General rules on the production of processed food
1. The preparation of processed organic food shall be kept separate in time or space from non-organic food.
2. The following conditions shall apply to the composition of organic processed food:
(a)
the product shall be produced mainly from ingredients of agricultural origin; in order to determine whether a product is produced mainly from ingredients of agricultural origin added water and cooking salt shall not be taken into account;
(b)
only additives, processing aids, flavourings, water, salt, preparations of micro-organisms and enzymes, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, as well as amino acids and other micronutrients in foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses may be used, and only in so far as they have been authorised for use in organic production in accordance with Article 21;
(c)
non-organic agricultural ingredients may be used only if they have been authorised for use in organic production in accordance with Article 21 or have been provisionally authorised by a Member State;
(d)
an organic ingredient shall not be present together with the same ingredient in non-organic form or an ingredient in conversion;
(e)
food produced from in-conversion crops shall contain only one crop ingredient of agricultural origin.
3. Substances and techniques that reconstitute properties that are lost in the processing and storage of organic food, that correct the results of negligence in the processing of these products or that otherwise may be misleading as to the true nature of these products shall not be used.
The measures necessary for the implementation of the production rules contained in this Article, and in particular regarding processing methods and the conditions for the provisional authorisation by Member States mentioned in paragraph 2(c), shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 37(2).
General rules on the production of organic yeast
1. For the production of organic yeast only organically produced substrates shall be used. Other products and substances may only be used in so far as they have been authorised for use in organic production in accordance with Article 21.
2. Organic yeast shall not be present in organic food or feed together with non-organic yeast.
3. Detailed production rules may be laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 37(2).
Criteria for certain products and substances in processing
1. The authorisation of products and substances for use in organic production and their inclusion in a restricted list of the products and substances referred to in Article 19(2)(b) and (c) shall be subject to the objectives and principles laid down in Title II and the following criteria, which shall be evaluated as a whole:
(i)
alternatives authorised in accordance with this chapter are not available;
(ii)
without having recourse to them, it would be impossible to produce or preserve the food or to fulfil given dietary requirements provided for on the basis of the Community legislation.
In addition, the products and substances referred to in Article 19(2)(b) are to be found in nature and may have undergone only mechanical, physical, biological, enzymatic or microbial processes, except where such products and substances from such sources are not available in sufficient quantities or qualities on the market.
2. The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 37(2), decide on the authorisation of the products and substances and their inclusion in the restricted list referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and lay down specific conditions and limits for their use, and, if necessary, on the withdrawal of products.
Where a Member State considers that a product or substance should be added to, or withdrawn from the list referred to in paragraph 1, or that the specifications of use mentioned in this paragraph should be amended, the Member State shall ensure that a dossier giving the reasons for the inclusion, withdrawal or amendments is sent officially to the Commission and to the Member States.
Requests for amendment or withdrawal, as well as decisions thereon, shall be published.
Products and substances used before adoption of this Regulation and falling under Article 19(2)(b) and (c) may continue to be used after the said adoption. The Commission may, in any case, withdraw such products or substances in accordance with Article 37(2).
