Organic Agriculture: A method of agricultural production in both plant and animal sectors that relies on the use of natural materials to produce food without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, genetically modified organisms, or derived materials.

Standards for Organic Agriculture Activity: The conditions adopted by the Ministry related to organic agriculture activity.

Organic Agriculture Activity: The processes of producing, manufacturing, marketing, importing, or exporting organic inputs or products.

Organic Inputs: The materials used in organic agriculture.

Organic Products: Fresh and processed organic plant and animal products.

Organic Production Unit: The facility designated for producing, manufacturing, storing, canning, packaging, or preparing organic inputs or products.

Producer: Any natural or legal person engaged in the production, manufacturing, preparation, or trading of organic products and inputs.

Notarization Entity: A company specialized in the field of organic notarization that supervises production units by applying the standards of organic agriculture activity.

Organic Notarization Certificate: A certificate granted by the notarization entity licensed by the Ministry.

Preparation: The processes of preserving or transforming organic products, as well as modifying, organizing, and labeling them with logos and trademarks.

Trading: Offering for sale, storage, or transfer by any means of transportation.

Aquaculture: Growing plants without soil in a water medium.

Intensive Farming: Farms where space for animal exercise is not considered.

Conversion: The phase of transitioning from non-organic to organic farming within a specified time frame, during which the relevant organic production standards are applied.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Organisms whose genetic components have been altered in an unnatural way.

Feed: A collective term for any material of plant origin used as food for livestock and domestic animals.

Ration: The daily portion of feed provided to the animal.

Yeast: Unicellular organisms used in the fermentation process.

1- The provisions of this guide apply to the producer, organic production units, and the notarization entities operating in the Kingdom.

2- The standards and requirements stated in this guide apply to all activities of organic agriculture and the related scopes:

• A- Cultivation and production of raw agricultural crops used as food, in addition to animal products and their secondary derivatives used as food.

• B- Production and manufacturing of organic food products of agricultural origin (plant/animal).

• C- Agricultural crops and their secondary products used as feed or feed additives for animal nutrition.

• D- Inputs for organic agriculture/production such as seeds, vegetative propagation materials, pest control and prevention materials, fertilizers, and soil enhancers, in addition to nutritional additives and disinfection and sterilization materials.

- The competent authority shall undertake the following:

• 1- Issuing regulations and standards for organic production and publishing lists of materials authorized for use in the production of organic inputs and products in accordance with this guide.

• 2- Adding, withdrawing, or amending any of the materials authorized for use in accordance with international standards and in a manner that serves the public interest.

• 3- Specifying the characteristics of fertilizers, soil enhancers, propagation materials, plant and animal protection materials, disease control materials, nutrition materials, water, and materials used in the processes of preservation, storage, cleaning, and sterilization as detailed in the attached appendices of this guide.

• 4- Determining the labeling requirements and data for the labels of organic inputs and products and their logos.

• 5- Following temporary procedures to address exceptional circumstances and difficult climatic conditions in the Kingdom by allowing the use of prohibited materials to ensure the sustainability of organic production.

1- Requirements for Transition and Obtaining Organic Notarization:

• A- The owner of the production unit or their representative, when wishing to transition to organic production, must submit a transition claim to the notarization authority.

• B- The owner of the production unit is obligated to provide the documents and fulfill the data included in the claim and express their written consent to adhere to all organic production standards.

• C- The notarization authority shall study the claim and verify that all required data is fulfilled.

• D- If the transition claim is rejected due to non-compliance, the decision must include the reasons for rejection.

• E- The applicant is considered to have waived their claim if they do not follow the guidelines of the notarization authority, and a new claim may not be submitted until the reasons for the rejection are resolved.

• F- The approval may be provisional and conditional upon making modifications or changes to the production unit.

• G- Upon acceptance of the transition claim, the production unit shall receive organic notarization for one year, renewable for a similar period, during which it will be subject to the oversight of the notarization authority.

• H- The transition period begins from the date of submitting the claim and signing the obligation document.

