EAER Ordinance on Organic Farming
Inserted by No I of the EAER O of 7 Nov. 2001, in force since 1 Jan. 2002 (AS 2002 228).
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 5 Agricultural land
Beekeeping holdings may label their products as organic products even if they have no agricultural land.
Art. 6 Principle of total organic production
1 When an operator runs several apiaries in the same area, all the units must comply with the requirements of this Ordinance. 2 Individual apiaries may be kept on sites which do not comply with the requirements in accordance with Article 10, provided that the other provisions are fulfilled. Their products may not be labelled as organic products.
Art. 7 Conversion
1 Beekeeping holdings which have converted to organic production may label their products as organic products no earlier than one year after conversion. Marketing with reference to being under conversion to organic farming is not permitted. 2 During the conversion period the wax must be replaced according to the requirements in accordance with Article 16.
Art. 8 Origin of the bees
1 In the choice of breeds, account must be taken of the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality and their resistance to disease. Preference shall be given to the use of European breeds of Apis mellifera and their local ecotypes. 2 For the renovation of the apiaries 20 per cent per year of the queen bees and swarms not complying with this Ordinance can be incorporated into the organic-production unit provided that the queen bees and swarms are placed in hives with combs or foundations coming from organic-production units. In these cases, the conversion period does not apply. 2bis For performance testing under Article 4 of the Animal Husbandry Ordinance of 14 November 2007, bees which do not originate from organic holdings may be kept on an organic holding provided they are placed in hives with combs or comb foundations coming from organic production units. In this case, the conversion period does not apply. 3 In case of high mortality of animals caused by health
Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 636). Para. 2bis — [AS 2007 6411, 2008 2275 No II 1 5871, 2009 6365, 2010 2525 No II, 2011 5297 Annex 2 No 7. AS 2012 6407 Art. 38 para. 1]. See now: the Animal Husbandry Ordinance of 31 Oct. 2012 (SR 916.310). Para. 2bis — Inserted by No I of the EAER O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5863). Para. 3 — Inserted by No I of the EAER O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004
Art. 9 Siting of the apiaries
The siting of the apiaries must: a. be such that, within a radius of 3 km from the apiary site, nectar and pollen sources consist essentially of organically produced crops and/or spontaneous vegetation according to Chapter 2 of the Organic Farming Ordinance, and crops not subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, but treated with agricultural production methods complying with the ecological requirements of the Confederation and which cannot significantly affect the qualification of beekeeping production as being organic; b. maintain enough distance from any non-agricultural production sources possibly leading to contamination, for example urban centres, motorways, industrial areas, waste dumps, waste incinerators etc. The certification body shall establish measures to ensure this requirement. The requirements of this letter do not apply to areas where flowering is not taking place or when the hives are dormant; c. ensure enough natural nectar, honeydew and pollen sources for bees an
let. b — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3979).
Art. 10 Site register
1 The operator must provide the certification body with a map on an appropriate scale on which are entered the location of hives with details of the site (field, plot of land), swarming time, number in colony, storage for products, and if necessary the locations where certain processing and/or packaging processes take place. Where the Department does not identify any areas or regions under Article 16h paragraph 3 of the Organic Farming Ordinance, the operator must provide the certification body with appropriate documentation and evidence, including suitable analyses if necessary, that the areas accessible to his colonies meet the conditions required in this Ordinance. 2 The certification body must be informed of the relocation of hives (e.g. register of movements) within an agreed period.
Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan 2005 (AS 2004 4895).
Art. 11 Colony register
The operator must keep a colony register for each colony. In it the following must be recorded: a. location of the hives; b. information for identification of the colonies (in accordance with the O of 27 June 1995 on Livestock Epidemics – stock control of the colonies); c. information on artificial feeding; d. removal of honey combs and measures for honey extraction.
let. b — SR 916.401
Art. 12 Feed
1 At the end of the production season, hives must be left with sufficiently abundant reserves of honey and pollen in the brood combs to survive the winter. 2 Artificial feeding of colonies is authorised if reserves stored by the colony are insufficient. Organically-produced honey, preferably from the same organic beekeeping unit, shall be used for artificial feeding. 3 With the agreement of the certification body, organically-produced sugar syrup or organically-produced feeding paste can be used instead of organically-produced honey in artificial feeding, in particular when it is required by climatic conditions that provoke crystallisation of honey (e.g. due to formation of melicitose honey). 4 Artificial feeding may be carried out only between the last honey harvest and 15 days before the start of the next nectar or honeydew flow period. 5 The following information shall be entered in the register of the apiaries with regard to artificial feeding: type of product, dates, quantities an
Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004 4895).
