Organics

Market Access to Korea for Processed Organic Products

This is to notify you that Korea are regulating their market for organic processed product. Previously Korea was accepting IFOAM accreditation for imported processed product.

At this stage we understand that the new organics regime will take effect on 1 January 2010 as scheduled. Only processed products certified by Korea's Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MiFFAF) approved certifiers will be able to be labelled "organic" from 1 January. The one exception will be for processed organic products either on the shelf or shipped before 1 January, which will be allowed (until expiry date) under the old rules. Raw material certified under the old rules must be in processed form before 1 January to meet the requirements.

The access pathway for New Zealand product after the deadline is by gaining organic certification by agencies accredited by MiFFAF. At this point Korea's Doalnara (www.iaos.org/dcok.htm), the Netherlands' Control Union (certification.controlunion.com), France's Ecocert (www.ecocert.com/?lang=en<http://www.ecocert.com/?lang=en>), and several other Korean certifiers have been approved by MiFAFF.

No New Zealand certifiers have sought approval from MiFAFF to date, due to the high costs involved.

If this change will affect you and we haven’t been in contact with you on this already, then please contact us at: OrganicsTechnicalManager@asurequality.com
subject line “korea market access”

Mike Smith
AsureQuality Organics Technical Manager

International Organic News

Importing Conventional Male Breeder Stock onto your farm

Please refer to the AsureQuality Organic Standard, section 5.4 Origin of animals, 3rd to last, 2nd to last and last paragraph.

The importing of conventional Rams and Bulls onto your farm is an acceptable practice as stated, in so far as these sections of the standard have been met and records kept for your next audit to show that they have been met. Ideally you would add to your organic management plan that you carry out this activity annually and explain how you meet the standard with regards to quarantine, records and where you sell them once you no longer required their services.

Since this is written in the AsureQuality Organic Standard (& USDA NOP) as an allowed practice, a written approval from our technical team is not required prior to bringing MALE breeding stock onto your farm.

The Import of conventional Stock dispensation form only needs to be submitted to us when female breeding stock are brought in under the 4th derrogation rule of section 5.4 where the maximum allowable is 10%. Due to this being a derrogation this means its an exception hence needing to seek permission from us.