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Approved Certifying Organisations
The Export Control (Organic Produce Certification) Orders allows AQIS to assess organic certifying bodies and recognise them as approved certifying organisations. Once an organisation is recognised as an approved certifying organisation, it may perform the following functions on AQIS’s behalf :
- Assess organic and bio-dynamic operators to determine compliance to the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce and importing country requirements.
- Issue a Quality Manual Certificate (QM Certificate) to organic operators to recognise compliance to export requirements.
- Issue Organic Produce Certificates (Export Documentation) for consignments of organic and bio-dynamic produce being exported.
AQIS has several approved certifying organisations that manage the certification process of organic and bio-dynamic operators.
All approved certifying organisations are assessed by AQIS for both initial recognition and at least annually after that to verify they comply with all requirements.
AQIS consults with and informs approved certifying organisations and the industry about any changes to export requirements and importing country requirements. Consultation is primarily through the Organic Industry Export Consultative Committee (OIECC), while AQIS Organic Notices are distributed to inform stakeholders about system changes and issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an AQIS approved certifying organisation?
What ongoing assessment does AQIS conduct on approved certifying organisations?
What are my responsibilities as an approved certifying organisation?
How do I know what the requirements are for importing countries?
How do I become an AQIS approved certifying organisation?
To become an approved certifying organisation you must apply to AQIS using the application to become an AQIS approved certifying organisation 
PDF [36kb]
The Organic and Bio-Dynamic Program will assess your application including:
- a review of documentation provided
- an on-site audit at your business to assess the adequacy and effective implementation of the documented management system you propose.
If deemed to be adequate, AQIS will give approval under a co-regulatory arrangement to become an approved certifying organisation.
The fees and charges relating to the application and ongoing assessment processes are defined in the Export Control (Fees) Orders 2001
What ongoing assessment does AQIS conduct on approved certifying organisations?
An announced audit is conducted by AQIS annually, together with a review of 1 per cent of the operators certified by your organisation.
The annual announced audit assess whether your system is adequately documented and effectively implemented to assure compliance with the following:
- Export Control (Organic Produce Certification) Orders
- AQIS Administrative Arrangements PDF [516kb]
- National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce—Edition 3.3 July 2008 PDF [388kb]
- Importing country requirements.
The review of operators is generally done by witnessing an inspection conducted by your inspectors/auditors. The purpose of these reviews is to assess the competency of your inspectors/auditors, including how effectively they assess compliance to the requirements of the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce and importing country requirements; and action taken to address identified areas of non-compliance.
What are my responsibilities as an approved certifying organisation?
As an approved certifying organisation you are responsible for:
- advising your clients about export requirements, including interpreting the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce
- monitoring organic and bio-dynamic operations to ensure that produce certified through your systems complies with the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce and importing country requirements
- maintaining records to verify that you have robust systems in place to manage the certification process
- issuing export documentation (organic produce certificates) in accordance with AQIS requirements, and ensuring that they correctly reflect the produce and its organic or bio-dynamic status
- monitoring correct use of the government logo
- advising AQIS of any change in your operations or those of your clients so that ineligible product is not exported
- providing reports to AQIS when requested to facilitate ongoing market access.
How do I know what the requirements are for importing countries?
As an approved certifying organisation you must be able to provide advice to your clients about importing country requirements. If AQIS becomes aware of changes to importing country requirements the advice is circulated to all approved certifying organisations. However AQIS is not always notified of these changes.
This information should also be available through importers, who should be able to provide advice to certifiers and exporters regarding their country’s requirements.
General advice and importing country requirements for some key markets are as follows:
Japan—Questions and answers on the Japanese Agricultural Standards for Organic Plants and Organic Processed Foods
USA—General information on the US National Organic Program
European Union (EU)—Rules for goods imported into the EU and Council Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999
Switzerland—Ordinance on Organic Farming and the Labelling of Organically Produced Products and Foodstuffs
If you require further information, contact Organic
