Organic Farming Ordinance
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Scope
1 This Ordinance applies to the labelling of the following products as organic products: a. unprocessed agricultural crop and livestock products and production animals; b. processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption, prepared essentially from ingredients of plant and/or animal origin; c. animal feed materials, compound feedingstuffs and feedingstuffs not covered under letter a and which are used for the feeding of pets and production animals in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 4 letters a and b of the Feedstuffs Ordinance of 26 October 2011. 2 It also applies to essential oils und to yeasts used for foodstuffs or animal feedingstuffs. 2bis It also applies to unprocessed and processed aquaculture products used for foodstuffs or animal feedingstuffs. 3 It does not apply to insects as defined in the foodstuffs legislation and to products from fishing and hunting.
Art. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). Para. 1 let. c — Amended by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687). Para. 1 let. c — SR 916.307 Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738). Para. 2bis — Inserted by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1. Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687). Para. 3 — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009 (AS 2009 6317). Amended by No I of
Art. 2 Labelling
1 Products under Article 1 may be labelled as organic products if they are produced or imported, prepared and marketed in accordance with this Ordinance. 2 The following indications, their translations in all national languages or usual indications taken from them (such as bio-, eco-) shall be used for the labelling of organic products: a. German: biologisch, ökologisch; b. French: biologique; c. Italian: biologico; d. Romansh: biologic. 3 The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) may prescribe a mark which can be used voluntarily for the labelling of products which comply with the provisions of this Ordinance. It may prescribe a special mark for products which are produced in Switzerland. 4 Labelling, advertising material or commercial documents for products which have not been produced in accordance with this Ordinance may not suggest that such products have been produced organically unless such indications do not relate to the agricultural products in
Art. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). Para. 2 let. d — Amended by No I of the O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004 4891). Para. 3 — The name of this administrative unit was modified pursuant to Art. 16 para. 3 of the Publications Ordinance of 17 Nov. 2004 (AS 2004 4937) on 1 Jan. 2013. This modification has been made throughout the text. Para. 4 — Amended by No I of the O of 26 Nov. 2003, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 200
Art. 3 Principles
The production, preparation and marketing of organic products is governed by the following principles: a. Natural cycles and processes are taken into consideration. b. The use of synthetic agrochemicals and ingredients is avoided. c. The following may not be used in foodstuffs or feedingstuffs or as foodstuffs, feedingstuffs, processing aids, plant protection products, fertilisers, soil conditioners, plant propagating material, microorganisms or animals: 1. genetically modified organisms; 2. products that have been produced from genetically modified organisms; 3. products that have been produced by genetically modified organisms. d. The products are not treated with ionising radiation and no irradiated products are used. e. The number of production animals must be adjusted in accordance with the holding’s own or rented agricultural acreage suitable for the use of farmyard manure. f. Throughout their whole life on organic holdings, production animals are kept in accordance with the requ
Art. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). Amended by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). let. c — Amended by Annex No 1 of the O of 27 May 2020, in force since 1 July 2020 (AS 2020 2229). let. e — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). let. f — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). let. g — Inserted by No I of the
Art. 4 Definitions
In this Ordinance: a. products means agricultural crop and livestock products, aquaculture products and foodstuffs prepared essentially from such products; b. organic production means production carried out in accordance with Article 3 and Chapter 2; c. preparation means the operations of preserving and/or processing agricultural products, including the slaughter and cutting of livestock products, and also packaging and/or alterations made to the labelling concerning the presentation of the organic production method of the fresh, preserved and/or processed products; d. marketing means holding for sale, selling or any other form of placing on the market, and delivery of a product; e. secondary products of genetically modified organisms means substances which are produced from or by genetically modified organisms but which do not contain genetically modified organisms; f. inspection dossier means all information and documentation relevant to the inspection and certification of an operato
let. a — Amended by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687). let. c — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). let. e — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). let. f — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969). let. g — Inserted by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687). let. h — Inserted by No I of th
Art. 5 Organic holdings
1 In this Ordinance, organic holdings are: a. holdings as defined in Articles 6 of the Agriculture Terminology Ordinance of 7 December 1998 (AgricTermO) where production is carried out in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Ordinance; b. summer pasture holdings as defined in Article 9 AgricTermO, where production is carried out in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Ordinance; c. operators that are not holdings as defined in Article 6 AgricTermO and which produce land-dependent products from plant or livestock production, where production is carried out in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Ordinance. 2 Operators that are not holdings as defined in Article 6 AgricTermO and which produce non-land-dependent products or operate aquaculture facilities, provided production in these companies is carried out in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Ordinance, are deemed equivalent to organic holdings.
Art. 5 — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 2017, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 6083). Para. 1 let. a — SR 910.91 Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687).