1. Understanding Certified Organic Retail Training Australian Organic 18 Eton Street (PO Box 810), Nundah QLD 4012 (07)

2. Training Agenda Introduction – Who is ACO & AO
Organic Standards (Domestic vs International)
Marketing & Labelling Guidelines and Requirements
Approval Procedures
What’s not allowed in certified organic?
Who is the consumer?
Emerging Issues/Trends
Australian Certified Organic (ACO) is Australia’s largest and most recognised organic certification organisation.

3. Who is Australian Certified Organic?
Fully owned subsidiary of Australian Organic
Legislated under Government standard
Largest organic certification body in Australia
Operates in over 15 countries (Asia/Pacific focus)
Certifies tens of thousands of organic products
Bud logo found on overwhelming majority of certified products found in Australia
Experienced and professional certification staff and inspectors
A certified organic logo represents regular auditing and spot checks to ensure compliance to the certification standard.

4. Who is Australian Organic?
Key Points
The voice of Australian Certified Organic
Not-for-profit, member owned organisation
Educator, marketer on behalf of ACO
Australian Organic Awareness Month – September
Australian Organic Market Report – every 2 years
Australian Organic Schools – providing free education curriculum
Domestic and International trade events
Lobbyist at a Government level
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, You Tube, Twitter
Goodwill Ambassador Program
Go to for Media
The Bud logo can be found on tens of thousands of products sold in Australia (the overwhelming majority of the certified organic industry).

5. How does organic fit into your store?
Key Points
Four out of five purchases of certified organic are from supermarkets.
The Australian organic industry, while mainstream, is still a niche sector.
Consumer expectations in products, such as free from synthetic pesticides, GMOs and animal cruelty, are driving demand.
The Australian Certified Organic Bud logo is the most recognised amongst consumers.
1/3 of shoppers say they would only buy organic if it is certified organic.
1 in 3 shoppers will only purchase an organic product if it displays a certified organic logo.

6. What does certified organic mean?
Operators certified to the ACO Standard are compliant to strict domestic and international requirements for organic production.
Non GMO
Free to range
Pasture fed
Socially responsible
Biodiversity and environmentally friendly
No animal testing
Grown free from synthetic pesticides, hormones and antibiotics
Free from petrochemicals, harsh surfactants, EDTAs
Free from synthetic food additives
Organic certification systems were set up in Australia to cut through marketing spin and ensure what you’re buying is truly organic.
Image: Barambah Organics
The organic industry is worth $1.7 billion to the Australian economy and is growing by 15% year on year (2014).

7. What does organic certification mean to the consumer?
Being able to purchase a product that has third party certification.
A product that is produced using sustainable farming practices.
A product that is environmentally and biodiversity friendly.
A product that has been grown free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics and GMOs.
A processed product that is free from harmful synthetic preservatives, colours and additives.
A product that is cruelty free and supports animal welfare.
A product that has complied with rigorous certification standards from farm to plate.
Australia has the most organic land in the world with 22 million hectares in total (2014).

8. Trends Not just for food and drinks
As per Australian Organic Market Report 2014
New organic products appeared in the marketplace over last three years:
Opportunities for expansion:
Meat – beef, lamb, chicken, eggs
Vitamins
Fridge stable herbs and spices
Super foods
Essential oils
Cosmetics, personal hygiene
Oils – coconut oil, olive oil
Dietary supplements
Dried fruit and nuts
Hair care
Infant food and formula- baby food
Pet foods and pet products
Beverages – wine, coffee, juice
‘Certified organic’ is a regulated term under Australian law, unlike just ‘organic’ or ‘natural’.

9. Barriers to buying certified organic
Top 5 Reasons
Price/value
Knowing you can trust it’s organic (down 5% from 2012)
I would like to know more about organic products than what I do
Easier access/convenience of buying
Being easily able to identify it’s organic

10. Certification across all categories
Australian Certified Organic certifies:
Livestock (meat), livestock feeds
Fresh produce
Processed and packaged foods
Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
Cosmetics, skincare, personal hygiene
Pet food
Allowed Inputs certification:
Fertilizers, farm inputs
Approved Products certification:
Salt, water, cleaning products (sanitizers)
16% of shoppers started buying organic because of a health crisis.

