Tuesday, 15 May 2018 09:30

National organic standard consultation underway

Written by 
A national standard for organic is being looked at by MPI. A national standard for organic is being looked at by MPI.

Organics Aotearoa (OANZ) chairman Doug Voss is urging members to support a proposal for a national organic standard.

He is urging OANZ members and the organic community at large to participate in the consultation process launched yesterday by the Ministry of Primary Industries.

MPI is seeking views from producers, consumers, processors, retailers, importer, exporters and the public through meetings and online.

Agriculture and Food Safety Minister Damien O’Connor says in New Zealand there are a range of voluntary standards that organic producers can choose from to label their food ‘organic’,

“Officials have advised that a single set of rules may help boost consumer confidence in organic products and place our organics regulatory system on the same footing as many other countries – potentially growing market access for organic products,” O’Connor says.

“The organics industry is a passionate one that offers consumers a valuable product backed by a brand focused on sustainable use of our natural resources.

“Productive growth for our primary industries is about getting more from what we do now – not just doing more.”

The consultation launched yesterday gives producers and consumers a say on whether New Zealand needs a single set of rules for organics production, what that may look like and what costs or other factors need to be considered.

Voss says it is important that members and interested parties turn out to the regional meetings and have their say by completing a submission form on the MPI website in support of a single national standard.

More like this

ODH collapse 'not a surprise'

An organic sector leader believes that failed farmer-owned co-operative Organic Dairy Hub (ODH) lacked the scale to compete in the global market.

Living on an organic island

Running an organic dairy farm is a bit like living on an island where one has to be completely self-sufficient.

Organic focus

Five years after the completion of the Organic Focus Vineyards project, Rebecca Reider reports back on soil monitoring and success stories.

Featured

Horticulture hit badly in Nelson/Tasman

HortNZ's CEO, Kate Scott says they are starting to see the substantial cumulative effects on their members of the two disastrous flood events in the Nelson Tasman region.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…

Our own 'Clarkson'

OPINION: The huge success of former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson's new TV show, Clarkson's Farm, and the boost it…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter