum o 0.13 ha(1/3 acre) per animal unit must be devoted to grazing. (One animal unit = one cow or one bull or two calves(each 225 to 500 kg) or ve calves (each less than 225 kg) or our ewes and their lambs or six does and theirkids).

b. All other animals, including poultry, shall have access to the outdoors whenever weather conditions permit.

c. See par. 6.8.2 and 6.8.7 or exceptions.

6.1.4 Livestock stocking rates shall recognize the di erences between Canadas agro-climatic regions and take intoconsideration eed production capacity, stock health, nutrient balance and environmental impact.

6.1.5 Organic livestock management shall aim to utilize natural breeding methods, minimize stress, prevent disease,progressively eliminate the use o chemical allopathic veterinary drugs (including antibiotics), and maintainanimal health and wel are.


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6.2 Origin o Livestock

6.2.1 The choice o breeds, strains and breeding methods shall be consistent with the principles o this standard and, inparticular, shall take into account

a. adaptation o livestock to local conditions,

b. vitality and resistance o livestock to disease,

c. absence o disease and health problems speci c to breeds or strains.

6.2.2 Livestock used or organic livestock products shall

a. be born or hatched on production units con orming to this standard;

b. have been the o spring o parents raised under the conditions speci ed in this standard;

c. be raised under this system throughout their li e;

d. exceptions to the requirements in par. 6.2.2 a., b. and c. are allowed or poultry and or herds or individualanimals that are being converted to organic production:

i. Poultry used or edible poultry products shall be poultry that have been under continuous organicmanagement, in accordance with this standard, beginning no later than the second day o li e; birds shallnot have been given medication other than vaccines.

ii. Animals used or milk production shall have been under continuous organic management, in accordancewith this standard, or at least one year.

iii. Animals used or meat shall have been under continuous organic management, in accordance with thisstandard, rom the beginning o the last third o the gestation period (o the dam).

6.2.3 Animals purchased or breeding shall be rom organic enterprises. By way o derogation, when it can be shownthat suitable organic breeding stock are not available, non-gestating breeder animals and breeding males may bebrought rom a non-organic operation onto an organic operation and integrated into the organic system. However,

the meat rom such animals shall not be organic. Livestock rom non-organic sources shall not be considered asorganic breeding stock outside the organic operation i raised according to this standard or less than 12 months.

6.2.4 All livestock or edible livestock products that are removed rom an organic enterprise and subsequently managedon a non-organic enterprise shall not be considered as organically produced, in accordance with this standard.

6.3 Transition to Organic

6.3.1 When an entire dairy herd is being converted to organic production, the operator shall,

a. in the rst nine months o the transition year, provide a minimum o 80% eed, calculated by dry matter, thatis either organic or raised rom land included in the organic system plan and that is managed in accordancewith organic crop requirements

b. in the nal three months o the transition year, provide only organic eed con orming to this standard.

6.3.2 The transition o the land intended or eed crops or pasture shall comply with par. 5.1.

6.3.3 During the nal year o transition, animal eed and pasture o the enterprise can be used as organic bythe production unit o the enterprise. The eed shall not be considered as organic outside o this unit.


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i. eed ormulas containing manure or other animal waste;

j. eed that contains synthetic colouring-agents.

6.4.5 Animals shall be provided with clean resh water on demand.

6.4.6 The orce eeding o ducks and geese is prohibited.

6.5 Breeding Breeding methods shall con orm to the principles o organic production in this standard. The operatorshall

a. select breeds and types o livestock that are suitable or site-speci c conditions within the local environmentand production system and that are resistant to prevalent diseases and parasites;

b. use natural methods o reproduction; however, arti cial insemination is permitted;

c. not use embryo trans er techniques or breeding techniques using genetic engineering or related technology;

d. not use reproductive hormones to trigger and synchronize estrus.

6.6 Transport and Handling

6.6.1 Livestock shall be managed responsibly with care and respect. Stress shall be minimized in all handlingpractices.

Note: In Canada, see also the Health o Animals Regulations under the Health o Animals Act (Canadian Food Inspection Agency).

6.6.2 The transport and slaughter o livestock shall be managed to minimize stress, injury and su ering. The use o electrical stimulation or allopathic tranquilizers is prohibited.

6.6.3 The animals shall have suitable shelter against inclement weather conditions (e.g. wind, rain, excessive heat andcold) during transportation and be ore slaughter.

