The organic goods certificate (2021-02)

Date of issue: 9 April 2021

Date of effect: 3 am (AEDT), 28 March 2021

Reference Number: IAN 2021/02

Attention: Organic operators and exporters, organic certifying bodies, industry bodies

Purpose

This notice clarifies information in IAN 2021/01 about the organic goods certificate (OGC), including circumstances in which an OGC may be issued post-departure, in accordance with the Export Control (Organic Goods) Rules 2021 (organic goods rules), now in force.

Instruction:

Exporters of organic goods must be aware of the following:

1. The organic goods rules require an OGC to have been issued prior to the export of all prescribed organic goods from Australia.
2. An OGC can only be issued post-departure where there is already an existing OGC in place, and where it is required for a genuine replacement reason only, which may include:
   1. changes to export arrangements, including those beyond the exporter’s control (departure dates, departure ports, vessel names/flight numbers)
   2. changes to consignment information, including trade descriptions, name, type, weight or volume of the listed goods, associated health certificate and RFP numbers.
3. It is an exporter’s responsibility to ensure that information on the OGC is correct at the time of issue and to notify their approved certifying body, as soon as possible, if details are incorrect and whether a replacement OGC may be required.
4. Exporting prescribed organic goods from Australia is prohibited unless the exporter holds an OGC in force (that is, issued) at the time of export. Criminal and civil penalties may apply where a person contravenes prescribed export conditions.

Further information

Contact OrganicExports@awe.gov.au if you have any queries.