What is organic certification?

If it is not Certified Organic, you can’t be sure it is organic. Formal organic certification of organic products is the producer’s guarantee to consumers that along the entire supply chain, a Certified Organic product has been produced in line with the strict national and industry Organic and Biodynamic Standards. In Australia, the term ‘organic’ is not regulated as it is in the United States, Japan and China.

In these countries, a product cannot have the word ‘organic’ on it unless it is certified by a third party certification body such as ACO or SXC. In Australia, it is legal to produce a product and call it ‘organic’ without providing the consumer with any proof that it is actually organic.

What makes a product Certified Organic?

If a product claims to be ‘Certified Organic’ the owner and the seller of that product must be able to prove the validity of the certification. If the vendor is claiming it to be certified, and a consumer questions the validity of the certification, the vendor must by law (The Australian Consumer and Competition Act) be able to show the certificate of registration that confirms the product’s integrity. In summary, the term ‘organic’ can be used on a product anywhere, anytime, without any legal consequences. The term ‘Certified Organic’ can only be used on a product when the producer, processor and in some cases, the vendor, are certified by an independent third party certifier.

The NSAC (National Standard Advisory Committee) is the principal technical committee for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (the department) National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce (the National Standard). In supporting the department, the NSAC provide technical advice and recommendations on amendments, revisions, and updates to the National Standard, thereby acting independently of any organisation. Download the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce.

Organic legislature and policy framework

Organic certification is underpinned domestically and internationally by a strict legislative and policy framework:

• Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2020
• Government Administrative Arrangements for Approved Arrangements Managing inspection and certification operations for the export of certified Australian organic and biodynamic goods
• Requirements to Issue and Manage Organic Goods Certificates
• Industry Notices issued by the department (Organic Notices)