24.8.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L2221 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1804/1999 of 19 July 1999 supplementing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs to include livestock production THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (?), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas: ey Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (%) provide that the Commission is to put forward proposals before 30 June 1995 concerning the principles for, and specific inspection measures covering, organic production of livestock, unprocessed livestock products and products intended for human consumption containing ingredients of animal origin; Demand for organically produced agricultural products is rising and consumers are increasingly attracted by such products; Livestock production allows that range of products to be extended and permits the development on agricultural holdings practising organic farming of complementary activities accounting for a major share of income; This Regulation harmonises rules of production, labelling and inspection for the most relevant livestock species; for species, other than aquatic species, for 0) () 0] C 133, 28.4.1997, p. 29. () 0] C 167, 2.6.1997, p. 55. ) Commission Regulation (EC) No 330/1999 (O] L 40, 13.2.1999, p. 23). (10) which no rules of production are developed in this Regulation, it is appropriate for consumer protection to harmonise at least the labelling requirements and the inspection system; for agriculture products such rules should be developed as soon as possible; Moreover, livestock production is fundamental to the organisation  of  agricultural  production  on organic-production holdings in so far as it provides the necessary organic matter and nutrients for cultivated land and accordingly contributes towards soil improvement and the development of sustainable agriculture; In order to avoid environmental pollution, in particular of natural resources such as the soil and water, organic production of livestock must in principle provide for a close relationship between such production and the land, suitable multiannual rotation systems and the feeding of livestock with organic-farming crop products produced on the holding itself; In order to prevent pollution of water by nitrogenous compounds, organic-production livestock holdings should have appropriate storage capacity and plans for the spreading of solid and liquid livestock effluents; Pastoral stockfarming carried out in accordance with the rules of organic farming is an activity particularly suited to the maintenance and exploitation of the potential of abandoned areas; A wide biological diversity should be encouraged and the choice of breeds should take account of their capacity to adopt to local conditions; Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived therefrom are not compatible with the organic production method; in order to maintain consumer confidence in organic production, genetically modified organisms, parts thereof and products derived therefrom should not be used in products labelled as from organic production;