The plant and animal health care strategy in organic farming strengthens agro-biodiversity, protects the environment as well as animal and human health. In addition to fully exploiting preventive options, the use of external inputs such as plant protection products, fertilisers or veterinary medicinal products is allowed to prevent inacceptable losses in productivity or animal suffering. However, external inputs need to comply with organic standards as well as European legislation and are therefore carefully evaluated before any decision on acceptance is taken. Organic farming systems should aim at reducing dependency on off-farm fertilisers to the lowest feasable level to ensure closed nutrient cycles and avoid nutrient leakage and contamination. This policy brief explains the underlying principles and the procedures for evaluation of inputs, focusing on plant protection products, fertilisers, feed additives and veterinary medicinal products used in organic farming under European legislation. The case study in Annex I on plant protection products provides a full picture on the processes and criteria for authorisation, the assessment of new inputs according to the suitability in organic farming, the history of utilised substances and possible trade-offs and concerns.

The use of chemical-synthetic pesticides and fertilisers is growing in Europe and throughout the world. The excessive use of synthetic inputs causes contamination, nutrient leakage, residues and drift-off leading to high direct and indirect costs for the ecosystem, biodiversity and non-targeted organisms.1 A reduction of synthetic inputs needs to be well prepared and alternative approaches, such as organic farming, can lead the way towards an agrifood system free from synthetic inputs. Research projects such as RELACS are one important step to ensure a smooth transition towards the use of less inputs. Organic agriculture is a farming system that sustains the health of soils, plants, animals, ecosystems and people whilst contributing to long-term food security. It is built on ecological processes and closed nutrient cycles adapted to local conditions. Organic livestock husbandry is based on the harmonious relationship between land, plants, animals and humans, respect for the physiological and behavioural needs of livestock and the feeding of good quality organically grown feedstuffs. The organic system is often further described by standards, which govern labelling and claims for organic products.2 External inputs acceptable in organic farming are selected based on a strict set of criteria, with the aim to exclude any inputs that may cause issues related to environmental, human and animal toxicity, or may be in contradiction to the traditions of the sector and/or expectations by organic farmers and consumers. As a result, only the small number of substances which are listed in technical annexes (e.g. Annex I – Fertilisers, Annex II - Pesticides) of the Organic Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 can be used in the organic food and farming sector. Organic farming constantly evolves, and new inputs are proposed to replace contentious inputs traditionally used or to tackle yet unsolved production obstacles as well as climate change. Whenever new options are proposed the precautionary principle is strictly applied, and principles of organic farming are followed. This implies that unpredictable risks, from newly designed, synthetic molecules and organisms are rejected.