We believe that in order to understand and implement a subject properly, it is first necessary to know and fully understand the relevant definitions and terms.
For better understanding, definitions and descriptions of terms are generally included in the first articles of Regulations and Standards. These definitions and terms also contribute to healthier communication between the cooperating control body, relevant official institutions, operators, and customers.
The following definitions have been prepared primarily by considering national legislation. Differences in other Regulations are specifically stated.
Biological control: A method of pest management by using other living organisms against harmful agents, diseases, and weeds in plants, to keep the harmful agent below the economic damage threshold.
Biotechnical methods: A method of pest control using traps and trap systems, pheromones, attractants, repellents, insect growth regulators, feeding inhibitors, and oviposition inhibitors against targeted pest species.
Biological control and biotechnical methods are important practices that must be applied before resorting to use of inputs for pest and disease control.
Farmer (according to Turkish Regulation): An operator engaged in agricultural production as an owner, tenant, sharecropper, or partner, either continuously or for at least one production period or cultivation season.
Farmer (according to EU Regulation): A natural or legal person, or a group of natural or legal persons, regardless of the legal status of that group and its members under national law, who exercises an agricultural activity.
ÇKS Record: A document showing the information of farmers recorded in the “Farmer Registration System” as of the date of issuance.
Operators must submit their updated ÇKS records for registered lands in Türkiye to the control body at the application stage and before each production season.
Farmer Document: A document containing information about the identity and agricultural activities of farmers, issued and approved by the agricultural chamber to which they are legally affiliated.
Farmer Registration System (ÇKS): An agricultural database created by Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry , where farmers are registered.
Another important purpose of the farmer registration system is to ensure that agricultural support programs are implemented in a verifiable, traceable, and reportable manner.
Conversion period: The period from the start of activity according to the provisions of the relevant Regulation until the product is certified as organic.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): A non-human living organism obtained by gene transfer using modern biotechnological methods.
Operator (according to TR Regulation): A natural or legal person engaged in organic farming activities.
Operator (according to EU Regulation): The natural or legal person responsible for ensuring that the organic Regulation is complied with at every stage of production, preparation and distribution that are under that person’s control.
Organic Farming Information System (OTBİS): A database created by Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, containing information on operators engaged in organic farming, land, products, livestock production, aquaculture production, and certificates.
Forms of land use: Refers to the use of agricultural land as owned, rented, or allocated.
Hydroponic production (according to Turkish Regulation): A method of growing plants in which their roots are in a mineral nutrient solution, or in an inert medium such as perlite, gravel, or mineral wool supplemented with nutrient solution.
Hydroponic production (according to EU Regulation): A method of growing plants which do not naturally grow in water with their roots in a nutrient solution only or in an inert medium to which a nutrient solution is added.
According to the rules of organic farming, Hydroponic production is prohibited and production in living soil is mandatory.
Production year: Refers to the year in which the crop is harvested for annual crops, and for perennial crops, each year between the planting date and the last harvest date.
Vegetation period: The period from the planting/sowing date until the last harvest date for each crop type.
Authorized body (according to Turkish Regulation): Natural or legal persons authorized by the Ministry as a control and certification body, control body, or certification body.
This definition appears as “control body” in the EU Organic Farming Regulation, and the authority is granted by the European Commission. In the US Organic Farming Regulation, it is referred to as “certifying agent”, and the authority is directly granted by the United States National Organic Program (NOP).
Additional important definitions and terms for Regulation (EU) 2018/848:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU): Implementing regulations are always limited in scope, and their purpose is to ensure the uniform application of EU legislation. The subject of any implementing measure serves only this purpose.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU): Delegated regulations may be used to supplement existing legislation (the basic act) or to amend specific or non-essential elements of a basic act.
Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is the basic act of the European Union on organic production, however, it must be considered together with the Implementing and Delegated Regulations.
Stage of production, preparation and distribution: Any stage from the primary production of an organic product through its storage, processing, transport, and sale or supply to the final consumer, including, where relevant, labelling, advertising, import, export and subcontracting activities.
Preventive measures: Measures that are to be taken by operators at every stage of production, preparation and distribution in order to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and soil quality, measures for the prevention and control of pests and diseases and measures that are to be taken to avoid negative effects on the environment, animal health and plant health.
Precautionary measures: Measures that are to be taken by operators at every stage of production, preparation, and distribution to avoid contamination with products or substances that are not authorised for use in organic production in accordance with this Regulation, and to avoid the commingling of organic products with non-organic products.
According to Regulation (EU) 2018/848, operators must implement preventive and precautionary measures together, in proportion to their risks, continuously monitor them, and increase them if necessary.
Traceability: The ability to trace and follow food, feed or any product and any substance intended or expected to be incorporated into food, feed or any product, through all stages of production, preparation and distribution.
In identifying the categories of non-compliance specified in Regulation (EU) 2018/848, traceability is the most important parameter. In the major non-compliance category, the affected product can still be identified within the supply chain in the traceability system, while in the critical non-compliance category, the affected product cannot be identified within the supply chain.
Integrity of organic or in-conversion products: The fact that the product does not exhibit non-compliance which: in any stage of production, preparation and distribution affects the organic or in-conversion characteristics of the product; or is repetitive or intentional.
Placing on the market: As defined in Article 3(8) of Regulation (EC) 178/2002; holding food for the purpose of sale, including offering for sale, distribution, or other forms of transfer, whether free of charge or not.
Definitions added due to the provision on catastrophic conditions in Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013:
Environmental incident: Refers to a specific occurrence of pollution, contamination or degradation in the quality of the environment which is related to a specific event and is of limited geographical scope; but does not cover general environmental risks not connected with a specific event, such as climate change or atmospheric pollution.
Natural disaster: A naturally occurring event of a biotic or abiotic nature that leads to important disturbances in agricultural production systems or forest structures, eventually causing important economic damage to the farming or forestry sectors.
Catastrophic event: An unforeseen event of a biotic or abiotic nature caused by human action that leads to important disturbances in agricultural production systems or forest structures, eventually causing important economic damage to the farming or forestry sectors.
Adverse climatic condition: Weather conditions, such as frost, storms and hail, ice, heavy rain or severe drought, which can be assimilated to a natural disaster.
Only some terms and definitions are stated here, you may find more in our related content articles.