• I- The owner of the production unit is obligated during the transition period to apply all provisions contained in the law and its executive regulations.

• J- The inspection and examination process by the notarization authority shall occur during appropriate time periods to ensure that all transition requirements are met.

• K- The notarization authority has the right to take samples and conduct tests at the expense of the transition applicant at any entity and at all stages, including the stage of presenting the organic product for trade.

• L- The farmer/producer is obligated to declare and notify the notarization authority immediately regarding any changes that occur in the production unit, including but not limited to:

• - Expansion of agricultural areas, such as planting new crops/varieties.

  • - Changes in the previously documented agricultural plan by the notarization authority.

  • - Use of any agricultural inputs for the first time.

  • - Emergency pest control methods, means, and materials.

  • - Relocation of beehives to other sites.

  • - Any procedures or measures applied within the facilities of the production unit subject to inspection and notarization.

2- The notarization authority may increase or decrease the transition period based on the data provided by the organic production unit, including but not limited to:

• A- Technical reports and official observations issued by branches and offices of the Ministry or other relevant authorities, which prove the condition of the agricultural land and previous agricultural operations.

• B- Results of laboratory analyses of soil, plant, or fruit samples.

• C- Results of the first field visit by the inspector of the notarization authority.

• D- Satellite imaging techniques of the production unit's location may be utilized.

3- The time period required for the transition process depends on the type of organic product as follows:

• A- In the case of annual crops, at least two years before the sowing process.

• B- In the case of pastures, at least two years before utilizing them as fodder from organic cultivation.

• C- In the case of perennial crops, three years before the first harvest of the products.

4- The transition period for livestock production includes:

• A- Providing organic feed as much as possible from the beginning of the transition.

• B- This period depends on the type of animal.

5- The transition period in beekeeping:

• A- Honey production and other bee products are subject to a transition period lasting a full year during which organic production techniques for beekeeping are applied.

• B- During the transition period, non-organic wax is replaced with organic wax, and if it is not available in the markets or at apiaries that have previously been granted organic certification, non-organic wax may be used during the transition period provided it is not treated with chemical substances.

6- The organic production unit is prohibited from being subject to inspection and notarization by more than one notarization authority, except in specific cases and regulations, including but not limited to:

• A- Notarizing the production unit according to different systems and standards.

• B- Differences in the production unit that belongs to the main entity, or the activities and scopes intended for organic notarization.

7- "Collective notarization" may be applied to adjacent organic production units to obtain a single notarization certificate, provided that it is in accordance with the following regulations:

• A- The locations of the targeted production units for collective notarization and the distance between them.

• B- Appointing a representative responsible for all production units subject to collective notarization, who will deal with the notarization authority and relevant authorities.

• C- Adopting a unified farm management system that ensures the application of all agricultural and production operations in accordance with the standards and requirements compatible with organic agriculture as stipulated in this guide.

• D- Adopting a unified documentation system for all production units (farms) through which all agricultural operations are recorded and documented.

1- The organic production unit is granted an organic notarization certificate upon completion of the conversion period.

2- The notarization authority must provide a notarization certificate for any product subject to its regulations in the field of activities mentioned in this guide, which must include a definition of the production unit, the agricultural areas, the type of notarized products, their quantities, as well as the validity period of the certificate.

3- In the case of imported products, the products must be accompanied by a notarization certificate issued by the competent authority or notarization entities in the country of origin.

1- The notarization authority is obligated to coordinate and exchange information related to inspection and notarization activities with the competent authority and other notarization entities, and to maintain an updated list that includes the names and addresses of the registered producers under its supervision and the status of each, making it accessible to relevant parties and the public through the official electronic platforms of the notarization authority.

2- The competent authority may, when necessary, appoint or specify the procedural rules followed in providing details related to the required information and data.

3- By the end of February each year, the notarization authority must provide the competent authority with a list of the producers under its supervision as of the end of December of the previous year, along with a brief report on the oversight activities conducted during that year, in addition to inspection reports and notarization certificates or notifications issued for each production unit.