6.6.4 E orts shall be made to transport animals directly rom the arm to their nal destination.

6.6.5 The duration o transportation shall be as short as possible.6.6.6 Animals too ill to be transported shall be suitably euthanized, without cruelty.

6.7 Livestock Health Care

6.7.1 The operator shall establish and maintain preventive livestock health care practices, including

a. the choice o appropriate breeds or strains o animals, as speci ed in par. 6.2.1;

b. the provision o a eed ration su cient to meet nutritional requirements, including vitamins, minerals, protein,atty acids, energy sources and bre (ruminants), in accordance with this standard;

c. the establishment o appropriate housing, pasture conditions, space allowance and sanitation practices, tominimize crowding and the occurrence and spread o diseases and parasites;

d. the provision o conditions that allow or exercise, reedom o movement, and a reduction in stress appropriateto the species;

e. the provision o prompt treatment or animals with detectable disease, lesions, lameness, injury and otherphysical ailments;


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. the administration o vaccines in accordance with this standard when it has been documented that the targeteddiseases are communicable to livestock on the enterprise and cannot be combatted by other means.

6.7.2 Physical alterations are prohibited except when absolutely necessary to improve the health, wel are or hygieneo animals, or or identi cation or sa ety reasons. Physical alterations shall be undertaken in a manner thatminimizes pain, stress and su ering, with consideration to the use o anaesthetics, sedatives and non-steroid anti-infammatory analgesics (e.g. ketopro en).

a. Beak trimming and de-toeing o birds, tail docking o pigs and trimming o needle teeth in piglets are onlyallowed when necessary to control problem behaviour that has a negative impact on the wel are o otheranimals. Operators shall document the measures taken to control or eliminate the behaviour.

b. Tail docking o cattle is prohibited except when necessary or veterinary treatment o injured animals.

c. The ollowing procedures are allowed under the conditions speci ed in par. 6.7.2:

i. Castration o piglets, lambs and calves

ii. Docking o lambs tails

iii. Branding and ear tagging

iv. Dehorning and debudding (use o anaesthetics or sedatives is required or dairy calves).

d. Castration o piglets shall take place in the rst two weeks o li e. Castration o cull boars is prohibited.

6.7.3 Where preventive practices and vaccines are inadequate to prevent sickness or injury and where disease and healthproblems require treatment, the use o biological, cultural, and physical treatments and practices is permitted, inaccordance with CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists .

6.7.4 Medical treatment or sick or injured livestock shall not be withheld to preserve their organic status. All appropriatemedications shall be used to restore livestock to health when methods acceptable to organic production ail.Shipping o diseased livestock to slaughter or human consumption is prohibited. Sick and medicated animalsshall be quarantined rom healthy livestock.

6.7.5 Products rom sick animals or those undergoing treatment with restricted substances shall not be organic or ed toorganic livestock.

6.7.6 The use o veterinary medicinal substances in organic production systems shall con orm to the ollowing:

a. I no alternative treatment or management practice exists, the use o veterinary biologics, including vaccines,the use o parasiticides or the therapeutic use o synthetic medications may be administered provided thatsuch medications are allowed, in accordance with this standard, or are required by law.

b. Phytotherapeutic (i.e. herbal or botanical substances excluding antibiotics), homeopathic or similar productsshall be used in pre erence to chemical allopathic veterinary drugs or antibiotics, provided that their therapeutice ect is e ective or the species and the condition or which the treatment is intended.

c. I the use o the products in par. 6.7.6 a. and b. is unlikely to be e ective in combatting illness or injury,chemical allopathic drugs (not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists ) may be administered under veterinary supervision. Some restrictions apply when meatanimals are treated (see par. 6.7.7, 6.7.8 e. and 6.7.9).

d. When veterinary drugs other than those with speci c requirements listed in this standard or CAN/CGSB-32.311,Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists , are used, a withholding period equivalent todouble the label requirement or 14 days, whichever is longer, shall be observed be ore the products romtreated livestock can be considered organic.


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e. Antibiotic treatment o dairy animals is permitted in emergencies under the ollowing conditions:

i. The operator shall have written instructions rom a veterinarian indicating the product and the treatmentmethod used.

ii. Such treatment shall result in a milk withdrawal time o at least 30 days or two times the speci cmedications withdrawal period, whichever is longer.

iii. Antibiotic use shall be documented in herd health records.

iv. Dairy animals shall undergo only two treatments (o combined parasiticides and antibiotics) per year.Dairy animals that require more than two treatments shall undergo a 12-month transition period.

v. Dairy animals with chronic conditions requiring repeated use o this practice shall be removed rom theherd.