Art. 13 Disease prevention
1 Disease prevention in beekeeping shall be based on the following principles: a. appropriate hardy breeds must be selected; b. suitable practices encouraging strong resistance to disease and the prevention of infections must be applied, such as regular renewal of colonies, systematic inspection of hives, in particular the brood, to detect any health anomalies, disinfecting of materials and equipment at regular intervals using substances permitted for organic beekeeping under Annex 8, regular renewal of honeycomb and sufficient reserves of pollen and honey in hives. 2 The use of allopathic chemically synthesised medicinal products for preventive treatments is prohibited.
Para. 1 let. b — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 636).
Art. 14 Veterinary treatment
1 Colonies which have become sick or infested shall be treated immediately in accordance with the Ordinance on Livestock Epidemics of 27 June 1995; if necessary they shall be placed in isolation apiaries. 2 Only veterinary medicinal products which are authorised by the «Interkantonale Kontrollstelle für Heilmittel» (IKS) (Intercantonal Control Agency for Medicines) shall be used. By way of derogation, formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and oxalic acid, and the substances menthol, thymol, eucalyptol and camphor may be used to control Varroa jacobsoni. 3 Only phytotherapeutic and homeopathic products shall be used to control disease and infestation, unless the use of these products should prove or is unlikely to be effective to eradicate a disease or infestation which risks destroying colonies. Treatments using allopathic chemically synthesised medicinal products shall be used only if they are indispensable and are prescribed by a veterinarian. 4 If a treatment is applied with allopat
Para. 1 — SR 916.401
Art. 15 Beekeeping practices
1 The destruction of bees in the combs as a method of harvesting beekeeping products is prohibited. 2 Mutilation such as clipping the wings of queen bees is prohibited except for clipping the wings of queen bees for performance testing under Article 4 of the Ordinance of 14 November 2007 on Animal Husbandry. 3 The replacement of the queen bees involving the killing of the old queen is permitted. Preference shall be given to natural breeding and reproduction processes. Account shall be taken of the swarming instinct. The use of genetically modified bees is not permitted. 4 The practice of destroying the drone brood is permitted only as a means of containing infestation with Varroa jacobsoni. 5 The use of chemical synthetic repellents is prohibited during honey extraction operations. 6 Particular care shall be taken to ensure adequate extraction, processing and storage of beekeeping products. All the measures to comply with this requirement shall be recorded. 7 The removal of the supers
Para. 2 — [AS 2007 6411, 2008 2275 No II 1 5871, 2009 6365, 2010 2525 No II, 2011 5297 Annex 2 No 7. AS 2012 6407 Art. 38 para. 1]. See now: the Animal Husbandry Ordinance of 31 Oct. 2012 (SR 916.310). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5863). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5863).
Art. 16 Characteristics of hives and materials used in beekeeping
1 The hives must be made basically of natural materials presenting no risk of contamination to the environment or the beekeeping products. 2 With the exception of products to control disease and infestation, only natural substances such as propolis, wax and plant oils may be used in the hives. 3 Beeswax for new frames must come from organic production units. In agreement with the certification body, in particular in the case of new installations or during the conversion period, beeswax not coming from organic production units may be used where organically-produced beeswax is not available. 4 The use of combs which contain broods is prohibited for honey extraction. 5 For the purposes of protecting materials (frames, hives, combs), in particular from pests, only products listed in Annex 1 are permitted. 6 Physical treatments such as steam or direct flame are permitted. 7 Only the substances under Annex 8 are permitted for cleaning and disinfecting materials, buildings, equipment, utensil
Para. 7 — Amended by No I of the EAER O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 636).