Legal regulation of organic agricultural production in the Krasnodar Territory

A Law has been adopted in the region, the goal of which is to create favorable conditions for the development of organic production in the region, including in small-scale farming. The main directions are the conservation of natural resources, the improvement of the environmental sustainability of agricultural production, and the increase in the quality and safety of food products.

To solve this problem, it is necessary to:

• develop competitive, highly efficient entrepreneurial activities in the field of organic production;
• introduce voluntary certification of economic activities for the production of organic products and raw materials;
• stimulate the production of organic products in small-scale farming;
• provide state support measures for the development of organic production;
• saturate the consumer market with organic products and meet the needs of the population;
• protect consumer rights and safeguard public health;
• promote environmental conservation.

The powers of the Legislative Assembly of Krasnodar Krai in the sphere of organic production include:

• creating conditions for the efficient production of organic products on the territory of Krasnodar Krai;
• regulating relations in the field of production and sale of organic products in the region;
• exercising control over the compliance with and implementation of adopted laws and other regulatory legal acts of Krasnodar Krai governing relations in the field of production and sale of organic products in the region.

State policy for the development of organic agricultural production in Krasnodar Krai is implemented by the authorized executive body of Krasnodar Krai.

The authorized body, in accordance with this Law, ensures:

• the implementation of measures to develop a network of organic certification bodies on the territory of Krasnodar Krai;
• the development and implementation of Krasnodar Krai state programs and departmental target programs to expand organic production on the territory of Krasnodar Krai;
• the stimulation of organic production development, including in small-scale farming;
• assistance in promoting organic products produced by the region's agricultural producers to the consumer market;
• the exercise of control over compliance with and implementation of Krasnodar Krai regulatory legal acts governing relations in the field of organic production;
• the implementation of state support measures for agricultural producers, including small-scale farming, aimed at developing organic production;
• the exercise of control over the use of budgetary funds and the fulfillment of performance indicators of Krasnodar Krai state programs and departmental target programs for the development of organic production.

Basic principles of organic production:

The rules for organic production apply to all stages and phases of agricultural production — from meeting the requirements for a land plot to the sale of finished products to the end consumer.

The technologies used in organic production prevent and minimize environmental pollution.

Genetically modified organisms and products made from or with their use are not permitted in organic production.

The conservation and maintenance of soil fertility are carried out through the processing of waste and by-products of plant and animal origin with the return of nutrients to the soil. Organic production is carried out separately from traditional agricultural production.

The development of livestock farming is a priority direction for organizing agricultural organic production as the main supplier of organic matter. Support is provided for the optimal economic use and protection of aquatic biological resources and aquatic ecosystems.

The main requirements for organic production in crop farming are:

• use of tillage and cultivation methods that maintain soil organic matter content and prevent soil compaction and erosion through long-term crop rotation, the use of green manure, and compost;
• conducting organic agricultural production only on land plots certified for growing organic products;
• use of certified organic seed and planting material;
• use of materials of microbiological, plant, or animal origin as fertilizer, taking into account sanitary requirements;
• use of mineral fertilizers only as a necessary supplement to biogenic fertilizers in accordance with the regulations and rules of organic production;
• use of biological plant protection agents for pest, disease, and weed control, as well as physical methods and mechanical removal of pests and damaged plants or their parts;
• predominant use in organic production of plant species and cultivars adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the region.

When transitioning from traditional agricultural production to organic production, the following conditions must be met:

The transition of a farm to organic tracks is a gradual process. During the transition period, it is necessary to fully comply with the rules of organic production in the fields, although the products cannot yet be sold as organic. The law allows for combining two approaches: you have the right to conduct parallel production — that is, to leave part of the plots for traditional intensive farming using chemicals and machinery, and certify part of them for organic production.

Conditions for Receiving State Support and Technological Restrictions

In the Krasnodar Territory, organic producers can count on state assistance. To do this, the farmer must undergo certification and be included in the regional register of organic produce producers. State support is provided in three main areas:

• participation in state and departmental targeted programs for the development of the organic sector of the Krasnodar Territory;
• free information, methodological, and consulting support;
• subsidizing risk insurance in the production of organic products.

For products to be officially considered organic (whether food, feed for livestock, seed, or planting material), the entire technological process must strictly comply with the standards of the Russian Federation and IFOAM rules. This strict control covers all stages from soil analysis to the packaging of the finished product. The implementation of such standards requires the agronomist to completely restructure the system of plant protection and plant nutrition.

Production rules strictly regulate operations at each stage. The agronomist must completely abandon conventional chemical plant protection products and synthetic additives. In certified organic production, the use of the following components and methods is strictly prohibited:

• chemical pesticides (only biological preparations are allowed for plant protection);
• mineral fertilizers and agrochemicals (only biological fertilizers are permitted);
• antibiotics and hormonal preparations;
• artificial food additives in processing (flavorings, dyes, preservatives, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, sweeteners);
• genetically modified organisms (any non-cellular, unicellular, or multicellular formations capable of reproduction or transfer of hereditary genetic material, which are distinct from natural ones and obtained by genetic engineering methods);
• ionizing radiation.