(1)

It is necessary to define more precisely the time at which the conversion period is started in principle and to define the conditions which need to be satisfied in order to recognise retroactively a period before the start, as being part of the conversion period.

(2)

In exceptional circumstances, such as the outbreak of infectious diseases, accidental contaminations or natural phenomenons, the stockbreeders can afford difficulties in obtaining supply of feedingstuffs of organic origin and an authorisation has to be granted, on temporary basis and in a limited way, by the competent authority of the Member State, in view of the use of feedingstuffs not originating from organic farming.

(3)

Part A of Annex II, on fertilisers and soil conditioners, provides for the possibility of using composted household waste during a provisional period expiring on 31 March 2002 only. The use of composted household waste meets a real need in certain Member States, and this product is strictly regulated as regards the origin of the waste, the operation of the collection system, which must have been accepted by the Member State, and the maximum content of heavy metals, without prejudice to any other requirements for use of such product in general agriculture. These requirements may need to be reconsidered in the framework of new common legislation of household wastes. The current authorisation can therefore be prolonged for a limited period of four years.

(4)

Pyrethroids (deltamethrin and lambdacyhalothrin) are used in organic farming only in traps and their use thus meets the criteria of Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. The use of these substances has been shown to meet a real need in certain crops and should therefore be authorised for an indefinite period.

(5)

Germany has asked that ferric phosphate be included in Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 so that it can be used as a molluscicide in organic agriculture. Having examined this request, the conditions laid down in Article 7(1) of that Regulation have been found being satisfied. Moreover, ferric phosphate was recently evaluated for compliance with the criteria on human health and the environment under Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market ( 3 ), as last amended by Commission Directive 2002/18/EC ( 4 ). This product should accordingly be added to Annex II, Part B.

(6)

Metaldehyde is authorised for use as a molluscicide in organic farming for a period expiring on 31 March 2002. This period should be extended for a limited transitional period of 4 years which would permit to replace, in the Member States, metaldehyde as molluscicide by iron (III) orthophosphate.

(7)

The use of copper in the form of copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, (tribasic) copper sulphate and cuprous oxide and the use of mineral oils as fungicides are considered to be traditional organic farming practices in accordance with the provisions of Article 7(1a) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. It has appeared that these substances are, at this point of time, indispensable to the cultivation of various crops and that only by increased research efforts it will be possible to find on medium or long term appropriate alternative solutions. Therefore, these substances should be authorised for the time being. This authorisation will be reviewed in the light of new developments and evidence with regard to available alternatives.

(8)

The use of copper in the forms referred to above may have long-term consequences due to its accumulation in the soil, which appears incompatible with organic farming's objective of environmentally friendly farming. The conditions for using copper should therefore be restricted by fixing a ceiling on use expressed in terms of kilograms of copper per hectare per year. This ceiling should start at the level of 8 kg copper per ha, and should after a limited transitional period of four years be reduced to 6 kg copper per ha, unless it would be demonstrated that for certain crops such lower ceiling is not efficacious. Member States should have the possibility to apply this ceiling on an average basis over a period of five years. Member States making use of this possibility should report on the implementation of this measure and on the quantities effectively used, in view of a possible review of this regime where necessary.

(9)

Extension of the period of use of plant protection products by this Regulation is without prejudice to the decisions taken on the use of these products in agriculture in general as part of the review programme provided for in Article 8(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC. The Commission has presented to Council and Parliament the report provided in Article 8(2) for examination. The deadlines set in this regulation will be reviewed without delay if this is necessary in the light of the conclusions of the examination of the report.

(10)

Under Article 5 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 the labelling and advertising of a product may refer to organic production methods only where the product or its ingredients of agricultural origin have not been subjected to treatments involving the use of substances not listed in Section B of Annex VI. However, sodium hydroxide is listed in that Annex for use in the production of oil from rapeseed (Brassica spp.) during a period expiring on 31 March 2002 only. The use of this substance has been shown to meet a real need in the production of certain types of organic rapeseed oil used in foodstuffs. Therefore, the use of this product shall be authorised for an indefinite period.

(11)

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 207/93 ( 5 ), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2020/2000 ( 6 ) has defined the content of Annex VI to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 and established the implementation conditions of Article 5(4) of this Regulation. The Member States have asked for the inclusion in Annex VI, part C, of animal casings; after examination it has been established that the request for inclusion satisfies the requirements of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 and of Article 3(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 207/93.

(12)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,

‘1.1.

The principles laid down in Article 6(1)(a), (b) and (d) and set out in particular in this Annex must normally have been applied on the parcels during a conversion period of at least two years before sowing, or, in the case of grassland, at least two years before its exploitation as feedingstuff from organic farming, or, in the case of perennial crops other than grassland, at least three years before the first harvest of products as referred to in Article 1(1)(a). The conversion period shall commence at the earliest on the date on which the producer notified his activity in accordance with Article 8 and submitted his holding to the inspection system provided for in Article 9.

1.2.

However, the inspection authority or body may decide, in agreement with the competent authority, to recognise retroactively as being part of the conversion period any previous period in which:

1.3.

The inspection authority or body may, with the approval of the competent authority, decide, in certain cases, to extend the conversion period beyond the period laid down in paragraph 1.1 having regard to previous parcel use.

1.4.

In the case of parcels which have already been converted to or were in the process of conversion to organic farming, and which are treated with a product not listed in Annex II, the Member State may reduce the length of the conversion period to less than the period laid down in paragraph 1.1 in the following two cases:

In these cases the length of the conversion period shall be fixed taking into account all of the following points: