Commission Regulation (EC) No 2254/2004 of 27 December 2004 amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs
Date: 2004-12-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agricultural product, consumer information, foodstuff, labelling, organic farming, organic product

L 385/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

29.12.2004

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2254/2004

of 27 December 2004

amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and
indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24
June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and
indications referring thereto on agricultural products and food-
stuffs (1), and in particular the second indent of Article 13
thereof,

Whereas:

Harmonised rules for organic livestock production are
still quite recent and with the current development of
this sector there is still not a sufficient range of biodi-
versity of organically reared livestock available on the
market. Hence, there is still a need to facilitate the deve-
lopment of the organic livestock production.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2277/2003 (2), which
to Regulation (EEC) No
amended Annexes I and II
2092/91, extended the transitional period for bringing
conventional animals into the organic farming system
until 31 December 2004. However, this extension has
proved not to be sufficient in particular in the case of
stages
poultry production, which comprises different
where different specialised sectors are involved.

There is,
therefore, still a need for reliance on non-
organically reared animals. The provisions on the
the animals should be adapted accordingly.
origin of

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

standards for these animals have not been harmonised
yet. Until such standards are established, it is appropriate
to permit bringing non-organically reared pullets for egg
production of not more than 18 weeks into an organic
livestock unit when organically reared pullets are not
available, under certain conditions applying prior
to
bringing these animals into the organic farming system.

(5)

(6)

(7)

Annex I
therefore be amended accordingly.

to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 should

Considering the urgency of the measure due to the fact
that certain provisions on the origin of animals expire on
31 December 2004, this Regulation should enter into
force on the day after its publication in the Official
Journal of the European Union.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I
accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 is amended in

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Although it is already possible to reinforce the provisions
on the origin of pullets for egg production, production

It shall apply from 1 January 2005.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 December 2004.

For the Commission

Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1. Regulation as

(EC) No 1481/2004 (OJ

last amended by
L 272,

Commission Regulation
20.8.2004, p.11).

(2) OJ L 336, 23.12.2003, p. 68.

29.12.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 385/21

ANNEX

Annex I(B) to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 is amended as follows:

(a) The first and second indents of point 3.4. are replaced by the following:

‘— pullets for the production of eggs and poultry for meat production must be less than three days old.’

(b) The text of point 3.5. is replaced by the following:

‘3.5. This derogation must be authorised beforehand by the inspection authority or body.’

(c) The text of point 3.6. is replaced by the following:

‘3.6. By way of a third derogation, the renewal or reconstitution of the herd or flock shall be authorised by the
control authority or body when organically reared animals are not available, and in the following cases:

(a) high mortality of animals caused by health or catastrophic circumstances;

(b) pullets for egg production and poultry for meat production less than three days old.

(c) piglets for breeding purposes, which must be reared according to the rules of this regulation as soon as they

are weaned and must weigh less than 35 kg.

Case (c) is authorised for a transitional period expiring on 31 July 2006.’

(d) The text of point 3.7. is replaced by the following:

‘3.7. Notwithstanding the provisions laid down in points 3.4. and 3.6., non-organically reared pullets for egg
production of not more than 18 weeks may be brought into an organic livestock unit when organically
reared pullets are not available, subject to following conditions:

— prior authorisation of the competent authority, and

— from 31 December 2005, the provisions laid down in paragraphs 4 (Feed) and 5 (Disease prevention and
veterinary treatment) of this Annex I shall apply to non-organically reared pullets intended to be brought
into organic livestock units.’