article_snippet.sent: Veterinarians have criticised EU rules on organic farming that demands that fish are treated with homoeopathic remedies.
article_snippet.sent: In line with EU regulations, the first line of treatment for organic fish should be 'substances from plants, animals or minerals in a homeopathic dilution', before .
article_snippet.sent: Under EU regulations, organic farmers must first use 'substances from plants, animals or minerals in a homeopathic dilution' to treat ill fish, which has been criticised by British and Norwegian vets (stock image)
article_snippet.sent: The directives, outlined in the 2009 European regulation on organic aquaculture, are set to be brought into national law in non-EU Norway, which has caused vets to see red.
article_snippet.sent: Section 7 of the regulations calls for organic farmers to use 'substances from plants, animals or minerals in a homoeopathic dilution', as their first port of call when their fish are ill .
article_snippet.sent: After this, the 'veterinary treatments' section outlines that farmers may use  'plants and farmers extracts not having anaesthetic effects'.
article_snippet.sent: As well as the directive to use homeopathic treatments, organic fish farmers are only allowed to resort to mainstream medical treatments a maximum of twice per year, or organic fish farmers fish will lose their fish organic certification.
article_snippet.sent: This has been criticised by the  Norwegian Veterinary Association (NVA) as could mean that fish are not getting the correct treatment in time, causing fish unnecessary suffering.
article_snippet.sent: Harsh: Farmers are only allowed to use mainstream medical treatments a twice per year, or Farmers fish will lose their fish organic certification (stock image)
article_snippet.sent: As with any treatment for disease using medicines, the Norwegian Veterinary Association believes that veterinary medicinal products must be evidence-based, with any medicinal claims made by a manufacturer supported. '
highlights_snippet.sent: Norwegian vets criticise EU regulations on treatment of organic fish .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: First line of treatment for organic fish should be homeopathic remedy .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Vets call directives 'scientifically illiterate', saying it delays real care .
  