Non-organic animals and feed remain exceptions

Processing applications for the exceptional purchase of non-organic animals and feed is a constant task and challenge.

Processing applications for the exceptional purchase of non-organic animals and feed is a constant task and challenge. These applications often spark controversial debates among the parties involved. In principle, the initial situation is clearly regulated.

When approving these applications, the inspection and certification bodies are strictly bound by the requirements set out in the catalogue of criteria for granting exemption licences to producers. 

The correct processing of these applications is regularly monitored by the FOAG and the label organisations. This also ensures that the authorisations are issued in a compliant and consistent manner. 

In any case, the purchase of non-organic animals and feed should be an exception that proves the rule. As a business model, this strategy is not permissible and, therefore, not viable.

Feed reserves make us dream of higher livestock numbers

There is a clear tendency for bio.inspecta (inspection and certification body) to receive an increased number of applications for the purchase of non-organic animals in times of good feed harvests. 

The 2024 harvest year has been described as a good feed year in many areas due to regular rainfall. When feed stores are full, increasing livestock numbers on Swiss organic farms often becomes a key consideration. 

Employees at bio.inspecta are frequently told that the supply of organic animals is either unavailable or perceived as insufficient in both quantity and quality. Only a lack of organic animal supply allows us to authorise an application for the purchase of non-organic animals. 

This is the basic requirement, par excellence. Both the Organic Farming Ordinance and the guidelines of the label organisations make the principle "organic animals must be purchased on an organic farm" mandatory. It may be necessary to conduct a root-cause analysis, with a prominent panel, to investigate why, according to producers, the market for organic breeding animals is unsatisfactory. 

Requirements for an application to purchase non-organic animals

As mentioned earlier, the primary factor is the lack of organic breeding animals. If these are available, a licence cannot be issued.

The other conclusive criteria are listed in the catalogue of criteria for granting exemptions. This catalogue is an integral part of the organic regulations.

The purchase of breeding animals, up to a maximum of 40 percent of the adult animal stock, may be authorised if one of the following criteria is met:

• Significant increase of the livestock (by at least 20 per cent)
• Breed conversion
• Establishment of a new branch of animal husbandry
• Risk of a particular breed being lost to agriculture (ProSpecieRara breeds)

The purchase of young animals from niche breeds with very small populations can be authorised up to 10 percent of the stock.

The purchase of non-organic poultry cannot be authorised by the certification bodies. Such applications must be submitted to the label organisations. 

Hornlessness is not a criterion. This fact often leads to incomprehension among livestock owners when applications are rejected. These should not be taken personally.

The purchase of male breeding animals, hobby animals, replacement calves in suckler and nurse cow husbandry (notification to the certification body), as well as young animals of ProSpecieRara breeds, is not subject to authorisation. The latter may be purchased up to 10 percent (of the adult animal stock) after consultation with the certification body.

Based on the experience gained from its inspection activities, bio.inspecta advises farmers to consider building up feed reserves before increasing their livestock numbers.

If the feed reserves are not sufficient

Harvest years with insufficient fodder yields, which occur at increasingly shorter intervals due to changing climatic conditions, cause concerns and hardship on organic farms. As a logical consequence, applications for exceptional basic feed purchases are submitted to the certification bodies in such emergencies.

Only harvest losses can be authorised. A purely grassland farm, for instance, will not be authorised to purchase non-Swiss Bud silage maize. In principle, the purchase of feed from non-organic arable crops cannot be authorised. 

If Swiss Bud basic feed is available (Biomondo, Roughage Association, etc.) no applications can be approved. However, if such supply is unavailable, authorisation may be granted under the following criteria:

• Crop loss due to exceptional weather conditions (drought, wetness
• Crop loss due to force majeure (flooding, debris flow, etc.)
• Crop loss due to pest infestation
• Loss of inventories due to fire or another unforeseen event

The application must be accompanied by proof of non-availability of compliant feed from Biomondo, as well as confirmation of the emergency from the farm management.

Published on 7 February 2025 on www.bioaktuell.ch