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.
Section 1 Obligations of Operators
Art. 24abis General obligations
1 The operator is obliged: a. to conduct all operations in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance; b. in the case of an infringement or irregularities, to accept implementation of the measures laid down for organic production; c. in the case of an infringement or irregularities, to inform the purchasers of the product in writing in order to ensure that the references to organic production are removed from the products; d. where the operator or his sub-contractor is inspected by different certification bodies, to accept an exchange of information between these bodies; e. where the operator or his sub-contractor change certification body, to accept transfer of inspection documents to the new certification body; f. where the operator or his sub-contractor withdraw from the inspection system, to immediately inform the relevant competent authority and the certification body; g. where the operator or his sub-contractor withdraw from the inspection system, to accept that his inspect
Art. 24abis — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969). Para. 1 let. i — Inserted by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687).
Art. 25 Producers
1 Producers shall be obliged: a. to keep accounts; b. to keep detailed records of plant production, livestock production and use of fodder and agrochemicals; c. to store only production agents which are authorised for use in organic farming on the organic holding or, in the case of fruit- and vine-growing holdings, on the organic production unit; d. to grant certification body inspectors access to all production areas and parcels, to allow them to see farm accounts and relevant documentation and to provide them with all information necessary for inspection purposes. 2 The conditions laid down in the Annex also apply.
Para. 1 let. b — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491).
Art. 26 Preparation, import and export operators
1 Preparation, import and export operators shall be obliged: a. to keep company accounts which can be examined by the certification body as necessary for the inspection; b. to store products which are not subject to this Ordinance separately; c. to take all measures necessary to identify batches of goods and to prevent confusion with products which have not been produced in accordance with this Ordinance; d. to carry out production operations in a closed sequence and separated in time or space from similar production operations for products which are not subject to this Ordinance; e. to grant certification body inspectors access to all production areas, to allow them to see company accounts, relevant documentation and import certificates and to provide them with all information necessary for inspection purposes. 2 Import or export operators must be able to show the certification body evidence of every imported or exported consignment. 3 The conditions laid down in Annex 1 also apply.
Art. 26 — Amended by No I of the O of 12 Nov. 2008, in force since 1 Jan. 2009 (AS 2008 5823).
Art. 27 Marketing operators and storage operators
1 Marketing operators and storage operators are obliged: a. to be able to provide documentation from a certified production, preparation, marketing, storage or import operator for all products which are subject to this Ordinance; b. to store products which are not subject to this Ordinance separately; c. to take all measures necessary to identify batches of goods and to prevent confusion with products which have not been produced in accordance with this Ordinance; [tab] d.for inspection purposes, to grant the certification body access to business premises and to allow them to inspect accounts and relevant documents and provide all information pertinent to the inspection. 2 The conditions laid down in the Annex also apply.
Art. 27 — Amended by No I of the O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004 4891). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004 4891). Para. 1 let. a — Amended by No I of the O of 10 Nov. 2004, in force since 1 Jan. 2005 (AS 2004 4891). Para. 1 let. tab — Inserted by No I of the O of 8 Nov. 2006, in force since 1 Jan. 2007 (AS 2006 4831). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491).
Art. 27a Special requirements for the inspection of animal products
1 For meat production, all necessary inspections must be carried out at all stages of production, slaughter, cutting and any other preparation up to the sale to the consumer, to ensure that, as far as technically possible, the origin and position of the animal products in the production, processing and preparation chain can be certified from the unit of production of the livestock to the final packaging and/or labelling unit. 2 For products other than meat, the special certification measures are laid down in the Annex.
Art. 27a — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Aug. 2000, in force since 1 Jan. 2001 (AS 2000 2491).
Section 2 Requirements for Certification Bodies
Amended by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353).
Art. 28 Requirements and conditions
1 Certification bodies must apply to be licensed by FOAG for their activities under this Ordinance. In order to be licensed, the certification bodies must: a. be accredited for their activities in accordance with the Ordinance on Accreditation and Designation of 17 June 1996; b. have an established organisation and certification and inspection procedures (standard inspection programme) which, in particular, establish criteria that are binding on the operators subject to inspection, and a suitable programme of measures applicable if irregularities are noted; c. have the expertise, equipment and infrastructure necessary to undertake the inspection and certification activities in accordance with this Ordinance; d. have a sufficient number of employees who have sufficient expertise and knowledge of the elements affecting the organic status of products; e. ensure that their employees have the necessary qualifications, education and experience in the area of organic production in general and
Art. 28 — 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 946.512
Art. 29 Certification bodies of other states
1 After consultation with the SAS, FOAG shall approve certification bodies of other states so they may carry out their activities on Swiss territory if these are able to prove they hold a qualification equivalent to that required in Switzerland. 2 In particular, the certification bodies must: a. fulfil the requirements and conditions laid down in Article 28; b. ... c. be familiar with the relevant Swiss legislation. 3 The application for approval must include confirmation that the requirements laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 are fulfilled. 4 Article 18 paragraph 3 TBA is reserved. 5 FOAG may place a time limit on approval and make it subject to conditions. In particular, it may impose the following conditions on the certification body: a. that it accepts and supports FOAG’s supervision of activities carried out in Switzerland, in particular the measures laid down in Articles 32–33a; b. that it submits a detailed report of its activities in Switzerland to FOAG in accordance with Article
Art. 29 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 2017, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 6083). Para. 2 let. a — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 2017, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 6083). Para. 2 let. b — Repealed by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 2017, with effect from 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 6083).
