Organic Farming Ordinance
Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317).
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 16i Specific principles for the production of processed organic foodstuffs
In addition to the general principles laid down in Article 3, the following principles apply to the production of processed organic foodstuffs: a. Organic foodstuffs must be made from organically produced ingredients, unless an ingredient is not available on the market as an organic product. b. The use of foodstuff additives, non-organic ingredients with primarily technical and sensory functions, micronutrients and processing aids must be kept to a minimum and limited to cases where this is a major technological requirement or is for particular nutritional purposes. c. Substances and production processes which could be misleading with regard to the actual nature of the product are not permitted. d. The foodstuffs must be processed with care, preferably using organic, mechanical and physical methods. e. The use of ingredients or substances that contain or consist of engineered nanomaterials is prohibited.
let. e — Inserted by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738).
Art. 16j Provisions for the production of processed organic foodstuffs
1 The production of processed organic foodstuffs must be carried out separately in time or space from that of non-organic foodstuffs. 2 Processed organic foodstuffs must meet the following requirements: a. The product must be made predominantly from ingredients of agricultural origin; added water and sodium chloride are not taken into account when deciding whether a product is made predominantly from ingredients of agricultural origin. Yeast and yeast products as well as flavourings shall be included as ingredients of agricultural origin. b. Additives, processing aids, flavouring substances and flavouring preparations, water, salt, preparations of microorganisms and enzymes, minerals (including trace elements), vitamins and amino acids, and other micronutrients in foodstuffs shall only be used if they have been authorised for use in organic production in accordance with Article 16k. c. Only non-organically produced ingredients which have been authorised according to Article 16k are use
Para. 2 let. a — Amended by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738). Para. 2 let. b — Amended by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738). Para. 2 let. c — Term in accordance with No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353). Para. 2 let. e — Repealed by Annex No 1 of the O of 27 May 2020, with effect from 1 July 2020 (AS 2020 2229). Para. 4 — Inserted by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2
Art. 16k Criteria for the authorisation of products and substances under Article 16j paragraph 2 letters b and c for processing
1 In agreement with the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), the EAER shall lay down which products and substances under Article 16j paragraph 2 letters b and c are authorised for processing. Products and substances shall be authorised if the following conditions are met: No permitted alternatives according to this ordinance are available. Without these substances and ingredients, the foodstuff cannot be produced, or preserved, or specific nutritional requirements cannot be met. 2 Products and substances under Article 16j paragraph 2 letter b must occur in nature and have undergone only mechanical, physical, biological, enzyme or microbiological processes, unless the products and substances concerned are not available on the market in sufficient quantity or quality from such sources. 2bis In derogation from the principle laid down in Article 3 letter c, the EAER may authorise substances under Article 16j paragraph 2 letter b which have been produced using genetically modified org
Para. 2bis — Inserted by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738). Para. 4 — Inserted by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738). Para. 5 — Inserted by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738).
Art. 16kbis Specific principles for the production of processed organic animal feedingstuffs
In addition to the general principles laid down in Article 3, the following principles apply to the production of processed organic animal feedingstuffs: The use of feed additives and processing aids must be kept to the minimum and limited to cases where this is an essential technological or zootechnical imperative or serves particular nutritional purposes. Substances and production methods which could be misleading with regard to the actual quality of the product are not permitted. Animal feedingstuffs must be processed with care, if possible using organic, mechanical and physical methods
Art. 16kbis — Inserted by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353).
Art. 16l Provisions for the production of processed organic animal feedingstuffs
1 The production of processed organic animal feedingstuffs must be carried out separately in time or space from the production of non-organic feedingstuffs. 2 An organic animal feed material may not be used together with the same non-organically produced animal feed material. 2bis Animal feed materials which are used or further processed in the production of organic animal feedingstuffs must not have been produced using chemically synthesised solvents. 3 No substances may be used and no processes employed which restore properties lost in the processing and storage of organic feedingstuffs or correct the result of careless processing, or could otherwise be misleading with regard to the actual nature of these products.
Art. 16l — Amended by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353). Para. 2bis — Inserted by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353).
Art. 16m Provisions for the production of organic yeast
Only organically produced substrates may be used for the production of organic yeast. Other products and substances shall only be used if they are authorised under Article 16k for use in organic processing.
Art. 16n Provisions for the production of organic wine
1 The EAER shall lay down which methods, practices and processes are authorised for the production of organic wine. 2 FOAG may lay down that the use of sulphur dioxide is permitted for certain geographical areas, up to the maximum values laid down in the legislation on foodstuffs, if abnormal weather conditions in a particular crop year affect the health of organic grapes in these areas due to serious bacterial or fungal infestation and if this means that more sulphur dioxide than in previous years has to be used in order to obtain a comparable end product.
Art. 16n — Inserted by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969).