Questions and Answers

Can I graze the livestock from my Bud farm on non-organic alpine pasture?

Grazing of livestock on non-organic alpine pasture is permitted provided the conditions of the Ordinance on contributions for high-altitude summer pastures are met. The products may not be labelled organic. The livestock does not loose its organic status.

See the Bio Suisse Instruction on "Absence of stock from the home farm"

Can I import manure from an ÖLN holding (holding with "environmental performance record") onto my Bud farm?

Do I have to enter into an inter-farm waste movement contract?
Manure may only be imported onto Bud farms from label holdings (e.g. IP-Suisse, QM-Schweizerfleisch, Coop Naturafarm, SEG-Poulets). Where more manure than the equivalent of 1 LU per holding is imported annually, an approved inter-farm waste movement contract must be on file.

See the Bio Suisse Instructions on "Nutrient supply" and the Bio Suisse implementing regulations on "Importing and exporting farmyard manure"

I want to keep a few more laying hens. However, as my nutrient balance is already close to the limit a colleague recommended the use of NPr feed. Am I allowed to feed this?

Organic NPr feed may be used on an organic holding. Such feed does not contain phytase, but in turn has a higher nutrient content than non-organic NPr feed. A feeding plan and an agreement with the feed supplier must be on file. These must be approved by the cantonal implementing authority so that the lower P205 content can be taken into account in the Suisse-Bilanz (nutrient balance). NPr is more expensive.

See DZV (Swiss Ordinance on Direct Payments) Art. 6 and Appendix 1

I would like to feed the cows on my holding with non-organic maize silage. Is this permitted?

No. Since January 1, 2008 only organic feeds may be used. The only exceptions are the following food industry by-products which may be used up to 5% of the ration until March 31, 2009:
- sugar beet pulp
- molasses from sugar production
- fruit syrup
- waste from fruit and vegetable processing
- brewer's grains, malt culms
- potato protein
- maize gluten
- brewer's yeast
- unprocessed potatoes from food production

See BioV (Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance) Art. 39

Question: Will I be allowed to let my cows graze on my neighbour's non-organic pasture in the autumn?

 

Answer: Yes, cattle may temporarily graze on non-organic agricultural land, provided that at most spot treatment of weeds has been carried out. On a Bud farm (Knospe-Betrieb), the proportion of non-organic pasturage must not exceed 5% (= 18 days/head) of the total annual feed consumption. For holdings managed on the basis of the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance the figure is max. 10% (=36 days/head).
See Bio Suisse Standards Annex 5

Ab 2010 werden keine Ausnahmebewilligungen für konventionelle Zuckerrübenschnitzel mehr erteilt. Ausnahmen sind nur noch möglich bei Ernteausfällen (z.B. Trockenheit/Nässe oder Schädlingsbefall).

For my Bud cattle I would like to import hay from an organic holding in Italy. Is this permitted?

Yes, it is permitted. However, ruminants must be fed 90% Bud feed overall. You may also use the following feeds, provided they have been certified to the standard of the EU Organic Regulation:
- linseed
- dextrose
- wheat protein for calf meal
- straw for feeding
- tillage crops incl. whole plants of cereal crops (incl. maize), fresh, ensiled, dried
- fodder beet, unprocessed
- feed from permanent grassland or ley, fresh or preserved (only from directly neighbouring countries)

See the decision by the Bio Suisse Assembly of Delegates of 23.4.08

Question: Clearly the tightening of the organic standards in relation to feeds (100% organic) will have repercussions for formulations of feeds approved by Bio Suisse as Bud auxiliary inputs. As a farmer, what do I have to look out for when feeding feeds approved as Bud auxiliary inputs?

 

Answer: Feeds approved as Bud auxiliary inputs can be used until their use-by date. Feed formulation with regard to non-organic components is controlled at the level of the feed mill.

Answer: As of 1 March 2005, hemp may no longer be fed to livestock.

Which enterprises can I get certified to AB standards?

This year, bio.inspecta inspects and certifies plant production and the production of bovines. However, we also welcome requests regarding other enterprises and will try to offer a solution.

Moreover, processors and products are inspected and certified by our Processing and Trade Division.

Which raw materials may I use when I process my products? Do the ingredients have to be certified to the standard of the EU Organic Regulation?

The raw materials must, as a minimum, be certified to the standard of the EU Organic Regulation. However, in the case of dairy products (e.g. yoghurt, cheese) the milk used for these must additionally be certified by AB France.

