2010 PAC Plenary Introducing AS6000/MP100 Presentation to DPC Session 18 June

1. 2010 PAC PlenaryIntroducing AS6000/MP100Presentation to DPC Session 18 June Craig Sahlin Deputy CEO, NSW Food Authority Independent Chair, Standards Australia Technical Committee FT-032

2. Overview • Organic regulation before AS6000/MP100 • Why was AS6000/MP100 needed? • The development process • Key features of AS6000 • Key features of MP100 • What’s next? • Opportunities for PAC and its members

3. Regulation Before AS6000/MP100 • AQIS Export Standard used as de facto domestic standard • AQIS approved 7 export certifiers who also provided services on domestic market • No domestic regulation apart from general trade practices law

4. Why was AS6000/MP100 needed? • Organic sector the fastest growing food sector in Australia • A high-value market where products sell for a considerable premium • Organic foods popular with consumers who: • want to avoid consuming agvet chemicals including pesticides • support sustainable agricultural practices • are concerned about animal welfare, and/or • believe that organic food is tastier and more nutritious But despite these consumer expectations…

5. Why was AS6000/MP100 needed? • there was no regulatory standard and a proliferation of private standards • dubious market practices attracted community concern and media attention on a regular basis • Federal Court in the Drew case confirmed the absence of any recognised legal definition of the term ‘organic’

6. The Development Process • FT-032 established in May 2007 with 22 members representing organic industry, certifiers, food manufacturers/retailers, consumers, AQIS, ACCC and JAS-ANZ • Certifiers’ sub-group and eight specialist working groups • Draft for Public Comment attracted 900 submissions • FT-032 met for 15 full sitting days up to publication of AS6000/MP100 in October 2009 • Post-publication priority work program now complete – Draft Amendments for public comment April-June

7. Key Features of AS6000 • AQIS Export Standard reviewed and used as base • New sections developed covering: • Sales and Marketing • Labelling – note 95%/70%/<70% rule • Biodiversity and Landscape Management • Criteria to evaluate proposed changes

8. Key Features of AS6000 • The two main international organic standards – Codex and IFOAM – were referenced during development • AS6000 has sections not found in these standards including aquaculture, cosmetics and skincare

9. Key Features of AS6000 AS6000: • provides a nationally consistent framework for the organic industry from the paddock to point-of-sale • clearly defines what is ‘organic’ and what is not • sets out minimum requirements for products to be labelled ‘organic’

10. Key Features of AS6000 AS6000 is intended to: • protect consumers against unsubstantiated claims and misleading labelling • protect producers against incorrect organic practice by competitors • provide a guide to those considering conversion to organic production

11. Key Features of MP100 • References ISO/IEC Guide 65 and provides additional certification requirements specific to needs of organic sector • Based on AQIS Administrative Arrangements, including: • procedures for certification • definition of ‘accreditation body’ • process to establish ‘country to country equivalency’ enabling certification of ‘equally reliable’ imported products/ingredients that do not conform to AS6000

12. Key Features of MP100 • 60-70% of product on domestic market is imported or composite • Amendments will significantly strengthen relevant provisions of MP100 • Key provisions include: • process and requirements for determining ‘acceptable’ conformity assessment systems • table of acceptable CASs – maintained on JAS-ANZ website – 10 acceptable CASs to date • procedures for certification of imported products/ingredients • certified ‘equally reliable’ imported products/ingredients may be labelled ‘organic’

13. What’s Next? • Publish amendments to AS6000/MP100 – likely by August 2010 • Establish arrangements to maintain AS6000/MP100, including determination of acceptable CASs • Promote take-up of AS6000/MP100 on domestic market • Promote adoption of AS6000/MP100 as basis for export certification

14. Opportunities for PAC To sum up, the AS6000/MP100 package: • is a modern up-to-date system of conformity assessment for organic products • was informed by the two key international organic standards • reflects technical input from relevant stakeholders

15. Opportunities for PAC • Internationally-recognised accredited conformity assessment is becoming an important mechanism for reducing regulatory burden and facilitating trade e.g. IAF and GlobalGap • Could PAC members use MP100 (perhaps in combination with AS6000) as the basis for a harmonised conformity assessment system for organic products in the Asia Pacific region?

16. Thank youComments and discussion welcome