11. How do I know if it’s really organic?
To know you’re really buying organic, look for a Government approved certification logo like Australian Certified Organic’s Bud logo.
Tens of thousands of products carry the Bud logo.
If I source unpackaged organic fresh produce through a wholesaler, how do I tell if its organic claim is genuine? Ask for an organic certificate.
Image: Manna Farms
Fruit and vegetables are the most purchased organic foods at 58%, followed by home-cooking ingredients at 42% and dairy at 41% (2014).

12. Auditing / Inspection Process
Each product line is required to be accredited to the ACO Standard to carry the Bud logo.
Formulations, labels, ingredients and products are all assessed and verified prior to wearing the Bud logo.
All certified operations undergo an annual audit (and are subject to random inspections).
The entire supply chain is audited and certified, from farm to end product.
In a survey taken in 2014, 43% of respondents said their biggest barrier to buying organic was knowing you can trust it is organic.

13. Where the industry has come from
Export Control Act 1982 (Export Control Orders – Organic Produce Certification – 2005)
National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce developed 1992
Current National Standard last updated 2015
AS 6000 Australian Standard Organic and Biodynamic Products developed 2009
Current AS 6000 last updated 2016
The Bud logo can be found on the overwhelming majority of certified organic products sold in Australia.

14. What can’t be granted certification status?
Water & Salt – Approved Products Standard
Any product containing less then 70% certified organic ingredients
Land exposed to GMO or high toxic residue will undergo lengthy periods of time before A Grade certification status is granted
Companies not willing to provide ACO with ingredient formulas to review
Any product not adhering to the ACO Standard
Companies not willing to undergo annual inspections
ACO conducts over 11,000 compliance checks every year, including onsite audits, product and label assessments, formulations and more.
The annual growth of organic coffee is 8% (2014).

15. Domestic vs International
What ACO offers
Domestic vs International
ACO introduced Australia’s first globally recognised Non-GMO Certification in August 2016.
The annual growth of organic cosmetics between was 18% (2014).

16. Gaining certification through ACO
Who can apply for organic certification through ACO?
Must comply with ACO Standard
Entire supply chain must be certified
Time frame is approx weeks depending on operation. Fast Track option is available.
ACO offers certification for all industries, including:
Fresh produce
Packaged food & beverages
Cosmetics, skincare, personal hygiene
House cleaning products, textiles
Garden products (fertilizers)
Image: Coolibah Herbs
Dairy is the fastest growing organic sector (surpassing beef) (2014).

17. Organic Certificate
All operators are issued a Certificate of Compliance.
Certificate valid for 12 months at a time – expiry date displayed on certificate.
Each certificate has a unique Certificate Number – these numbers will change each time a new certificate is issued.
Domestic and International Standards that apply to operation are displayed on same certificate.
List of certified organic products and services displayed on second page of certificate.
How can I verify an operation’s organic status if I’m only supplied their certification number and certifying agent? Visit Product Search tool.
Organic exports more than doubled between 2012 and 2014.

18. Converting to certified organic status
Producers (growers) must undergo a conversion process which could take up to 3 years before becoming fully certified.
There is a separate Bud logo for producers who are “In Conversion”.
Conversion timeframes are not relevant to processors/wholesalers.
All producers undergo soil/tissue testing for pesticides/herbicides/ metal contamination at their initial audit.
According to a 2014 survey, chemical free is the number one perceived benefit of organic.

19. Misleading branding and labels
The ACCC and media are becoming increasingly savvy about the misuse of the word ‘organic’.
In 2013 ACCC requested seven bottled water companies to remove “organic” from labels – water cannot technically be certified organic, it is considered an Approved Product.
Australian Organic and Australian Certified Organic receive complaints about the misuse of the word “organic”, particularly in the skincare and beauty industry.
Australian Organic takes “certified organic” claims on non-certified products very seriously as it is a regulated term in Australia.
“Unusual suspects” made up 40% of organic sales in 2014, compared to 24% in 2012.

20. Thank you Australian Organic
18 Eton Street (PO Box 810) Nundah QLD 4012
(07) |