Vigilance is required to ensure organic standards remain in industry's hands, says BFA

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Consumers should soon be confident that the organic products they choose are truly organic as the development of an Australian Standard for the organic and biodynamic industry nears completion. A draft base standard was released for comment on 21 July.

The BFA (Biological Farmers Association) Group has re-stated the need for organic industry members to remain engaged in developing new organic standards to ensure ongoing delivery of practical, meaningful regulation as demanded by industry and consumers alike.

While this base standard is planned to be finalised by the end of 2008, there remain some critical issues to resolve says BFA Director and Standards Chair, Dr. Andrew Monk.

"The industry is yet to determine how a new scheme will operate to deliver more effective regulation outside current industry self-regulated certification arrangements which have seen Australia develop high quality, internationally recognised standards" he says.

'There are ever-present pressures to hand over the control of standards setting to those with little interest in the organic movement itself, or those without the expertise to manage it.

"The BFA is not willing to let interests outside of the industry water down core technical requirements of the standard and the stringent organic certification processes built by industry over decades.

"The BFA remains focused on the protection of organic industry stakeholders and consumers and believes organic certification – currently not mandated in the new draft standard – is key to continually delivering this."

"Certification is a core component of self-regulation of the organic industry world-wide and especially in Australia where there is no legislation for the term organic."

Once finalised, the Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products will establish one uniform Standard to address industry needs, government needs and consumer uncertainty around marketing and labelling claims on organic products.

Standards Australia released the draft Australian Standard for public comment last week. It stipulates requirements for the production, preparation, transportation, marketing and labelling of organic and biodynamic products.

It places particular emphasis on farming and management practices which promote the use of renewable resources and conservation of soil, water and energy resources.

Unprocessed products from plants, animals and fungi such as fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, mushroom and fibres, as well as processed products such as processed food, cosmetics and skincare products which are labelled 'organic' are covered.

Deputy CEO of Standards Australia, Colin Blair, says the draft establishes minimum requirements to be met by growers and manufacturers for products that can be labelled 'organic' or 'biodynamic', creating a level playing field for growers, retailers and consumers.

"At the moment, consumers looking to buy organic products have no uniform guarantee of quality and integrity," he says.

The draft standard:
• Provides clear definitions about what is organic and what is not,
• Protects consumers against unsubstantiated claims and misleading labelling,
• Protects growers against misinterpretation and misleading use of organic agricultural practices and the term ‘organic’,
• Provides a guide for farmers considering conversion to organic farming.

Members of the public and interested parties are encouraged to review the documents and provide feedback to Standards Australia by September 22.

Standards Australia is working towards publishing the Australian Standard by December 2008.

There are currently no laws regulating agricultural practice and management of domestically-sold organic products or the use of marketing claims on organic products.