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Australian Standard is Ready for Public Comment
The draft Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products has been released and is available for public comment. Standards Australia released the draft Australian Standard for public comment on 21st July. Members of the public and interested parties are encouraged to review the documents and provide feedback to Standards Australia by 22 September 2008.
Standards Australia is working towards publishing the Australian Standard by December 2008.
The Australian Standard has been an OFA initiative. We have been actively involved in its development.
A broadly based committee of key stakeholders has developed the draft Australian Standard. 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 that promote the use of renewable resources and conservation of soil, water and energy resources.
The draft Standard covers production 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 that are labelled ‘organic’.
The Standard is a very significant development because it will become the basis for the first Australian domestic regulations for organic food and products.
The Standard is designed to:
Provide a consistent framework for the organic industry from the paddock to point of sale
Set out minimum requirements for growing products that can be labelled as ‘organic’, ‘biodynamic’ or ‘in-conversion’
Provide clear definitions about what is organic and what is not
Protect consumers against unsubstantiated claims and misleading labelling
Protect growers against misinterpretation and misleading use of organic agricultural practices and the term ‘organic’
Provide a guide for farmers considering conversion to organic farming.
The Committee has also developed supporting reference material outlining the certification procedures for growers of organic and biodynamic products.
To read the draft Standard, visit the Standards Australia website at www.standards.org.au and click on Drafts for Public Comment in the left hand menu.
Standards Australia is working towards publishing the Australian Standard by December 2008.
The Australian Standard has been an OFA initiative. We have been actively involved in its development.
A broadly based committee of key stakeholders has developed the draft Australian Standard. 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 that promote the use of renewable resources and conservation of soil, water and energy resources.
The draft Standard covers production 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 that are labelled ‘organic’.
The Standard is a very significant development because it will become the basis for the first Australian domestic regulations for organic food and products.
The Standard is designed to:
Provide a consistent framework for the organic industry from the paddock to point of sale
Set out minimum requirements for growing products that can be labelled as ‘organic’, ‘biodynamic’ or ‘in-conversion’
Provide clear definitions about what is organic and what is not
Protect consumers against unsubstantiated claims and misleading labelling
Protect growers against misinterpretation and misleading use of organic agricultural practices and the term ‘organic’
Provide a guide for farmers considering conversion to organic farming.
The Committee has also developed supporting reference material outlining the certification procedures for growers of organic and biodynamic products.
To read the draft Standard, visit the Standards Australia website at www.standards.org.au and click on Drafts for Public Comment in the left hand menu.