6.7.7 Hormonal treatment shall only be used or therapeutic reasons and under veterinary supervision. The meat romanimals so treated shall not be organic meat unless the treatment is permitted by CAN/CGSB-32.311, OrganicProduction Systems Permitted Substances Lists.

6.7.8 The operator o an organic livestock operation shall not administer

a. veterinary drugs, other than vaccines, in the absence o illness, with the exception o anaesthetics andanalgesics used in permitted physical alterations;

b. synthetic compounds to stimulate or retard growth or production, including hormones or growthpromotion;

c. synthetic parasiticides to meat animals, except as provided in par. 6.7.9;

d. antibiotics to meat animals and birds or egg production;

e. chemical allopathic veterinary drugs (e.g. pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, hormones and steroids) or preventivetreatments.

6.7.9 Organic livestock operations shall have a comprehensive plan to minimize parasite problems in livestock.

a. The plan will include preventive measures such as pasture management and ecal monitoring, as well asemergency measures in the event o a parasite outbreak.

b. By way o derogation, when preventive measures ail (because o climatic conditions or other uncontrollableactors), the operator may use parasiticides not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems

Permitted Substances Lists , provided that

i. observation o the animal or ecal samples, as appropriate or the species, indicate the livestock is in ectedwith parasites;

ii. the operator has received written instructions rom a veterinarian indicating the product and method or

parasite control that shall be used;

iii. withdrawal times shall be twice the label requirement or 14 days whichever is longer;

iv. there shall be only one treatment or slaughter animals under a year old and a maximum o two treatmentsor older slaughter animals. Slaughter animals that require urther treatment will lose organic status;


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v. dairy animals requiring more than two treatments per year (o combined antibiotics and parasiticides)will lose organic status and shall go through a 12-month transition. These dairy animals shall never beorganic or slaughter purposes;

vi. under this derogation, a dam may be treated during gestation;

vii. treatment o a poultry fock is allowed. Laying hens requiring more than one treatment o parasiticidesper 12 month period will lose organic status;

viii. the operator shall provide a written action plan (including timing), describing how they will amend theirparasite control plan, to avoid similar emergencies.

6.7.10 Except as provided in par. 6.7.9, no breeding livestock or poultry treated with a parasiticide or veterinary drug (notlisted in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists ) shall be considered asan organic meat animal.

6.7.11 Injured, diseased or sick animals shall receive individual treatment designed to minimize pain and su ering,which may include euthanasia.

6.7.12 Forced moulting o poultry is prohibited.

6.8 Livestock Living Conditions

6.8.1 The operator o an organic livestock operation shall establish and maintain animal living-conditions thataccommodate the health and natural behaviour o all animals, including

a. access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, rotational pasture, exercise areas, resh air and natural daylight suitableto the species, its stage o production, the climate and the environment;

b. access to resh water and high-quality eed in accordance with the needs o the animal;

c. su cient space and reedom to lie down in ull lateral recumbency, stand up, stretch their limbs and turnreely, and express normal patterns o behaviour;

d. space allowances appropriate to local conditions, eed production capacity, livestock health, nutrient balanceo livestock and soils, and environmental impact;

e. production techniques that oster the long-term health o livestock, especially where animals are required toprovide a high level o production or rate o growth;

. air quality including moisture and dust content shall not prejudice the well-being o the herd/fock;

g. appropriate resting and bedding areas in accordance with the needs o the animal;

h. livestock housing with non-slip foors. The foor shall not be entirely o slatted or grid construction. Solidfooring is pre erred but where nonslip slatted foors exist, the foor design shall ensure that the oot o thesmallest animal cannot be caught in a void. Areas between the voids shall be at least the width o the ooto the animals. Buildings shall have areas or bedding and resting that are su ciently large, solidly built,

com ortable, clean and dry. They shall be covered with a thick layer o dry bedding that can absorb excrement.When a production unit is unable to source su cient organic bedding and a reasonable regional search hasbeen conducted, involving potential known organic suppliers, bedding material not produced rom geneticengineering and ree rom the application o substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1 or at least 60 days prior toharvest, may be used;

i. the management o runs and the grazing management o pasture shall be designed to avoid soil degradation,long term damage to vegetation or water contamination.


