Organics

Remuera New World goes organic all over - Scoop.co.nz (press release)

Remuera New World goes organic all overScoop.co.nz (press release)At least 20% of the fresh produce at Remuera New World is now certified organic and most of it is selling for the same price as conventional produce. Now this trend-setting supermarket is g

Anderton says welfare of animals critical to NZ

In an address given at the University of Canterbury School of Law today, the Minister of Agriculture, Jim Anderton, said that in a country as reliant on animals as New Zealand is, "We have to be leaders in everything related to animals. Legal developments

Aus growers to appeal NZ apple import ruling - ABC via Yahoo!7 News

A group representing apple and pear growers is to appeal against the Federal Government's decision to allow in apples from New Zealand.

Australian growers to appeal lifting of ban on NZ apples - FreshPlaza

Australian growers to appeal lifting of ban on NZ applesFreshPlaza, Netherlands - Jan 15, 2007Australian apple growers intend to appeal a decision by Biosecurity Australia to allow New Zealand apples into the Australian market. ...NZ apple growe

Bird Flu's Pandemic Potential (ABC News)

Researchers Uncover Key Mutations in Virus That Allow Human Infection

Chathams Ferrets Threatening Rare Birds - Scoop.co.nz (press release)

Chathams Ferrets Threatening Rare BirdsScoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - 8 hours agoHe said DOC's efforts to catch the ferrets were laudable, but responsibility for biosecurity lay with the Chatham Islands Council, which was not ade

Deadly seeds subject of inquiry (TVNZ)

Biosecurity New Zealand has launched an investigation after potentially fatal seeds made their way into the country. The seeds from the plant abrus precatorius are contained in novelty "message in a bottle" jars.

Didymo campaign continues (TVNZ)

Water users are once again being warned to make sure their equipment is all cleaned to help prevent the spread of didymo. More than 100,000 plastic trigger spray bottles are to be given to river users as Biosecurity New Zealand tries to keep the North Isl

Didymo warning - Newstalk ZB

Didymo warningNewstalk ZB, New Zealand - Jan 5, 2007More than 100000 plastic trigger spray bottles are being given to river users to back up Biosecurity's concerns. The bottles contain detergent for cleaning ...

Experienced Primary Industry Leader at the Helm

AgriQuality is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Egan as Chief Executive Officer, effective 10 April 2007.

FMD contingency plans agreed (Meat News)

NEW ZEALAND/EUROPE: New Zealand and EU reach agreement on plans to handle possible animal disease outbreak. New Zealand and European Union negotiators have agreed to an insurance policy against the threat of animal diseases.

Former Affco boss to be Agriquality CEO - Stuff.co.nz

Former Affco boss to be Agriquality CEOStuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 2 hours agoAgriQuality chairman Rakihia Tau said the company had become a world leader in food safety and biosecurity services, with growth in annual revenues from $38 ...

Growers to appeal NZ apple import ruling - ABC Online

Growers to appeal NZ apple import rulingABC Online, Australia - 4 hours agoBiosecurity Australia cleared the way for the importation of apples from across the Tasman after its final risk assessment recommended lifting the ban, ...

Human Tests for Bird Flu Vaccine Start (CBS News)

Government scientists say that an experimental vaccine technology could give them a jump on the constantly mutating bird flu virus.

Meat and Dairy Industry Warned to stay Clone-Free

New Zealand's Dairy and Meat industries should position their products as "clone-free" to secure their premium-quality image and maintain a point of difference in the world market should US authorities approve cloned products.

National homepage (The New Zealand Herald)

A bottle containing brightly coloured, highly poisonous seeds sold as a novelty item called "message in a bottle" has been urgently recalled.

New sectors of the US market cracked

Frenzs New Zealand Free Range Eggs have broken into yet another US market, commencing direct exports of its free-range eggs to Texas, following on from shell-shattering successes in Hollywood.

Public asked to stay out of Takaka River - The Nelson Mail

Public asked to stay out of Takaka RiverThe Nelson Mail, New Zealand - 2 hours agoThe initiative was decided on Monday at a meeting between Biosecurity New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Fish and Game and Tasman District Council ...Riv

Reforms come to zilch after two years

"Not a single new Aquaculture Management Area (AMA), anywhere in the country, has been created in the 730 days since the reforms came into effect," says National Party Fisheries spokesman Phil Heatley.

