Derogations and permissions
Derogations and permissions
In some cases when organic inputs are not available, you can request derogation or permission before using non-organic ones. Download template forms below to request derogations or permissions for non-organic seeds, livestock or poultry.
Non-organic seeds
When organic seeds and vegetative propagating materials (such as rhizomes, bulbs, cuttings) are not available, a derogation to use non-organic seeds and vegetative propagating materials can be requested submitting the form below to the office for review before placing an order.
The availability of organic seeds can be checked on the Organic X Seeds database. There is no login required, you can search for a crop and check the list of available varieties and suppliers.
70 percent of organic grass and forage seed mixes do not require approval before use but need to be declared at your renewal inspection through your Annual Questionnaire within the seed mixes breakdown.
When applying for permission to use non-organic transplants (bare root, blocks, modules, trees, bushes), they need to have been grown to organic standards by a certified organic producer. Non-organic transplants will need to go through a 3 years conversion period once planted.
If you do not have organic transplants, get in touch with the certification team to provide details of the non-organic transplants you intend to use before purchasing them.
Non-organic livestock
Where organic animals are not available, you can apply for a herd expansion to bring in non-organic nulliparous animals for breeding purposes.
A permission to bring in up to 10 percent for cattle and 20 percent for sheep and pigs of your current breeding stock can be approved by us. You must show that there is no suitable converted or organic stock available. If you have less than 10 bovines or 5 pigs or sheep, only one non-organic animal can be brought in.
A permission to bring in up to 40 percent of your current breeding stock can be granted by your competent authority, including the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) or Northern Ireland Competent Authority (NICA).
This only applies for the following:
- You've undertaken a major farm extension
- A breed is changed
- A new livestock specialisation is initiated
- A breed is rare or at risk of being lost to farming
You must complete the permission request form below, providing evidence to show that suitable animals are not available and the advertisement requesting animals on a recognised marketplace for a least five working days.
If you need to bring in non-organic animals, please contact our certification team and make sure you request permission first.
Non-organic poultry
Permission requests
You can apply for a permission to bring in non-organic poultry when a flock is constituted for the first time, and renewed or reconstituted and organically reared poultry are not available in sufficient numbers. Submit a request to the certification team using the form below so it can be forwarded to Defra or Nica for approval.
You must include evidence that an advert for organic birds has been placed on a recognised marketplace for at least five days and with a confirmation from the suppliers if organic birds are not suitable or available.
Poultry vet and feed supplier declaration
If you wish to bring in non-organic pullets please complete and return the vet and feed declaration form below.
