Applicability: Equivalence to (EC) 834 /2007 References: 834.12 Applicable immediately
The EU Regulation on organic farming (EC) 834/2007 and its implementing regulation (EC) 889/2008 make clear that controlling pests, disease and weeds at farm level should primarily be achieved by cultural methods but that certain plant protection products may be used when these approaches prove insufficient. Relevant references are as follows:
834.12.1 g) the prevention of damage caused by pests, diseases and weeds shall rely primarily on the protection by natural enemies, the choice of species and varieties, crop rotation, cultivation techniques and thermal processes; h) in the case of an established threat to a crop, plant protection products may only be used if they have been authorised for use in organic production under Article 16;
889.5 1. Where plants cannot be adequately protected from pests and diseases by measures provided for in Article 12 (1)(a), (b), (c) and (g) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, only products referred to in Annex II to this Regulation may be used in organic production. Operators shall keep documentary evidence of the need to use the product.
Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 provides a limited list of permitted products that may be used in pest control which in some cases are further limited in their use. The header to the table of products makes reference to general legislation (applicable to conventional agriculture) as follows:
All the substances listed in this Annex have to comply at least with the conditions for use as specified in the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011. More restrictive conditions for use for organic production are specified in the second column of each table.
