What is Organic Certification?
Organic certification is where the particular certifying body requests an audit on the business to ensure their methods comply with the standards set by this certifying body.
Many people have their businesses certified. This is to reassure wholesalers, retailers and consumers that are interested in purchasing organic produce, that their produce is genuinely organic.
About Organic Certification
The National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce (the Standard) is administered by AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service). The Standard provides a framework for Australia’s organic industry and clearly sets out minimum requirements for organic production, processing, transportation and labelling.
The 3 principal objectives of the Standard for the organic industry is as follows:
- To ensure the food production is of high nutritional value
- The development of biological cycles in farming systems with the simultaneous protection of the environment
- To ensure the most humane treatment of the animals that are raised for food.
These certification bodies that are accredited by AQIIS. Each of these bodies are responsible for ensuring the general principles and specific requirements of the Standard are adhered to by the farmers as well as the processors, transporters and retailers certified under their inspection system. This is does by periodic and random inspections by the certification body.
Certfication Bodies
- Australian Certified Organic (ACO) is Australia's largest certifier for organic and biodynamic produce and has over 1500 operators within its certification system;
- Demeter International is the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture, and is one of three predominant organic certifiers;
- NASAA was formed in 1986, it stands for The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia;
- Safe Food Queensland (SFQ) is the most recent certification organisation to begin operating in Australia. It is run by the Queensland Government;
- The Tasmanian Organic Producers (TOP) certify organic and biodynamic food grown or made in Tasmania;
- The Organic Food Chain (OFC) is a grower owned and operated company.
- The Organic Growers of Australia (OGA) certification system was designed to be ethical, cost-effective, and charge no levies on organic sales.