See Cahier des charges mode de production biologique des animaux et produits animaux

Am I allowed to castrate calves produced under the Bio Weide-Beef label?

Castration must be carried out by the vet; rubber rings may be used under local anaesthetics.

See the requirements for cattle fatteners in the Bio Weide-Beef scheme, Section 8

Can I move an animal to another holding for summering and market it under the Bio Weide-Beef label afterwards?

Summering on organic alpine pasture is allowed if the animal returns to a Bio Weide-Beef holding for six months afterwards prior to being marketed.

See the requirements for cattle fatteners in the Bio Weide-Beef scheme, Section 5

Can I buy in a calf and later market it under the Bio Weide-Beef label?

Drinking calves and replacements can be bought in from a Bud farm or a Bud in-conversion farm. Prior to slaughter, each animal must have lived on a Bud farm or a second year Bud in-conversion farm for at least 12 months and of these, the last 6 months must have been spent on a Bio Weide-Beef holding.

See the requirements for cattle fatteners in the Bio Weide-Beef scheme, Section 5

Does the blue-tongue vaccination impact on my status as an NOP producer?

Due to production processes, vaccines may contain traces of anti-microbial substances. However, the NOP Standards, as others, do not consider vaccines as constituting antibiotic treatments. Therefore, blue-tongue vaccination does not impact on the NOP status.

See NOP Federal Regulation Par. 205.603

I wish to take on lands from a non-organic farmer. Some of these lands he had notified to the Swiss Confederation as extensively managed. Is this sufficient for the Field history?

The fact that the lands had been notified as extensively managed lands does not suffice for the Field history. There is a possibility that spot treatments were carried out. You need to enter "no inputs" into the Field history and obtain a written and signed confirmation from the manager of the non-organic holding that during the past 3 years no inputs were used that were not in compliance with NOP standards. Only then can such lands be entered into the NOP farm plan and the resultant feed fed as NOP.

See NOP Federal Regulations Par. 205.601, Par205.602, FiBL list of approved substances NOP

According to the checklist, feeding of fish oil, fish meal and crustaceans is not permitted. Can I give my cattle Walser-Tran?

 

Since May 2008 the feeding of Walser-Tran is permitted under Soil Association Standards.

 

The carbon copy of the assessment report for the holding is considered a certificate of inspection. Please keep it on file. The certification decision will be notified directly to the milk purchaser and to the Soil Association Certification Limited.

In order for an animal to be slaughtered and marketed under the QM-Schweizer Fleisch label it must have spent at least half of its life in Switzerland or must have reached at least half of its slaughter weight in Switzerland.

See the production standards of QM Schweizer Fleisch

I would like to buy some Walliser Schwarzhalsziegen goats but can't find organic stock. How should I proceed?

As a rule, livestock must come from certified organic holdings. An application may be made for a derogation to buy in an increased number of non-organic animals not exceeding 40% of the planned stock. In order for a derogation to be granted, one or more of the following criteria must be met:
- Enlargement of herd/flock by at least 20%
- Change of breed
- Addition of a new livestock enterprise
- High mortality due to a disease or disaster situation
- Risk that a particular breed will be lost to farming ( = Pro Specie Rara breed)
A derogation application must always be made prior to purchasing stock.

 

See BioV (Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance) Art. 16 and Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.3.10

 

In accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS) the animals must be able to consume a substantial part of their feed, i.e. about 25% of their daily feed intake, out on pasture. The following overview provides estimates of the area of pasture land required for the different livestock categories. You must have these areas available for your livestock!

 

Cattle, water buffalo, sheep and goats

Zone	Minimum area of pasture
Valley and hill zone	8 a / LU
Mountain zones I-IV	11 a / LU

 

Example 1) Dairy herd, 25 animals (= 25LU) in the mountain zone: 275 ares
Example 2) Sheep flock, 17 sheep (= 17*0.17 LU) in the hill zone: 23.12 ares
Example 3) 40 dairy goats (=40*0.2 LU) in the mountain zone: 88 ares

 

 

Horses
8 ares per horse, if more than five equines are kept the area may be reduced by 20%.
Example 1) 1 horse and a donkey 16 ares
Example 2) 5 horses and a pony 38.4 ares (=6*8 ares*0.8)

 

Using your holding's data you can use this Excel sheet to do exact calculations which will show you whether your holding has enough pasture land available for your livestock throughout the year to meet the requirements of the RAUS Ordinance.