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6.8.2 The operator o an organic livestock operation may provide temporary con nement or livestock owing to

a. inclement weather;

b. conditions where the health, sa ety or well-being o the animal could be jeopardized given its stage o production;

c. risks relating to soil, water or plant quality.

6.8.3 Except or lactating cows, the continuous tethering o livestock is not permitted. When tie stalls are used in dairybarns in the winter season, cows shall be allowed a period o exercise each day, when possible, and at least twicea week.

6.8.4 Housing, pens, runs, equipment and utensils shall be properly cleaned and disin ected to prevent cross in ectionand build-up o disease-carrying organisms.

6.8.5 All livestock in a single production unit shall be reared in accordance with this standard. Individual animals withnon-organic status may be present in the production unit i they are clearly identi ed and managed in accordancewith this standard. Non-organic livestock production units may be present on a arm i clearly identi ed and keptseparate rom the organic livestock production.

6.8.6 Animals reared in accordance with the provisions o this standard may be grazed with other animals on commonland (i.e. crown range or community pasture), provided that 2

a. this land has not been treated with products other than those allowed in accordance with this standard or atleast three years,

b. health care and eed products available to organic livestock on common land shall be in accordance with thisstandard,

c. identi cation permits clear distinction between organically raised animals and non-organically raisedanimals.

6.8.7 Herbivores shall have access to pasture, during the grazing season, and to the open air or outdoor exercise area atother times weather permitting. Exceptions to the pasture requirement are allowed or

a. breeding males;

b. the nal nishing phase when cattle are con ned or nishing, there shall be at least 23 m 2 /animal;

c. young animals when their health and wel are are jeopardized.

6.8.8 Cattle The minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements or cattle are as ollows:

Indoor Space Outdoor Runs and Pens

Adultcows

6 m 2 /head 9 m 2 /head

Calves Incremental increase o 2.5 m 2 /head or young calves

to 5 m2

/head or growing (1-year old) steers andhei ers

5 m 2 /head to 9 m 2 /head, depending on the size o

animals

2 In addition to the requirements previously stated, the ollowing apply to specifc types o livestock.


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6.8.9 Sheep and Goats The minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements or sheep and goats are as ollows:


1.5 m 2 /head plus 0.35 m 2 /head or each additionallamb/kid

2.5 m 2 /head plus 0.5 m 2 /head or each additionallamb/kid

6.8.10 Housing o Dairy Calves

6.8.10.1 The housing o calves in individual pens and hutches is permitted provided the ollowing conditions are met:

a. Calves may be housed in individual pens until three months o age, providing that they are not tethered and haveenough room to turn around, lie down, stretch out when lying down, get up, rest and groom themselves.

b. Individual cal pens shall be designed and located so that each cal can see, smell and hear other calves.

c. Individual housing shall have an area o at least 2.5 m 2 and a minimum width o 1.5 m.

d. Only hutches with access to an enclosed yard or run are acceptable or outdoor use.

6.8.10.2 Calves shall be group-housed ollowing weaning.

6.8.10.3 As appropriate or the season, dairy replacement calves over nine months o age shall have access to pasture.

6.8.11 Poultry

Note: This paragraph is in addition to the standards that apply to all l ivestock in par. 6.1 to 6.8.

6.8.11.1 The operator o an organic poultry operation shall establish and maintain poultry living conditions that accommodatethe health and natural behaviour o poultry.

a. The keeping o poultry in row/battery cages is not permitted.

b. Poultry shall be reared in open-range conditions and have ree access to pasture, open-air runs, and otherexercise areas subject to the weather and ground conditions. Outside areas used or poultry shall

i. be covered with vegetation (seeded i necessary) and periodically le t empty to allow vegetation to re-grow and to prevent disease build-up. As a means o rodent control, a vegetation ree perimeter aroundpoultry houses is allowed;

ii. provide protection rom predators.

c. In emergency situations when outdoor access is considered to result in an imminent threat to the health andwel are o poultry, outdoor access may be restricted. When the imminent threat ends, outdoor access shallresume. Producers shall maintain records documenting periods o con nement.

d. Operators shall have an organic plan or their poultry operation that describes outdoor access and how theywill protect birds rom disease and predators.

e. Laying birds may be con ned during onset o lay (i.e. until peak production is reached).