Rocksnot's smothering grip could yet be loosened - Stuff.co.nz

Stuff.co.nzRocksnot's smothering grip could yet be loosenedStuff.co.nz, New Zealand - Jan 2, 2007But Biosecurity New Zealand, the Government's lead agency in the didymo battle, also has some good news to celebrate for a change. ...

Urgent recall for potentially deadly novelty - MyTown Bay of Plenty

Urgent recall for potentially deadly noveltyMyTown Bay of Plenty, New Zealand - 18 minutes agoThe Ministry of Health and MAF Biosecurity NZ said the decorative jar, containing about 12 seeds from the plant was designed to be opened so the recipi

Abalone industry calls for Federal intervention on disease threat - ABC Online

Abalone industry calls for Federal intervention on disease threatABC Online, Australia - 17 minutes agoThe industry has joined its South Australian and Victorian colleagues to lobby the Fisheries Minister, Senator Eric Abetz to introduce further

AsureQuality Announces Two New Board Members

4 November 2010 AsureQuality is delighted to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Janine Smith has been appointed Chair to replace John Spencer, who retired on 31 October at the end of his term to focus on his role as C

AsureQuality Approved by MAF to carry out Accredited Persons Training

30 November 2009 AsureQuality has been appointed by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) as an approved training provider for Accredited Persons training. MAFBNZ requires all sea container transitional facilities to appoint one or more Accredited Pe

AsureQuality Assessor volunteers to inspect fresh produce heading to Samoa

29th October 2009 Freud D’Souza, Senior Assessor at AsureQuality recently volunteered his time to inspect fresh produce going to tsunami victims in Samoa. AsureQuality runs a Volunteer Day Programme which enables employees to spend a work day

AsureQuality Assists Wine Exports to EU

1 October 2009 AsureQuality has been granted formal recognition by the NZFSA for analysing wines for export to the EU; and will be partnering with WineWorks to offer this and other testing services. For a New Zealand grape wine to be eligible for export t

AsureQuality Carries out the first LEAF Audit in New Zealand

14 March 2010 AsureQuality has just completed the first LEAF Marque audit in New Zealand for commercial apple and pear grower Kevin Murphy, based in Marlborough. Kevin is the first New Zealand grower to gain certification to the LEAF Marque Standard. As

AsureQuality Extends Capacity at its Auckland Laboratory

21 April 2010 AsureQuality recently re-opened its newly refurbished Auckland laboratory in Lynfield, following substantial renovations to extend its testing capability. The Auckland laboratory is part of AsureQuality's

AsureQuality Offers Timber Industry One-stop-shop Certification

22 November 2010 AsureQuality has developed a one-stop-shop for Timber Industry compliance solutions, according to Forestry Business Development Manager, Allen Fraser. “We are delighted to announce that JAS-ANZ (The Joint Accreditation System of A

AsureQuality Opens New Export Wine Certification Laboratory

14 June 2010 AsureQuality has opened a new export wine certification laboratory at its Auckland facility following formal recognition

AsureQuality Opens Office and Laboratory in Singapore

10 March 2010 AsureQuality Limited, a New Zealand Government State-Owned Enterprise, has established AsureQuality Singapore Pte Ltd to support and grow its customer base in the Asia and Middle East region. As part of the business it will be opening a 500

AsureQuality Public Meeting set for 1st February

AsureQuality will be holding a public meeting on Tuesday 1st February at 4pm at The Terrace Conference Centre in Wellington. The meeting will provide an opportunity to ask questions of the company management and board. If this is of interest to you, you a

AsureQuality and Agrecovery working together for sustainability

10 February 2011 The Agrecovery Rural Recycling Programme and Assurance Services provider AsureQuality have entered into a partnership aimed at reinforcing and promoting environmental best practice to New Zealand’s farmers and growers. AsureQuality&

AsureQuality produces Midkine Blood Test (MK ELISA) Kits for Cellmid Limited

AsureQuality has successfully produced midkine blood test (MK ELISA) kits for Cellmid Limited using a GMP compliant environment in its fully accredited Melbourne manufacturing facility. The midkine blood test is an extremely accurate method for de

AsureQuality's Proficiency Business and LabChek Merge to Create Global Proficiency

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Aust puts conditions on NZ apples - Stuff.co.nz

Aust puts conditions on NZ applesStuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 16 minutes ago"However, before any trade can take place Australian and New Zealand biosecurity officials have to agree on the practical implementation of the Australian ...

