06.Is it organic?
Is it really organic? Currently, the organic industry is in effect regulated by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), because exported organic foods must meet AQIS’s National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce. It has accredited a number of organisations as qualified to certify organic foods.
The government does this to ensure Australia’s organic export markets, but Australian consumers benefit indirectly. There have been debates recently about how much flexibility is permitted in the standards, and whether food that can’t be exported should be allowed for domestic consumption in certain circumstances.
The debates serve to highlight the urgent need to develop a domestic standard and enforcement framework for organic produce sold to Australian consumers — CHOICE is keen to see this happen.
In the meantime, certified organic produce is still the best guarantee currently available. If you buy produce without a logo, you don’t know what you’re getting.
You may see other certified organic logos on imported foods, but look for these schemes’ labels on local produce:
Australian Certified Organic (Biological Farmers of Australia)
Phone: 07 3350 5716
Website: www.aco.net.au
Bio-Dynamic Research Institute (BDRI)
Phone: 03 5966 7333
Website: www.demeter.org.au
National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) 
Phone: 08 8370 8455
Website: www.nasaa.com.au
Organic Food Chain (OFC)
Phone: 07 4637 2600
Website: www.organicfoodchain.com.au
Organic Growers of Australia (OGA)
Phone: 07 3350 5716
Website: www.organicgrowers.org.au
Safe Food Queensland
Phone: 07 3253 9800
Website: www.safefood.qld.gov.au
Tasmanian Organic-Dynamic Producers Cooperative (TOP)
Phone: 03 6363 5162
Website: www.tasorganicdynamic.com.au