Article 47 Catastrophic circumstances

F1Nothing in this Regulation prevents the relevant authority from using any power the authority has to authorise on a temporary basis:

1. (a)

   F2in the case of high mortality of animals caused by health or catastrophic circumstances, the renewal or reconstitution of the herd or flock with non-organic animals, when organically reared animals are not available and provided that the respective conversion period are applied to the non-organic animals;

2. (b)

   in case of high mortality of bees caused by health or catastrophic circumstances, the reconstitution of the apiaries with non-organic bees, when organic apiaries are not available;

3. (c)

   the use of non-organic feedingstuffs for a limited period and in relation to a specific area by individual operators, when forage production is lost or when restrictions are imposed, in particular as a result of exceptional meteorological conditions, the outbreak of infectious diseases, the contamination with toxic substances, or as a consequence of fires;

4. (d)

   the feeding of bees with organic honey, organic sugar or organic sugar syrup in case of long lasting exceptional weather conditions or catastrophic circumstances, which hamper the nectar or honeydew productionF3;

5. (e)

   F4the use of sulphur dioxide up to the maximum content to be fixed in accordance with the Annex I B to Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 if the exceptional climatic conditions of a given harvest year deteriorate the sanitary status of organic grapes in a specific geographical area because of severe bacterial attacks or fungal attacks, which oblige the winemaker to use more sulphur dioxide than in previous years to obtain a comparable final product ;

6. (f)

   F5in the case of high mortality of aquaculture animals caused by circumstances listed in Article 57(1)(a) to (d) of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council ^f1 , the renewal or reconstitution of the aquaculture stock with non-organic aquaculture animals, when organically reared animals are not available and provided that at least the latter two thirds of the duration of the production cycle are managed under organic management.

Upon approval by the competent authority, the individual operators shall keep documentary evidence of the use of the above exceptions. F6...