The National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce (the National Standard) is Australia’s technical export standard for organic and bio-dynamic goods. The National Standard is owned and managed by the department and provides the basis for equivalence (government-to-government) arrangements with trading partners.
Any section of the National Standard is open for review. An application to amend the National Standard can be submitted online.
An online form is also available to ask questions on the content of, or an interpretation of, the National Standard.
The department maintains a register of all National Standard amendment applications and questions received. The register was introduced to ensure transparency and consistency for Australia’s organic exports industry in applying the requirements of the National Standard. The register captures submissions from the 2024 calendar year onwards.
For information on submissions prior to the 2024 calendar year, please email OrganicExports@aff.gov.au.
For information on open or past public consultations on proposed amendments to the National Standard, or to subscribe to be notified of future public consultations, please visit the department's Have Your Say webpage.
Register of applications submitted to amend the National Standard
| Date received | Amendment application description | Application status |
|---|---|---|
| 4 December 2024 | Proposal to formalise Approved input assessment and the addition of a central database. | Pending review |
| 3 December 2024 | Amend section 1.2.6 & 1.7.3 To add wording:- “and not permitted on any area of certified land” To add wording: “and not permitted on certified land” | Rejected Additional wording does not materially change the meaning of the sections |
| 3 December 2024 | Amend section 1.2.6 & 1.7.3 To add wording:- “and not permitted on any area of certified land” To add wording: “and not permitted on certified land” | Rejected Additional wording does not materially change the meaning of the sections |
| 29 October 2024 | Amend section 7.1 To allow organic goods to be exported from Australian territory without a valid organic goods certification accompanying the consignment | Rejected Contravenes the Export Control Act 2020 |
| 3 October 2024 | Amend Appendix L To include activated carbon from vegetative sources as a filtration processing aid | Accepted In queue for public consultation |
| 5 August 2024 | Amend section 1.8.4 To allow solid non-woven plastic or synthetic material sheets for mulching certified to ISO23517 or EN17033 | Withdrawn Insufficient information or evidence provided |
| 17 July 2024 | New section proposed: Textile products To include a new section in the National standard for textile products | Rejected Insufficient information or evidence provided |
| 24 June 2024 | Amend Appendix E To include Vibrex (chlorine dioxide) for water treatment | Rejected Substance not prohibited in the National Standard Edition 3.8 |
| 29 May 2024 | Amend Appendix H, Table A7 To allow fortification with minerals including trace elements and vitamins | Accepted In queue for public consultation |
| 3 March 2024 | Amend section 1.2.7 To allow co-locating organic and non-organic production units | Accepted In queue for public consultation |
| 25 January 2024 | Amend Appendix H, Table A7 To allow fortification with minerals including trace elements and vitamins | Rejected Insufficient information or evidence provided |
Register of questions submitted on the content of, or an interpretation of, the National Standard
| Date received | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 16 January 2025 | Are the faeces of animals that are not organic product (e.g. pets or animals used for natural pest control) that roam certified organic land considered an input or contaminant? What would the requirement for the diet of these animals be so that they can roam organic production systems? e.g. would pets need to be fed certified organic food? Further, what requirements (if any) would need to be considered for wild animals that roam certified organic lands? | Pending review |
| Date received | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 2 December 2024 | Section 1.11.7 Is the interpretation of this clause that in order to use compost, the compost must have only been made from materials that satisfy the production requirements of the National Standard, and that compost that is made in accordance with AS 4454 as per Appendix B is not allowed to be used as a growth media? Or is the interpretation that as long as the compost is made in accordance with AS 4454, then it is ok for use as a growth media (given that if it is good enough for crops, it is good enough for mushrooms) | Pending review |
| 30 October 2024 | Appendix E Ozone as a sanitising agent. Aqueous ozone (dissolved ozone in water) has a half-life of 20 minutes and then converts to oxygen. It is a general and effective contact biocide. Is ozone accepted as a sanitising agent on export products? | Pending review |
| 24 September 2024 | Section 4.1.5 Does the "annual inspection" mean the inspection has to be exactly 12 months afterwards, or is there flexibility e.g. +/- 6 months? | Annual audits of all systems of an operator must occur at least once every 12 months. |
| 21 August 2024 | Section 1.16 Typical mineral supplement blocks list minerals such as S, Co, Cu, P, salt, Ca etc and hence by definition are inorganic. But they include 'bypass protein meal' which can be dry distillers’ grain (brewing byproduct). Is this acceptable? | Applicant referred to sections 1.16.3, 1.16.4, 1.16.7 on mineral supplements and prohibited substances or contaminants. Assessment of specific products against the National Standard are to be conducted by an approved certification body. |
| 16 July 2024 | Section 1.7.2 Can a fruit tree that has been treated with the genetically modified derived product (1.5 years before planting) be granted a derogation under 1.7.2? | Derogations for seed or vegetative reproductive material treated with genetically modified derived products are prohibited. |
| 1 July 2024 | Sections 1.3 and 1.7 Various questions concerning genetic modification, sourcing seed and seed derogation processes | Applicant advised to submit an application to amend the National Standard with suggested amendments that deal with the applicant’s concerns on genetic modification and new breeding techniques. |
| 27 February 2024 | Appendix A If a vitamin at high level is legally required in an intended market, and this cannot be achieved naturally, providing most available vitamins additives are synthetic in nature, can synthetic vitamin be added? | Synthetic vitamins are not permitted under the National Standard Edition 3.8. |
| 15 February 2024 | Appendix B Does Appendix B entry for minerals: "magnesium" cover magnesium oxide (derived from mined magnesium carbonate by heating)? | Magnesium oxide is not permitted under the National Standard Edition 3.8. |
Further information
Contact OrganicExports@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this register is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Producers and exporters are encouraged to verify these details prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.