6.8.11.2 Ducks and geese shall have access to a water area created or their use, when weather conditions permit. Facilitydesign shall address the need to prevent the co-mingling o wild water owl and domestic poultry.

6.8.11.3 Laying hens shall have access to an adequate number o nests according to recommended best managementpractices.


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6.8.11.4 Sur aces to perch shall be provided or all laying hens at not less than 18 cm/hen. Perch area can include raisedperches, nest rails and raised foors.

6.8.11.5 Birds shall have su cient exit areas to ensure that all birds have ready access to the outdoors. Exits shall allow thepassage o more than one bird at a time.

6.8.11.6 Litter shall be provided and maintained in a dry manner. Houses with slatted foors shall have 30% minimum o solid foor area with su cient litter available or dust baths, scratching and oraging.

6.8.11.7 Facilities shall permit poultry access to an adequate number o drinkers and eeders according to recommendedbest management practices.

6.8.11.8 Natural light shall be provided indoors or all poultry. I day length is arti cially prolonged, the total duration o light shall not exceed 16 hours and shall be terminated by gradual reduction o light intensity.

a. Exceptions may occur or certain stages o production (e.g. arrival o chicks, turkey poults). Producers shalldocument periods o increased and decreased lighting periods due to stage o production.

6.8.11.9 The maximum indoor and outdoor densities or poultry are as ollows:

Stocking Density Layers Broilers Turkeys/Large birds

Indoors 6 birds/m 2 21 kg/m 2 26 kg/m 2

Outdoor runs 4 birds/m2

21 kg/m2

* 17 kg/m2

* Taking into consideration the requirements o par. 6.8.1 i. and 6.8.11.1 b. i.

6.8.11.10 For pasture-based operations and mobile units, the stocking density shall be no more than 2000 layers per hectare(800 per acre), 2500 broilers per hectare (1000 per acre) or 1300 large birds (turkeys/geese) per hectare (540 peracre) calculated using the total amount o land available or rotation.

6.8.11.11 For poultry, buildings shall be emptied, cleaned and disin ected, and runs le t empty to allow the vegetation togrow back between focks.

6.8.12 Rabbits

6.8.12.1 The keeping o rabbits in cages is not permitted.

6.8.12.2 The minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements or rabbits are as ollows:


Young rabbits 0.3 m 2 /head 2 m 2 /head

Pregnant does 0.5 m 2 /head 2 m 2 /head

Does and o spring 0.7 m 2 o foor space/ doe and o spring 2 m 2 /head

Bucks 0.3 m 2 /head 2 m 2 /head

6.8.13 Pigs/Wild Boar ( arm-raised)

Note: This paragraph is in addition to the standards that apply to all l ivestock in par. 6.1 to 6.8.

6.8.13.1 The size o individual livestock operations shall respect a ratio o land-owned, leased or available or spreadingmanure o animals housed, based on a balance between animal units, eed production and manure management.Farrow to nish operators shall not exceed 2.5 sows/ha.

6.8.13.2 Pigs shall have access to outdoor exercise areas. Access to pasture is recommended but not mandatory. Outdoorareas or pigs may also include woodlands or other natural environments, in which case the same guidelinesregarding pasture management shall apply, i.e. management systems shall be designed to avoid soil degradation,long-term damage to the vegetation or water contamination.


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6.8.13.3 Sows shall be kept in groups, except in the last stages o pregnancy and during the suckling period. Managementsystems shall be designed to avoid restraining sows. Restraint is allowed or a maximum o 5 days when needed

or piglet protection. Individual pens are allowed or the protection o emales during estrus or a period o up to5 days or or other health reasons.

6.8.13.4 Piglets shall not be weaned be ore 4 weeks o age. Earlier weaning is allowed i the wel are o the sow and pigletsis compromised.

6.8.13.5 Piglets shall not be kept on fat decks or in piglet cages.

6.8.13.6 Boars may be housed in individual enclosures i there is visual and tactile contact with other pigs.

6.8.13.7 Indoor and outdoor exercise areas shall permit rooting by the animals.

6.8.13.8 The use o nose rings is prohibited.

6.8.13.9 The minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements or sows and piglets are as ollows:

Indoor Space Outdoor Runs and PensSows and piglets (up to 40 days old) 7.5 m 2 or each sow and litter Not required

6.9 Manure Management

6.9.1 Manure management practices used to maintain areas in which livestock are housed, penned or pastured shall beimplemented in a manner that minimizes soil and water degradation.