Award Winning Customer Service

For the third year in a row AsureQuality has taken first place in the Public Services/SOE category at the annual CRM Contact Centre Awards, held at Auckland SKYCITY Convention Centre on Friday 2 September. The team then went on to win the Silver Award f

Award Winning Customer Service

20 October 2010 For the second year in a row AsureQuality has taken first place in the Public Services/SOE category at the annual CRM Contact Centre Awards, held at Auckland SKYCITY Convention Centre on Friday 24 September. AsureQuality has been a fina

Award Winning Customer Service

10 September 2009 AsureQuality, the country’s leading provider of food safety and biosecurity assurance services has taken first place in the Public Services/SOE category at the annual CRM Contact Centre Awards, held at the Auckland SKYCITY Conventi

Ballance announces $22 a tonne return

Ballance Agri-Nutrients has confirmed it will distribute a combined average rebate and dividend that will at least match the $22 per tonne paid out last year.

Biosecurity is not to be ignored in preventing calf disease Farmers Weekly (Farmers Weekly Interactive)

Improved calf health and reduced risk of disease spread are two factors calf rearers would often pay money for. So why, when they can get all that from a simple on farm biosecurity kit, do producers still switch off at the word's very mention?

Biosecurity: guarding Australia - ScienceAlert

Biosecurity: guarding AustraliaScienceAlert, Australia - 8 minutes agoGovernments and health authorities are scrambling to develop protective strategies against these biosecurity risks, which could be spread via natural means ...

CEO of AsureQuality Resigns

Tony Egan, Chief Executive Officer of AsureQuality, has resigned from AsureQuality to take up the position of Managing Director, Greenlea Premier Meats Ltd. Greenlea is an Egan family company with which Tony has had prior association and to which he wishe

Challenging and Prolonged Facial Eczema Season

19 May 2011 This summer and autumn the risk of facial eczema has proved to be both challenging and prolonged for farmers. Facial eczema affects stock throughout the North Island and northern South Island and costs New Zealand farmers dearly, running as h

Chief vet sets out foot and mouth timetable FWi (Farmers Weekly Interactive)

This date marked 15 days since the completion of cleansing and disinfecting the last infected premises (IP) and was dependent on there being no sign of foot and mouth on all holdings in the PZ.

Codling moth found on New Zealand apples in Taiwan (Scoop.co.nz)

Biosecurity New Zealand announced today it was temporarily suspending exports of apples to Taiwan after receiving confirmation, from Taiwanese officials, of a codling moth larva find in a consignment earlier this week.

Deformed wing bee virus identified - Scoop.co.nz

Deformed wing bee virus identifiedScoop.co.nz, New Zealand - 2 hours agoA virus causing deformed wings (DWV) in bees has been identified on two properties in Northland and Waikato, Biosecurity New Zealand confirmed today. ...Another blow for bee

Domestic news (The West Australian)

A group of Australia's leading environmental scientists have dismissed claims the nation's north could become the food bowl of Asia and counter water shortages in southern states.

Drought and Warm Rain Could Bring An Early Risk Of Facial Eczema

20 December 2010 AsureQuality is warning farmers and lifestyle block owners in drought hit areas of the North Island, to consider taking Facial Eczema (FE) precautions earlier this season than they normally would in other years. Leo Cooney for AsureQuali

Facial Eczema on the Rise

22 February 2010 Facial eczema affects stock throughout the North Island and northern South Island and costs New Zealand farmers dearly, running as high as $95 million in a bad year in the dairy sector alone. AsureQuality has partnered with Gribble Veteri

Firm attempts to wrap up case of seasquirt - The Nelson Mail

Firm attempts to wrap up case of seasquirtThe Nelson Mail, New Zealand - 1 hour agoBiosecurity New Zealand spokesman Phil Barclay said the Bay of Islands was a high-value area, where styela clava had not been found. ...

Forum Emphases Partnership Approach - Farmers

A water science forum of scientists, regulators and agriculture leaders agreed today on a need to form working partnerships that lead to improved water quality, said Hugh Ritchie of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.

