Taiwan: Australia-Taiwan organic equivalency arrangement – additional information (2020-06)

Date of issue: 22 July 2020

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA 2020-06

Attention:

• Organic Producers and Exporters, Organic certifying bodies, Industry bodies
• Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment—Central and Regional offices

Purpose

Further to MAA 2020-01, the Organic Exports Program (the program) within the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is providing the following information:

1. An update to the application process for obtaining an approval number for the labelling of organic produce in Taiwan (affects importers in Taiwan only)
2. An update on the use of imported ingredients under the arrangement
3. Requirements for organic goods being exported to Taiwan, replace market access information (paragraphs 39-40) in the Guidelines for the Issue of Organic Produce Certificates to All Markets (May 2014).

Instruction

1. Application process for obtaining an approval number for the labelling of organic produce in Taiwan (affects importers in Taiwan only):
   
   Importers within Taiwan must submit an application to the central competent authority (the Council of Agriculture Executive, Taiwan) and obtain an approval number for labelling.
   
   Products must be labelled with the approval number before being able to be sold within Taiwan.
    
2. Use of imported ingredients under the arrangement:
   
   Products produced using raw ingredients imported from a third-country (other than Taiwan and Australia) that are certified to the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce and then mixed with organic raw materials of Australian origin, must undergo substantial transformation in Australia to be eligible for this equivalency recognition.
    
3. Replacing market access information in the Guidelines for the Issue of Organic Produce Certificates to All Markets (May 2014):
   
   Requirements for organic goods being exported to Taiwan replace market access information (paragraphs 39-40) in the Guidelines for the Issue of Organic Produce Certificates to All Markets (May 2014).
   
   Paragraph 41 in the Guidelines for the Issue of Organic Produce Certificates to All Markets (May 2014) remains current. The Taiwan organic standard maintains a zero tolerance for the contamination of organic products with non-organic chemical inputs and residues as outlined in MAA2008-07 (Attachment 1).

Further information

Contact organicexports@awe.gov.au or ExportStandards@awe.gov.au if you have any queries.

The information provided in this advice 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. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.