THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (1), and in particular Article 12(2)(e), Article 14(2)(c) and Article 15(2)(a) and (d) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)	Chapter III of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 lays down general production rules for organic products, while detailed production rules are set out in Annex II to that Regulation.

(2)	Since for the production of sprouted seeds, the seedlings use exclusively the reserves in the seeds to sprout and are consumed directly as foodstuff, the seeds used for the production of sprouted seeds should be organic.

(3)

As regards the feeding of bee colonies, where the survival of the colony is endangered due to climatic conditions, the possibility to use pollen from organic apiculture could avoid the larvae to starve. In order to enhance the chances of survival of the colony, it is appropriate to allow bee colonies also to be fed with organic pollen.

(4)

As regards the requirements on the origin of aquaculture animals, in particular juvenile production, the larval rearing is characterised by three phases: the egg hatching and autotrophic phase where larvae consume their yolk sac reserves, the heterotrophic phase where larvae are fed on plankton and the final weaning to new feeding regimes. As that last phase of larval development leads to the juvenile form, new conditions for juvenile production should be provided that incorporate the most recent knowledge on the sector in line with organic principles.

(5)	The current rules on feed for carnivorous aquaculture animals include a general quantitative restriction on feed of plant origin. As the resulting diet does not meet the nutritional needs of all species and stages of development, that restriction should be abolished.

(6)	Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)	In the interest of clarity and legal certainty, this Regulation should apply from the date of application of Regulation (EU) 2018/848,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: