OFA
Organic Federation
of Australia
Organic Certification
What is it?
How does it work?
Tim Marshall – Deputy Chairman
Organic Federation of Australia
OFA
Tim Marshall: previous role
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Co-founder , first Chairperson of the first organic
certification body in Australia (NASAA)

First Standards and Certification Co-ordinator for IFOAM

15 years experience as an organic inspector visiting 750
organic units in Australia and 1,300 in Asia and the Pacific
region

Author of first Inspector’s Training Manual in Australia
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Tim Marshall: current role
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Director: TM Organics Pty Ltd

Writing: books, journal articles, websites

Training: emphasis on conversion and certification

Consulting: small and large clients

TM Organics works in Australia, Asia and the Pacific

Current focus on organic grapes and wine in Australia and
cocoa, coffee, coconut and spices in PNG
www.tmorganics.com

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Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
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What is Organic Production?
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
• No synthetic chemicals
• A holistic farming system
• No GMO’s
• Environmental sustainability/biodiversity
• Humane treatment of animals
• Social justice/fair trade consideration
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What is Organic Produce?
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Certified organic produce has been organically grown,
harvested, prepared and transported in systems that
guarantee the produce is not contaminated by
synthetic chemicals, fumigated or irradiated

To guarantee that a product is organic it must be
labeled as ‘certified organic’ with the registration
number and certifying bodies (CB’s) name on it, and
all handlers of the product must be certified
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What is Organic Produce?
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD PROCESSING

Certified organic processing uses natural food additives
and physical methods of food preparation such as
cooking, water/alcohol extractions etc

Organic processing and distribution requires records
that follow the complete ‘audit trail’ of all ingredients
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Organic certification
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Over 30 years of organic certification

Based on written standards

Organic certification conforms to the international
system of standardization that has been built up over
many years and includes CODEX and the International
Standards Organisation (ISO)
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OFA
Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Documents that establish the definition and measurable
parameters for certified organic production

Certifiers also have an operations manual that specifies
how they will apply the standards
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Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

CODEX Alimentarius has produced an organic
standard that is widely used by government regulators.

There are National standards in many countries, based
upon CODEX: examples include the EU, USA, Canada,
China and Korea
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Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

There are also international private standards

Until recently IFOAM produced the only international
private standard, and still maintains the only
international private standard for food

Recently private standards have arisen for cosmetics
and fibre
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Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Private sector standards are more widely used in
practice (at the field level)

Private standards must conform to national standards
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OFA
Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Fortunately, although there are small differences
between all these standards, they are generally similar
in principle and variations are generally due to the
affect of local agronomic conditions (e.g. soil), climate
and culture (e.g. the need to confine animals in winter
in high latitudes)
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Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia


In this context a standard is established by consensus
and approved by a recognized body, but it is voluntary
A regulation is considered mandatory
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OFA
Organic Standards
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Transparency: Information including work programs,
drafts, proposals and final results should be accessible
to all interested parties

Impartiality: Equal accessibility and opportunity for
producers and processors who meet the standards

Market Relevance: Respond to market and regulatory
needs
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Conversion to Organic
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Conversion is the process of change from a nonorganic (‘conventional’) to an organic system

Organic Standards require a minimum ‘conversion
period’ of 3 years of consecutive organic management
for primary production

Processors do not have a mandatory conversion
period. They can begin organic production as soon as
approved systems are in place
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Certification stages
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
PRE-CERTIFICATION

12 months

Two inspections

No logo use during pre-certification
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Certification stages
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
IN CONVERSION

24 months verified conformance with Organic
Standards

May use an “In Conversion” label
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OFA
Certification stages
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
CERTIFIED ORGANIC
•
Minimum period of 36 consecutive months conformance
with organic Standards
•
May use a ‘Certified Organic’ label
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Reasons for Conversion period
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Time for the breakdown of pesticide residues

Time for the biological development of soil ecology

Time for the development of a holistic farming system

Time for supervision of the farming system by the
certification body (CB)

Protect genuine organic producers and consumers
from short-term profit seekers
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Record keeping
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Records include
• Maps outlining land use, neighbouring land use,
paddock subdivision, rotation history
• Records of all purchased inputs including seed,
fertilizer, pesticides, stock and stock feed
• Records of activities including sowing, spraying,
drenching, harvesting etc
• Records of outputs including organic and nonorganic sales

THE CB MAY MAKE AVAILABLE A FORMAT OR
OUTLINE FOR RECORD KEEPING
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How does Certification work?
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Statutory declarations
 Product testing
 Annual inspection
 Independent review
 Contracts and fees
 Record keeping
 Unannounced inspection
 Sanctions
 Choice of certification bodies (CBs)
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Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
OFA
Inspection
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

(At least) annual visit to each property

Written report of inspection

Inspectors are trained and experienced in organic
systems

Inspectors are independent and must reveal conflicts of
interest and maintain confidence
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Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
OFA
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
OFA
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
OFA
Certification decision
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Independent of the inspector

Made by a panel or reviewers

May be appealed

Results in an offer of certification (contract
between CB and operator)
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OFA
Organic Management Plan
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

AN OMP IS A DOCUMENT THAT DESCRIBES THE
FARMING SYSTEM
• The physical resources: area, land capability,
biodiversity, capital improvements etc.
• The farming activities: land use, seasonal routines,
land preparation, sowing, weed control, harvesting
etc.
• The threats and pressures: pests, weeds, weather
and climate, land class, neighbouring activities etc
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OFA
OMP continued
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Organic Management Plan is the basic document
upon which inspection and certification is based

OMP may be based upon an annual
questionnaire produced by the certification body
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OFA
Reducing cost of certification
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

In order to reduce the cost of certification for
small farmers who wish to export to the west, a
system called Grower Groups has been developed

For local markets, a system called participatory
Guarantee Systems (PGS) has been developed
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Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia



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
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Grower Groups
Smallholders combine into growers groups (GG) based
on geographical location and product type
GG produces a local language version of the Standard
Smallholders sign an agreement with the GG to conform
to Standards
GG conducts inspections and maintains records
Western CB inspects the GG records and conducts a
sample inspection of 5% of growers
If there are problems, more members are inspected
OFA
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
PGS

PGS is also based on grower groups

Members of the group inspect each other

Provides the cheapest access to local markets
for small producers

PGS product may need to be ‘recertified’ by an
accredited CB before it can enter export markets
OFA
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
Certification
conclusion

Standards and certification are the necessary to
access world markets and premium prices

Certification is the basis of consumer trust and
confidence

National standards and regulations support
organic growers and markets

Small growers can access premium markets via
grower groups and PGS
OFA
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia
OFA
Organic
Organic Federation
Federation
of
Australia
of Australia

Thanks for your attention

Questions?
Conclusion