In addition to the overall principles set out in Article 4, organic farming shall be based on the following specific principles:
(a)
the maintenance and enhancement of soil life and natural soil fertility, soil stability and soil biodiversity preventing and combating soil compaction and soil erosion, and the nourishing of plants primarily through the soil ecosystem;
(b)
the minimisation of the use of non-renewable resources and off-farm inputs;
(c)
the recycling of wastes and by-products of plant and animal origin as input in plant and livestock production;
(d)
taking account of the local or regional ecological balance when taking production decisions;
(e)
the maintenance of animal health by encouraging the natural immunological defence of the animal, as well as the selection of appropriate breeds and husbandry practices;
(f)
the maintenance of plant health by preventative measures, such as the choice of appropriate species and varieties resistant to pests and diseases, appropriate crop rotations, mechanical and physical methods and the protection of natural enemies of pests;
(g)
the practice of site-adapted and land-related livestock production;
(h)
the observance of a high level of animal welfare respecting species-specific needs;
(i)
the production of products of organic livestock from animals that have been raised on organic holdings since birth or hatching and throughout their life;
(j)
the choice of breeds having regard to the capacity of animals to adapt to local conditions, their vitality and their resistance to disease or health problems;
(k)
the feeding of livestock with organic feed composed of agricultural ingredients from organic farming and of natural non-agricultural substances;
(l)
the application of animal husbandry practices, which enhance the immune system and strengthen the natural defence against diseases, in particular including regular exercise and access to open air areas and pastureland where appropriate;
(m)
the exclusion of rearing artificially induced polyploid animals;
(n)
the maintenance of the biodiversity of natural aquatic ecosystems, the continuing health of the aquatic environment and the quality of surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in aquaculture production;
(o)
the feeding of aquatic organisms with feed from sustainable exploitation of fisheries as defined in Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (13) or with organic feed composed of agricultural ingredients from organic farming and of natural non-agricultural substances.