 

1 are (a) = 100 m²

LU = Livestock Unit

 

Calculation for your holding

 

 

Answer: As of 1 March 2005, hemp may no longer be fed to livestock. As litter is also frequently eaten, hemp may therefore no longer be used as litter either.

I am a farmer and beekeeper. Now I want to convert my farm to organic under Bio Suisse Standards. Does my apiary also need to be inspected?

The whole farm approach also applies to bees and hence these will also need to be inspected. There is a simplified inspection process for hobby beekeepers with less than 10 hives. However, the provisions regarding feeding and management also apply in this case. Honey produced in such hobby apiaries may not be sold as organic or labelled as coming from a Bud apiary.

 

The beekeeping operation may also be outsourced. It is possible to lease it out to a person not involved in farm management. In such cases the apiary is not subject to obligatory inspection and certification. You can find the lease agreement here.

As a Bio Suisse holding, do I have to feed my bees Bud-labelled honey?

No, it is sufficient to use sugar certified under the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance or sugar certified under the EU Organic Regulation.

Bio Suisse Instruction on Beekeeping, Feeding

What does the site map of hives have to show?

A radius of 3km around the hives must be marked, i.e. a diameter of 6km; on an A4 copy of a 1:25.000 topograhical map this circle is slightly bigger than the shorter side of the page.

Ordinance of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) on organic farming Art. 9, Bio Suisse Instruction on Beekeeping, Siting of beehives

How long is the conversion time for bees?

One year. A farm holding which is in-conversion to organic farming and is in its second conversion year can sell its apiary products as organic in the second conversion year, provided the organic standards are being met.

There is no »marketing in-conversion« for apiary products and colonies, there is only either non-organic or organic marketing.

Ordinance of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) on organic farming Art. 7, Bio Suisse Standards Art. 4.2.9

I keep a few rabbits as a hobby. What are the standards I have to meet?

Up to three adult animals or up to six litters are considered a hobby group. In such cases the requirements for management and feeding as set out in the Bio Suisse Standards must be met but animals can be bought in from non-organic sources. Hobby keepers must meet the conditions of the BTS (Swiss federal programme for high welfare animal housing) by analogy. Existing cages can be adapted with modest effort! By providing a compartment as an activity area with a raised sitting area and a darkened compartment as a nest area the rabbits' standard of living will be much improved.

Please note: The animals must not be notified under the RAUS programme (Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock) or the BTS programme. Records need not be kept.

See Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.1 to 3.1.12

How are rabbits to be kept on Bud farms?

The conditions of the BTS (Swiss federal programme for high welfare animal housing) must be met. In must be noted in particular that the animals must be kept in groups. Additionally, houses must have a raised area to which does can retreat and which is out of reach of young stock.

See Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.1 to 3.1.12 and BTS Ordinance

Do I have to test my laying hens for Salmonella?

If eggs are sold Salmonella tests must be carried out. The annual test for Salmonella can be carried out by submitting faeces samples or by having 20 eggs tested for antibodies. Preferably the tests are carried out when the birds are between 30 and 40 weeks old. The composite faeces sample (60-100g of fresh faeces) must be submitted to the lab by A-Post (next day delivery) and labelled "Salmonella test". Laboratory address:

Institut für Veterinärbakteriologie
Abteilung Geflügel
Winterthurstrasse 268/270
CH-8057 Zürich
Telephone: 044 635 86 31
Internet: www.vetbakt.unizh.ch

 

In flocks of more than 50 chickens the Canton normally takes the faecal sample. The test report must be presented at the farm inspection.
See the Bio Suisse Instruction on "Poultry keeping", 3.1 Salmonella test

Is it still permitted to keep horses in a tie stall?

Since January 1, 2005 horses must no longer be kept tied up. Exception: For working horses a derogation request may be filed with the Bio Suisse Label Commission "Production".

See Bio Suisse Standards 3.1.3

My Bud farm is involved in the livery business. Can I feed these horses non-organic concentrates?

Yes, in contrast to other livestock categories, livery horses may continue to be fed non-organic concentrate feeds. However, overall livery horses must be fed a minimum of 90% Bud feeds. If non-organic feed is given, at least a signed InfoXgen form is required (or a Confirmation for Feedstuff).

See Bio Suisse Implementing Regulation on "Feeding, Feedstuffs"

How do I correctly fill in the records on grazing and free ranging periods when my cows are permanently out on pasture during the summer?

Generally, daily records must be kept for cows. The only exception are situations where the pasture is permanently accessible. "Permanent" is taken to mean 24 hours a day. If this is the case a "P" can be entered into the record on the first day and a line drawn down for the entire period.

See the Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS)

Do I also have to put dry cows out to pasture?

When cows are being dried off they may be kept in an exercise yard for the first seven days of the drying-off period instead of being put out to pasture.

See the Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS)

Am I allowed to dock my lambs' tails?

Surgical interventions carried out on livestock must be kept to a minimum. Tail-docking in lambs is not permitted except in cases where these unavoidably contract diarrhoea caused by their diet (on alpine pastures) and dagging does not remedy this. Tail-docking must be carried out by a qualified person. The lambs must not be older than 7 days. Tail-docking must be recorded in the veterinary treatment record.

See the Swiss Ordinance on Direct Payments in Agriculture Art. 5, BioV (Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance) Art. 3, Bio Suisse Standards Art. 3.1.12

Can I continue to keep my goats in tie stalls?

Until the end of 2010 goats may be kept in tie stalls provided the provisions of the Ordinance on regular outdoor management of livestock (RAUS) are met and sufficient bedding is provided. Goats are very active animals. If at all possible, loose housing is the preferred system.

See the Bio Suisse Instructions on "Tie stalls"

Question: I want to convert my holding to organic production. But I have just bought concentrate feed. Will I not be allowed to use this feed from 1 January of the first year in conversion?

 

Answer: You do not need to dispose of the concentrate feed. In-conversion holdings in their first year of conversion are allowed to use up concentrate feed not listed on the list of approved auxiliary inputs until 1 May of that year, provided it does not contain non-permitted additives (antibiotics, GMOs etc.).
See 3.2.2 and Bio Suisse Instructions

Question: I would like to apply for organic conversion and at the same time establish a cooperation with an organic farm. How do I need to proceed?

 

Answer: You must apply for conversion to organic farming before the end of the calendar year. At the earliest, the cooperation can be established at the start of the new year in the first year of conversion.
The following applies to the currently non-organic holding: During the course of the first year in conversion the farm manager must complete the prescribed compulsory training.
The land will be in conversion for a period of two years.
The feed is considered in-conversion. If it is fed on the organic holding, it must not amount to more than 60% of total annual feed consumption. The in-conversion holding can use up to 100% of feed produced on its holding.
The non-organic animals can be bought by the organic holding. This would require a derogation. The animals thus pass the individual waiting periods.
See Bio Suisse Standards 4.1

You will find the laboratories certified for the Swiss ÖLN (documentation of ecological services) scheme under the following link:

 

laboratories

If you wish to let your products be processed off-farm, you, as a producer, have three options:

 

Option 1: Sub-contract a processor
• The processor must not carry out processing for more than five organic producers.
• Inspection of processing (incl. records) takes place at the farm holding.
• Recipes for the processed products must be kept on file in writing on the holding.

Option 2: Look for a certified contract processor
• The processor has an inspection contract with an inspection/certification body.
• Inspection of processing takes place at the contractor's premises.
• The farmer keeps the product list and the organic certificate of the processor on file.

Option 3: Market products as non-organic
• Processing is carried out as non-organic and is not inspected
• When the resultant products are marketed there must not be any indication of organic production.
• An up-to-date product list and a processing record must be available at the organic inspection.

See the Bio Suisse Instruction and the BioV (Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance), Art. 2, 26, 27 and 30

The RAUS programme requires that pigs be provided with several hours of outdoor access daily. Breeder sows may be confined without access to an outdoor yard or pasture for ten days after farrowing. From the eleventh day on, even nursing sows must be allowed outdoors again. According to the rules on sanctions, RAUS contributions will be reduced for not providing outdoor access between the 11th and the 24th day; organic contributions, however, will not be cut in this case.

New regulations also apply to calves. Previously, calves 15 days old and older had to have access to outdoors. According to the new regulations, breeding as well as feeder calves may only remain for ten days after birth together with the cow in a calving box or in the calf pen. From the eleventh day on, they must go "OUT" ("RAUS"). Calves do not have to go on pasture as long as they have access to an outdoor yard at all times. The rule that calves must not be kept tethered still applies.

From 1 May through to 31 October, organic farmers must provide their cattle, horses, sheep and goats with pasture access at least 26 times a month. This rule applies even if grass in May is not yet ready for grazing. In this case, and also in the event of inclement weather, access to an outdoor yard may be substituted for pasture access.

New and important changes take effect as of 2009, and there are no provisions for transition periods. Compliance with RAUS regulations is mandatory for organic farms. Henceforth all farms must follow the new regular outdoor management of livestock (German: RAUS) regulations.