Recital (11)

GAEC standard 1, listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, aims to maintain permanent grassland to preserve carbon stock. Points 1.7.3 and 1.9.1.1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 emphasise the importance of maximising the use of grazing and pasture, which prevents the conversion of permanent grassland into other land uses, and in line with the main objective of GAEC standard 1 preserves carbon stock in permanent grasslands. GAEC standards 3, 5 and 6, listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, aim to maintain soil organic matter, limit erosion, and protect soils during sensitive periods, respectively. Those objectives are already achieved through the tillage and cultivation practices applied in organic plant production, in particular those referred to in point 1.9 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848. GAEC standard 4, listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, aims to protect water against pollution. Similarly, points 1.5, 1.7, 1.9 and 1.10 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 aim to reduce the risk of water pollution by limiting the use of veterinary medicinal products, restricting the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and restricting stocking density. Experience has shown that organic farming has a positive impact as regards nutrient leaching and run-off, making it less likely that an organic farmer would compromise the quality of water, thereby achieving the main objective of GAEC standard 4. Therefore, given the principles and rules laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and existing practices under the organic farming systems, farmers certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 should be deemed to comply with GAEC standards 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and, as is already the case, 7 in relation to their organic production units and in-conversion production units, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/848. In order to reduce the administrative burden on the competent authorities of the Member States while striving to apply that possibility of the presumption of compliance with certain GAEC standards in the most appropriate way, it should be possible for Member States to decide that such presumption of compliance only applies where the entire holding of the farmer certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 consists of organic production units or of in-conversion production units as defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/848, or of both such production units.