Organic farmers affected by the drought can apply until 30 April for permission to feed non-organic food to their animals, without suspending the marketing of the products obtained from them, the government has announced.
“Farmers can apply for authorization to use non-organic animal feed until April 30,” said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in a statement sent to Lusa.
This authorization does not oblige farmers to suspend the marketing or labelling of food produced from these animals, “fed with non-organic fresh, dried or ensiled fodder”.
In this way, the executive stressed, the animals in question don’t have to go through a new conversion period after their permit expires.
In 2023, the government recognized, through the publication of two laws, the existence of severe or extreme drought in a number of municipalities in mainland Portugal, and adopted exceptional measures for the continuity of organic production.
According to a note from the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DGADR), the possibility of using non-organic feed for organic animals is provided for in European regulations.
This use applies to operators affected by drought, for a period not exceeding 12 months.
In Portugal, the unavailability of fodder for animal feed due to the drought has been verified, so operators can apply for this authorization.
To do this, operators must send a request to the DGADR, via email to dq**@***dr.pt, with the subject line “Catastrophic Drought Situation”, followed by their name and NIF (tax identification number).
Farmers must also indicate in the email that they are requesting authorization to use non-organic fresh, dried or ensiled fodder, honey, sugar syrups or non-organic sugar in organic animal feed.
At the same time, a form must be attached, available at https://www.dgadr.gov.pt/agricultura-e-producao-biologica/procedimentos-e-derrogacoes, filled in with the farm’s data.
