OFA Welcomes Ministers Statement on the Australian Standard
The organic sector welcomes the latest media release from the office of the Hon. Peter McGauran MP, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry regarding the Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce.

Primary Industries Ministers from across Australia met in Brisbane on Friday 20 April 2007 to consider issues impacting on Australia’s primary production sectors. As a result, a Primary Industries Ministerial Council communiqué now states "Council noted that the development of an Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce by Standards Australia will provide greater certainty and credibility for the industry and consumers and will help the industry maintain its recent strong rate of growth. Council agreed to consider the need for a regulatory framework once the Australian Standard is developed and agreed to consult the organic sector as part of this process."

As the peak industry body for the Australian organic and biodynamic sector, the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) welcomes the opportunity to work with governments on developing an appropriate regulatory frame work when the Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce is published by Standards Australia.

The OFA has spent over two years working in partnership with the government and the Australian organic and biodynamic sector on this project. The OFA greatly appreciates the contribution this sector has received from the Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, AQIS and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

An Australian organic standard will provide the organic industry with a uniform national benchmark for the production and the marketing of organic produce on the domestic market. Once developed, this standard can be used by government agencies to ensure compliance against misleading and deceptive practices for organic products sold on the domestic market.

The inaugural meeting of a new technical committee for organic and biodynamic produce will be held at Standards Australia premises in Sydney on May 7 2007.

Best Regards
Andre Leu
Chair

OFA National Compost Photography Competition
The OFA is sponsoring a national photography competition on the use of composts as part of International Compost Week.
The competition will be judged based on three categories:

1. Intensive Agriculture (i.e., viticulture, orchards)
2. Gardening/Landscaping, and
3. Rehabilitation.

OFA to Promote Certified Australian Organic Products in Asia
The OFA in conjunction with NASAA, is exhibiting certified organic Australian products at the Natural Products Expo in Hong Kong from June 27-29. Hong Kong is one of the most important regional centres in Asia. It is one of the best gateways for getting products into China. Commercial buyers of organic products from all over Asia will be at the Expo. If you are intrested in selling you products to China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines,Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore please contact the OFA.
www.ofa.org.au
chair@ofa.org.au

Sally Fallon to Visit Australia
Real food activist, researcher and author Sally Fallon will be giving a variety of talks including ‘Nourishing Traditional Diets – the Key to Vibrant Health’, ‘The Cholesterol Myths’, ‘Nourishing Our Children’ and ‘Why Pasture Fed is Best’. Sally will explain the roles of shaky science and vested interests in dictating our food choices and the consequences for our health. Our children are suffering from allergies, asthma, learning and behaviour problems; rates of diabetes and obesity are increasing.

She will explain why we must care about how our food is produced, why organic and pasture fed matter, why cultured foods are important and how to prepare nourishing traditional foods all the family will love. Tour details and bookings: www.westonapriceaus.org.au
Phone bookings: 1300 797 762