Glossary of Terms

For the purpose this Standard:

Agricultural product/product of agricultural origin means any product or commodity, raw or processed, that is marketed for human consumption (excluding water, salt and additives) or animal feed.

Organic is a labelling term that denotes products that have been produced in accordance with organic production Standards.

Audit is a systematic and functionally independent examination to determine whether activities and related results comply with planned objectives.

Certification is the procedure by which written or equivalent assurance is given that foods or food control systems conform to requirements.

Certification body means a body which is responsible for verifying that a product sold or labelled as “organic” is produced, prepared, handled and imported according to this Standard.

Competent authority means the official government agency having jurisdiction.

Direct source organisms The specific plant, animal, or microbe that produces a given input or ingredient, or that gives rise to a secondary or indirect organism that produces an input or ingredient.

Genetically engineered/modified organisms.  The following provisional definition is provided for genetically/modified organisms:  Genetically engineered/modified organisms, and products thereof, are produced through techniques in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.

Techniques of genetic engineering/modification include, but are not limited to: recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro and macro injection, encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling.  Genetically engineered organisms will not include organisms resulting from techniques such as conjugation, transduction and hybridisation.

Homeopathic veterinary medicinal products means a veterinary medicinal product prepared by a process of solution, extraction or titration of an active ingredient followed by strict regimented serial dilution

(Must be in compliance with the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997.)

Ingredient means any substance, including a food additive, used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and present in the final product although possibly in a modified form.

Inspection is the examination of food or systems for control of food, raw materials, processing and distribution including in-process and finished product testing, in order to verify that they conform to requirements.  For organic food, inspection includes the examination of the production and processing system.

Labelling means any written, printed or graphic matter that is present on the label, accompanies the food, or is displayed near the food, including that for the purpose of promoting its sale or disposal.

Marketing means holding for sale or displaying for sale, offering for sale, selling, delivering or placing on the market in any other form.

Official accreditation is the procedure by which a government agency having jurisdiction formally recognises the competence of an inspection and/or certification body to provide inspection and certification services.  For organic production the competent authority may delegate the accreditation function to a private body.

Officially recognised inspection systems/officially recognised certification systems are systems, which have been formally approved or recognised by a government agency having jurisdiction.

Operator means any person who produces, prepares or imports, with a view to the subsequent marketing thereof, products as referred to in Section 1.1, or who markets such products.

Plant protection product means any substance intended for preventing, destroying, attracting, repelling, or controlling any pest or disease including unwanted species of plants or animals during the production, storage, transport, distribution and processing of food, agricultural commodities or animal feeds.

Preparation means the operations of slaughtering, processing, preserving and packaging of agricultural products and also alterations made to the labelling concerning the presentation of the organic production method.

Production means the operations undertaken to supply agricultural products in the state in which they occur on the farm, including initial packaging and labelling of the product.

Subcontracted Operator a natural or legal person or business entity that performs services on behalf of an operator.