Section 3 Obligations of Certification Bodies
Inserted by No I of the O of 31 Oct. 2012, in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 6353).
Art. 30 Inspections
1 The certification body shall carry out one inspection per operator at least once a year, or at least twice a year in the case of conversion in stages. It shall check to ensure that all operators subject to certification obligations fully comply with the provisions of this Ordinance. 2 In addition, the certification body shall carry out spot checks. The frequency of the spot checks depends on the risk assessment of the operators as laid down in Article 30abis; they must be carried out on at least 10 per cent of the operators subject to certification under paragraph 1. 3 At least 10 per cent of all inspection visits carried out under paragraphs 1 and 2 must be unannounced.
Art. 30 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969).
Art. 30a Sampling
1 The certification body must take samples and test them for production materials or production methods or traces thereof which are not permitted in organic production, if there is any suspicion that such production materials or methods are being used. 2 The certification body may also take and test samples in any other circumstances. 3 The number of samples which the certification body must take and test each year must amount to at least 5 per cent of the number of operators subject to its inspection. The selection of operators from whom samples are to be taken shall be in accordance with the general risk assessment for non-compliance with the provisions governing organic production. The general risk assessment shall include all stages of production, preparation and sale.
Art. 30a — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Oct. 2010 (AS 2010 5859). Amended by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969).
Art. 30abis Risk assessment of operators
The certification bodies shall submit to FOAG documentation concerning their risk assessment procedure for operators subject to their inspection. The risk assessment shall take account of the results of earlier inspections, the quantity of affected products and the risk of mixing organic with non-organic goods. The risk assessment shall be the basis for establishing: a. the scope of the unannounced or announced annual inspections; b. the contracted operators on whom additional spot checks are carried out under Article 30 paragraph 2; c. the inspection visits carried out under Article 30 paragraph 3 which are unannounced; d. the operators on whom unannounced inspections and visits are to be carried out.
Art. 30abis — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969).
Art. 30ater Certificate
1 The certification body under Articles 23a, 28 or 29 or, if appropriate, the inspection authority under Article 23a shall issue a relevant certificate to each operator subject to its inspections which meets the requirements of this Ordinance in its area of operations. The certificate must indicate, as a minimum, the identity of the operator, the category of products to which the certificate applies and the expiry date of the certificate. 2 Product categories are: a. unprocessed plants and plant products, including seeds and other plant propagating material; b. animals and unprocessed animal products; c. algae and unprocessed aquaculture products; d. processed agricultural products and processed aquaculture products intended for use as food; e. feedingstuffs; f. wine; g. other products. 3 The certificate may also be issued in electronic form provided that its authenticity is guaranteed by a recognised electronic method which is proof against forgery. 4 The certification bodies have a d
Art. 30ater — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014 (AS 2014 3969). Amended by No I of the O of 2 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 738). Para. 2 let. g — Amended by No I of the O of 6 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 687).
Art. 30b Inspection measures
1 The certification body shall take appropriate inspection measures, particularly with regard to flows of goods and residues of unauthorised agrochemicals, if: in accordance with Article 7 or 9, organic farming methods are not being used on the entire holding; or in accordance with Article 13a, non-organic plant propagating material is being used. 2 The EAER may lay down minimum requirements for these inspection measures.
Art. 30b — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5859).
Art. 30c Report
A report on every inspection or control shall be drawn up and countersigned by the person responsible for the operator.
Art. 30c — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5859).
Art. 30d List of inspected operators
1 The certification bodies shall keep an updated list of operators subject to their inspection. The list shall contain in particular, the following information: name and address of the operator; type of activity and products; in the case of organic holdings, all parcels of land and the date when unauthorised agrochemicals were last used on them. 2 The certification bodies shall send to FOAG and cantonal food inspection agencies by 31 January each year a list of operators who have undergone an inspection as at 31 December of the previous year and those which are newly listed for the current year, and shall present a concise annual report, in particular on the agreements in connection with the exemptions under Article 16a paragraph 6, 16c paragraph 3, 16e paragraph 2, 16f paragraphs 5 and 6. FOAG may issue instructions relating to this. 3 The EAER may enact regulations concerning the transmission of data referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Art. 30d — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Oct. 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5859). Para. 3 — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969).
Art. 30e Obligation to notify and exchange of information
1 If the operator or his contractors are inspected by different certification bodies, or by a third party commissioned by them, then the participating certification bodies shall exchange the relevant information concerning the operations which they have inspected among themselves or with the third parties commissioned by them. 2 The certification body shall notify FOAG and the competent cantonal food inspection agencies immediately if an operator or his contractor subject to its inspections changes to another certification body. 3 The previous certification body shall hand over to the new certification body the relevant parts of the inspection dossier of the operator in question and the reports laid down in 1.1.4 of Annex 1. 4 The new certification body shall ensure that the operator has rectified any non-conformities noted in the report of the previous certification body or is in the process of doing so. 4bis The certification body shall notify FOAG and the competent cantonal executiv
Art. 30e — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Oct. 2010 (AS 2010 5859). Amended by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2015 (AS 2014 3969). Para. 4bis — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 2017, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 6083).