NEWSLETTER — SEPTEMBER 2024
Representing all certified organic operators
We need to reform industry regulation ... now!
We understand that genuine organic operators are losing to pretenders and are really hurting. To survive, our industry must protect organic operators who diligently adhere to the organic standard.
On your behalf, we have been participating for several years now in industry forums and in consultations with Government focussed on the push for a domestic organic standard.
The Government's decision in March 2024 was to not implement domestic regulation of the organic standard. We accept this decision, since we see that only an industry-led organic standard that can be truly successful. This Government decision is not new, and in fact is consistent with decisions by both coalition and Labor governments over the last three decades.
We continue to participate in industry forums to advocate on behalf of organic operators, and we intend to progress with our strategy to cause a single domestic industry-led organic standard.
It is time now for organic operators to have their voices heard.
We have been developing a strategy to improve industry regulation:
- adopt ONE domestic organic standard that can be recognised by Australian courts and internationally
- eliminate non-genuine organic practices from our industry and promote organic farming principles
- implement integrity and conduct measures: for certifiers, auditors, operators, traders
We need your help if you support this strategy:
- become a supporter or a member
- encourage your certifier to join us in implementing this strategy
- complete this year's survey
We know many operators are doing it tough, so we have introduced a temporary free supporter membership for small and medium certified operators. You can become a member for free for 2024-25, to show your support for our strategy! This offer is also available for existing small and medium members who are doing it tough.
We have also started the process of changing our name to Organic Operators Australia. Your Directors think that this name makes it clearer to everyone that we act only in the interests of certified organic operators. We hope you approve!
Peter Hislop Speers
Your Chair
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Organic industry and consumers at risk from GMO deregulation
We are alarmed that Australia and New Zealand are sleepwalking towards deregulation of food labelling laws.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) propose to water down the definitions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code for ‘food produced using gene technology’ and ‘gene technology’.
Australian consumers' right to choose will be disempowered and organic producers will lose access to markets.
OIA Ltd stands for mandatory labelling of ALL genetic modifications in food
Overwhelmingly, overseas markets do not want GM foods, and are worried by the environmental contamination of our organic foods with GM breeds. And we consider that Australian consumers should be afforded more transparency and safety ... not less!
We made a submission in 2021 arguing against the deregulation of food safety standards to allow some GM food to be unlabelled. But FSANZ has decided the Australian public does not need to know about the "Low Risk" to long term human health.
We support improved clarity for the definition of GM food, and we think this proposal is designed to confuse rather than clarify.
In particular, FSANZ's assessment promotes a false equivalence that new breeding technique (NBT) food is an outcome that might occur using natural selection techniques. That is clearly false, and the onus should be on the proponent to prove the safety of every instance of GM manipulation.
We are also deeply concerned that tactical GM deregulation of this type will compromise certified organic exports to the European Union and China, and will erode consumer confidence in Australian food producers and manufacturers.
We reject the self-serving submissions from wealthy agtech companies pushing government to make Australia a safe haven for GM warriors.
You can read our Media Release here.
If you care about this issue as we do, consider making a submission to FSANZ by next Tuesday 10 September (link for more information).
We are preparing a new submission to FSANZ. In the meantime, you can refer to our 2021 submission (link).
FSANZ
Doing it tough? Be a supporter member for free
For 2024-25 we have introduced Supporter Memberships which are free for small and medium certified operators who are in financial hardship.
Supporter members are still treated as Full Members.
Now organic operators have no excuse not to join us!
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We want to know your views!
It's been a while since we heard from you—our last survey was 3 years ago.
Please let us know what you think about the state of our industry and the issues that matter most to you.
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We're changing our name!
Our Board has decided to change our name to better reflect who we represent!
We've always represented the interests of organic operators ... it is our whole reason for being. But it wasn't always clear to others.
Our Constitution provides that only organic operators can be full voting members. Others in the organic industry have always been welcome to join, but only as non-voting associates.
This name change will take a while to implement, but we've already changed our website. Other aspects will change over time.
Our company name will remain Organic Industries of Australia Ltd until a special meeting of members votes to change it.
NameChange
Government rejects domestic organic regulation
The Australian Government has decided not to implement domestic regulation of the organic industry.
Following several years of industry consultation, and after two cost-benefit analyses found the costs would outweigh the benefits, the Agriculture Minister Senator Murray Watt said “While a mandatory domestic standard could provide a range of potential benefits for organic sector, the costs of designing, monitoring and enforcing an economy-wide regulatory scheme of this nature would be significant.
“In making this decision we’ve carefully examined the evidence and released multiple reports on the matter.
“These reports show that the absence of a domestic organic regulatory framework does not and will not in the future impact international trade in Australian organic products.
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2024-25 membership fees are due
Membership fees are now due for 2024-25. Invoices will be sent out soon.
For 2024-25, membership fees are as follows:
| Business turnover | Full member | Associate member | Supporter member |
| Small: < $1m, individuals and hobby farmers | $120 | $120 | $0 |
| Medium: < $6m | $250 | $250 | $0 |
| Large: > $6m | $600 | $600 | N/a |
The best way is to pay is via electronic funds transfer to our bank account. Contact secretary@organicoperators.au for a tax invoice to facilitate payment.
You can also pay by PayPal or a debit/credit card at https://organicoperators.au/MembershipPayment. We will issue a tax invoice / receipt when your fees are paid.
Your membership is important. We value your membership in two main ways:
- the more members we have, the more representative of the industry we are when lobbying governments and other stakeholders on the organic industry’s behalf
- your financial contribution helps us undertake policy development, industry coordination, provide industry information, and engage in lobbying activities
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Fire ants
It is compulsory for all property owners to allow authorised persons to apply treatment for fire ants or comply with directions issued to apply treatment. This includes certified organic or bio-dynamic operators.
Goods that are contaminated as a result of this treatment must be prevented from being certified as organic or bio-dynamic, sold as organic/bio-dynamic and entering the export chain. All certified organic or bio-dynamic livestock must be removed from the affected area prior to application of the fire ant treatment.
Where treatment for fire ants has occurred, produce that has had direct contact with treatment must not be sold as organic or bio-dynamic.
- Crops must not be sown or planted in the area(s) that were treated for a period of not less than three weeks after the date of bait application.
- Livestock must not be returned to the area(s) that were treated for a period of not less than three weeks after the date of bait application.
- If livestock is not removed prior to and from the area(s) that were treated, the livestock and/or its produce must not be sold as organic or bio-dynamic.
- Land and certified produce may be subject to sampling and laboratory analysis following treatment.
Certified operators are required to notify their approved certifying body prior to treatment for fire ants and within two business days of receipt of a ‘notice to treat'.
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Organic World Congress
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