Kaweka Foods Wins AsureQuality Food Safety Award

15 November 2010 The New Zealand Food Awards were presented at a gala dinner recently at the Langham Hotel in Auckland. Among the winners on the night was Kaweka Foods which won the New Zealand Food Safety Authority Operations Innovation Award and the As

MAF Reviewing Export Cert System for Cats & Dogs Australia Bound

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) are undertaking a review of the export certification system currently in place for cats and dogs to Australia. The current system involves practice veterinarians undergoing training to become MAF Approved Ve

New Assurance that NZ Manuka Honey sold in Singapore is true to label

Pelorus may be free of didymo - Marlborough Express

Pelorus may be free of didymoMarlborough Express, New Zealand - 10 minutes agoBiosecurity New Zealand spokesman Phil Barclay said that because the first cell was dead, it could have meant the sample was contaminated. ...

Spread of varroa to cost millions - Stuff.co.nz

Spread of varroa to cost millionsStuff.co.nz, New Zealand - Jan 25, 2007The decision, announced this week by Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton, not to go ahead with a promised feral bee poisoning program was made after the mite ...

Tatua First in NZ to Achieve FSSC 22000 Certification

The Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company, a globally recognised manufacturer of specialised dairy ingredients and food products, has become New Zealand’s first organisation to achieve FSSC 22000 certification. FSSC 22000 certification, specifically desi

The Luckiest Bees in the World

Ask Lucy and Andrew Mahuika about their organic Blue Borage honey (vipers bugloss), and they will tell you it is produced by some of the luckiest bees in the world! That’s because the bees that produce this exquisite liquid gold live on one of the m

The Luckiest Bees in the World

Tony Egan, CEO AsureQuality speaking on BBC Asia

Warm Tropical Weather Brings Increase Risk of Facial Eczema in some parts of the North Island

8 February 2011 AsureQuality is warning that, as predicted, the warm tropical weather experienced during the past week in the North Island has brought about an increase in spore counts to dangerous levels in those regions prone to Facial Eczema (FE). L

AsureQuality Announces New CEO

AsureQuality is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Thomas as its new Chief Executive Officer, commencing 5 June 2012. Michael was previously with PGG Wrightson based in Christchurch where he held Group General Manager roles in Agri Services,

AsureQuality testing for Carbendazim

AsureQuality is now testing for Carbendazim residue on all products containing orange juice or concentrate and other citrus products. The use of Carbendazim as a fungicide on oranges is illegal in some countries, including America.&n

Facial Eczema Update

There has been a sharp increase in Facial Eczema (FE) spore counts coming in from around the North Island during the past week. This has followed the warm northerly rain in many districts over the past fortnight. The highest counts were reported from th

NZ Food Awards

Mt Cook Salmon, winnner of the Supreme Award at the NZ Food Awards, also won the AsureQuality Food Safety Award. Read more...

New Zealand Champions of Cheese Award Winners Announced

New Zealand’s Dutch cheesemakers have come up trumps at this year’s Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, with Gouda and Edam varieties taking out the top two awards. Meyer Vintage Gouda, produced by Meyer Gouda Cheese, has won the Yealands

$50k for Lyttelton organic store - Stuff.co.nz

Stuff.co.nz$50k for Lyttelton organic storeStuff.co.nzCHANGING HANDS: The Lyttel Piko organic store will re-open as the Harbour Co-op on Saturday. Lyttelton households have put up more than $50000 to buy the Lyttel Piko organic grocery store in London St.

Peel back the organic myth - Herald Sun

Peel back the organic mythHerald SunWE all want to do what's best for our family and for more and more of us that means buying organic food. Organic produce is now a $504 million industry, according to IBISWorld research, and the market for organic fr

Talk about organic growth - Brisbane Times

Brisbane TimesTalk about organic growthBrisbane TimesSupermarkets are bending over backwards to meet the demand for organic products. Photo: Rodger Cummins. The Australian organic market is experiencing a massive surge in demand as consumers seek out natu

Reaping benefits from organic waste - New Straits Times

Reaping benefits from organic wasteNew Straits TimesVermicomposting uses earthworms to turn vegetables, meat and other perishable wastes into organic fertiliser while anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms under little or no oxygen conditions to break do

Appeal of organic products seeps into wine industry - Reuters

mypure (press release)Appeal of organic products seeps into wine industryReutersBy Leslie Gevirtz | NEW YORK (Reuters) - The popularity of farm-to-table restaurants and organic produce is seeping into the wine industry as more producers adopt green practi

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.