The new regulation allows monogastric producers to use a five per cent allowance of non-organic protein feeds currently not available in organic form until the end of 2014.

There were concerns that the original proposal of 100 per cent organic diet from 1 January 2012 might leave poultry producers short of raw ingredients to provide the nutritional requirements for their birds.

Martin Humphrey, NFU organic poultry representative, said: “I am pleased that the EU has come to a decision gives organic poultry producers the scope to continue with high levels of nutrition that provide birds with good welfare.

“In addition, we are able to continue to access the necessary ingredients required to ensure that the bird meets all their requirements. We have been calling for this change since June 2011, and are delighted the EU agrees with our assessment of the situation.” The most notable changes within the regulation is that producers will now be required to source a percentage of feed on a regional basis:

• 20 per cent of monogastric feed must be ‘produced in the same region in cooperation with other organic farms or feed business operators’.
• 60 per cent of feed for herbivores must be sourced from either on-farm or from the region.

Further Reading

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