S.L. 549.66 Art. 3Application and responsibility.

(1) These regulations shall apply to all agricultural activities taking place on any holding in Malta.

(2) Any action taken by any person to achieve compliance with these regulations shall not preclude such person from his obligations under any other legislation.

(3) Production units of bovines, swine, ovines, caprines and rabbits, (falling under Schedule IIA having Nitrogen content below 1%) managed by a single farmer having an animal population equivalent or lower than the animal populations listed in Schedule IV but in any case less than 3 livestock units shall be exempted from the obligations in regulations 5, 11, and 12:

Provided that these are housed within the farm structure and/or its adjoining enclosure/s which shall consist of a yard.

(4) Production units of layer hens and broilers, (falling under Schedule IIB having Nitrogen content above 1%) managed by a single farmer having an animal population equivalent or lower than the animal populations listed in Schedule IV but in any case equivalent to 1 livestock unit shall be exempted from the obligations in regulations 5, 11, and 12: Provided that where the Director has reason to believe that in a particular case effective waste management is not guaranteed this shall not apply: Provided further that these are housed within the farm structure and/or its adjoining enclosure/s which shall consist of a yard.

(5) Farmers having one half (0.5) of a tumolo of agricultural land or less, shall be exempted from the obligations in regulations 4 and 12: Provided that where the Director has reason to believe that any farmer is using any of his agricultural land and, or holding abusively, the exemption shall not apply.

(6) Livestock farmers rearing certified organic animals in terms of the Organic Production and Labelling of Organic Products

Regulations shall be exempted from the obligations in regulations 5, 7, 8 and 11 and may keep such livestock in fields which have been certified by the competent authority in terms of the said regulations, as organic: Provided that the number of livestock that may be kept must not exceed the number of animals indicated in Annex IV to Commission Regulation (EC) 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation

(EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control and any subsequent amendments thereto.

(7) Organic fertilisers not included in Schedules IIA and IIB are to have their Nitrogen content analysed and established by means of a Nitrogen Test and such results shall be incorporated in the fertiliser plan.