Organic Farming Ordinance
Title of Sections 1–5 removed by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, with effect from 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. 17 Products not intended for human consumption
1 Products which are not intended for human consumption may only be labelled as organic products if: the labelling clearly refers to the agricultural production; b. they were organically produced or prepared or imported in accordance with Article 22; c. they were produced, prepared, imported, stored or marketed by an operator who is subject to an inspection system laid down in Chapter 5; d. ... 2 The EAER may lay down additional rules for feedingstuffs, plant propagating material and seeds for cultivation. 3 ...
Art. 17 — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). Para. 1 let. c — Amended by No I of the O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004 4891). Para. 1 let. d — Repealed by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, with effect from 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). Para. 2 — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000 (AS 2000 2491). Amended by No I of the O of 12 Nov. 2008, in force since 1 Jan. 2009 (AS 2008 5823). Para. 3 — Inserted by No I of the O of 7 Nov
Art. 18 Processed foodstuffs
1 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used in the product description for processed foodstuffs provided that: the foodstuff meets the requirements laid down in Article 16j; at least 95 per cent by weight of the ingredients of agricultural origin were organically produced; 2 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used in the list of ingredients, provided that the foodstuff meets the requirements laid down in Article 16j paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 letters a, b and d–f. 3 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used in the list of ingredients and in the same field of vision as the product description provided that: a. the main ingredient is a game or fishing product; b. all other ingredients of agricultural origin are purely organic; c. the foodstuff meets the requirements laid down in Article 16j paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 letters a, b and d–f. 4 An indication is given in the list of ingredients which ingredients are organicall
Art. 18 — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317).
Art. 18a Flavourings
For flavourings, the indications specified in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used only if they are flavouring preparations or natural flavouring substances authorised for processing in accordance with Article 16k and their flavouring components and carriers are all organic.
Art. 18a — Inserted by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738).
Art. 19
Repealed by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, with effect from 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317).
Art. 20 Products from holdings under conversion
1 Products labelled in accordance with Articles 17 or 18 paragraph 1 which were produced in holdings under conversion must also be marked with the indication ‘produced during conversion to organic farming’. 2 Products from holdings under conversion may not be labelled as organic products until four months after the date of conversion. 3 Such products must not give the impression that they come from fully converted holdings. 4 The colour, size and style of lettering of the reference to conversion may not be more prominent than the product description. The words ‘organic farming’ may not stand out more than the words ‘produced during conversion to’; the colour, size and style of lettering of references to organic farming may not be more prominent than the reference to conversion. 5 Ingredients of agricultural origin produced in holdings under conversion may be indicated as such by reference to the conversion in the other indications laid down in Article 18 paragraphs 2 and 3. They may no
Art. 20 — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). Para. 5 — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). Para. 6 — Amended by No I of the O of 7 Dec. 1998, in force since 1 Jan. 1999 (AS 1999 399).
Art. 21
Repealed by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, with effect from 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317).
Art. 21a Labelling of feedingstuffs for production animals
1 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used on processed animal feedingstuffs provided the following requirements are met: a. The processed animal feedingstuff complies with the provisions of this Ordinance, in particular Articles 16a, 16kbis and 16l and their implementing provisions. b. All ingredients of plant or animal origin contained in the processed animal feedingstuff consist of organic animal feed materials. c. At least 95 per cent of the dry matter of the product consists of animal feed materials of organic origin. 2 In the case of processed animal feedingstuffs which do not comply with one of the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 letters b or c, only the indication ‘may be used in organic farming in accordance with the Organic Farming Ordinance’ may be used.
Art. 21a — Inserted by No I of the O of 26 Nov. 2003 (AS 2003 5347). Amended by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353). Art. 21a — Amended by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687).
Art. 21b Further labelling requirements of feedingstuffs for production animals
The indications referred to in Article 21a must meet the following requirements: they must not be more prominent than the description or name of the animal feedingstuff due to their colour, format or style of lettering; with reference to the organic matter, they must indicate in the same field of vision the percentage of animal feedingstuffs which were produced on organic land and the percentage of animal feedingstuffs which were produced on land under conversion; c. ... d. they must give a list of the names of the animal feed materials produced organically or under conversion to organic farming.
Art. 21b — Inserted by No I of the O of 26 Nov. 2003, in force since 1 July 2004 (AS 2003 5347). Art. 21b — Amended by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687). let. c — Repealed by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, with effect from 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317).
Art. 21bbis Labelling of feedingstuffs for pets
1 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used in the product description and the details on the composition for processed feedingstuffs for pets provided that: a. the feedingstuff meets the requirements laid down in Articles 16a paragraphs 2 and 7, 16kbis and 16l; and b. at least 95 per cent by weight of the ingredients of agricultural origin were organically produced. 2 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used only in the details on the composition for processed feedingstuffs for pets provided that: a. less than 95 per cent by weight of the ingredients of agricultural origin were organically produced; b. only feed additives and processing aids permitted under Article 16a are used in the processing of the feedingstuff; and c. the feedingstuff meets the requirements laid down in Articles 16a paragraphs 2 and 7, 16kbis and 16l. 3 The indications laid down in Article 2 paragraph 2 may be used in the details on the composition and in the same field
Art. 21bbis — Inserted by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687).
Art. 21c Common labelling provisions
1 The code number of the certification body responsible for the operator who carried out the most recent production or processing operation must be given. The code number must meet the following requirements: a. It must begin with the abbreviation for the country laid down in the international standard for two-letter country codes ISO 3166. b. It must contain an indication referring to organic production. c. It must contain a reference number issued by the Swiss accreditation body or by the competent authority in the case of products certified by bodies abroad. 2 FOAG may issue instructions regarding the format of code numbers.
Art. 21c — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Nov. 2009, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6317). Para. 2 — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5859).