National Standard for Organic and Bio‐Dynamic Produce

The National Standard for Organic and Bio‐Dynamic Produce (referred to as the Standard) was first implemented in 1992 as the Australian Export Standard for products labelled organic or bio‐dynamic. A second edition was released in 1998. Since inception it has provided the organic industry with a nationally agreed Standard. The Standard stipulates minimum requirements for products placed on the market with labelling which states or implies they have been produced under organic or bio‐dynamic systems. In this Standard, the production procedures are an intrinsic part of the identification and labelling of, and claims for, such products. The Standard provides a framework for the organic industry covering production, processing, transportation, labelling and importation. Furthermore the Standard aims to ensure conditions of fair competition in the market place by distinguishing those products produced according to this Standard from those produced by other means. Use of this Standard provides transparency and credibility for the industry and protects the consumer against deception and fraud.The Standard contains three distinct components: The first component identifies General Principles that apply to organic and bio‐dynamic activities. General principles are intended to give the reader a general appreciation of what the Standard intends to achieve. The second component stipulates the specific conditions (or Standards) which must be met by an operator of an organic or bio‐dynamic unit. Finally, the only exceptions allowed to this Standard are clearly noted under the heading Derogation. Derogations will be available when a situation is defined and thus a temporary digression to the Standard may be made