6.9.2 All manure storage and handling acilities, including composting acilities, shall be designed, constructed andoperated to prevent contamination o ground and sur ace water.

6.10 Pest Management Pest management shall involve in descending order o pre erence

a. preventive methods;

b. mechanical, physical and biological control methods;

c. the use o pesticides included in CAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances

Lists.

7. SPECIFIC PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS

7.1 Apiculture

7.1.1 An operator may introduce and manage bees on the enterprise or production bene ts, such as the pollination o organic crops. I managed as a livestock species yielding organic apiculture products (e.g. honey, pollen, propolis,royal jelly, beeswax and bee venom), the operator shall manage bees in accordance with this standard.

7.1.2 The treatment and management o colonies shall respect the principles o organic production.

7.1.3 The sources o nectar, honeydew and pollen shall consist mainly o organically produced plants and spontaneous(wild) vegetation.

7.1.4 The management o bee health shall be based on appropriate measures such as selection o stock with disease-resistant traits, availability o suitable orage, and good apiary management practices.

7.1.5 When bees are placed in wild areas, consideration shall be given to the indigenous insect population.

7.1.6 An operator o an organic apicultural enterprise shall prepare an organic plan providing a detailed description o the sources o bees and production methods. The plan shall include a description o colony management or diet,disease, pests, breeding and related problems with production, in accordance with this standard. The operator shallalso outline the details o crop management practices, where applicable.


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7.1.7 Transition

7.1.7.1 Products rom an organic apiculture operation in accordance with this standard shall be rom colonies that havebeen under continuous organic management or not less than one year. During this period all non-organic waxshall be replaced by organically produced wax.

7.1.7.2 When no substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1, and no substances not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, OrganicProduction Systems Permitted Substances Lists , are used in the hive the year be ore the colonies are undercontinuous organic management, the replacement o wax is not necessary. However all products, such as wax, thatare produced be ore the colonies are under continuous organic management, shall be considered non-organic.

7.1.7.3 Colonies and hives shall not be rotated between organic and non-organic management systems, except or coloniesthat have undergone a one-year transition a ter isolation and antibiotic treatment as described in par. 7.1.14.7.

7.1.8 Introduced Bees The term introduced bees re ers to replacement bees or established organic colonies introduced bees are not established colonies. Introduced bees shall come rom organic production units whencommercially available. However, replacement bees (e.g. package bees or nucleus colonies) may be rom organicsources or rom non-organic sources provided that replacement bees are managed in accordance with this standard

or at least 60 days be ore the removal o organic apiculture products rom the hive.

7.1.9 Location o Hives Apiaries shall be separated by a bu er zone o 3000 m where sources or zones o substances prohibited by par. 1.4.1, or fower-bearing agricultural crops treated with substances not listed inCAN/CGSB-32.311, Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances Lists (i.e. genetic engineering or

environmental contaminants), are present.

7.1.10 Forage and Feeding

7.1.10.1 The operator shall provide bees with adequate orage and water that are managed in accordance with thisstandard.

7.1.10.2 Owing to the long distances that oraging bees may travel, it is not possible to limit oraging activities to organicforal sources. While placement o colonies on an organic enterprise, in accordance with this standard, is pre erable,hives may be located in other oraging sites, provided the operator can demonstrate that the area surrounding the

oraging site is not treated or exposed to substances not in accordance with this standard.

7.1.10.3 Organic honey and pollen shall be the major oodstu or adult bees, and maintained in adequate supplies in

the colony, including leaving colonies, with reserves o honey and pollen su cient or the colony to survive thedormancy period.

a. The eeding o colonies can be undertaken to overcome temporary eed shortages owing to climatic or otherexceptional circumstances. Feeding shall be carried out only between the last honey harvest and 15 daysbe ore the start o the next nectar or honeydew fow-period.

b. In such cases, organically produced honey or sugars shall be used. Non-organic re ned sugars may be usedwhen the health o the colony cannot be maintained with the use o organically produced honey or sugars.

7.1.10.4 Organically and non-organically produced honey or sugars shall not be provided less than 30 days be ore theharvest o honey.

7.1.11 Colony Management7.1.11.1 Hives shall be individually identi able (marked) and shall be monitored regularly (i.e. at one- to two-week

intervals, depending u

CAN 032-0310-2008-eng (standards June2011)

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Transcript of CAN 032-0310-2008-eng (standards June2011)