Gaining organic certification

The steps to organic certification are outlined below. 

1. Request an application pack: Please contact AsureQuality on 0508 00 11 22 or submit an enquiry through the online contact form. Include the products, activities and sites you wish to include in your certification scope so we can provide the appropriate application information.

2. Complete the application form and Organic Management Plan: Your application pack will include an Organic Registration Form and the Organic Management Plan (OMP) relevant to your operation. The OMP describes how your operation is managed, how records are maintained and how organic integrity is protected across inputs, production, handling, processing and outputs, as applicable. A price list will also be provided. Please contact us if you would like assistance understanding which information applies to your operation.

3. Submit your application documents: Return the completed application documents, including the Organic Registration Form, Organic Management Plan and credit application, to organics@asurequality.com. Depending on your operation, additional information may be required, such as property maps, input lists, product recipes, pasture plans or information about subcontracted processing or handling activities.

4. Application review: Once received, your application is reviewed to check that it is complete and to assess whether your operation appears able to comply with the applicable organic requirements. We will contact you if further information is required. When the review indicates that the operation may be able to comply, an audit will be assigned.

5. On-site audit: An organic auditor will contact you to arrange a suitable time to audit your operation. The audit verifies that the practices described in your Organic Management Plan are in place and that the operation can comply with the relevant organic standard or programme requirements. The audit should occur when relevant land, facilities and activities can be observed. Where residue or other testing is required, AsureQuality will confirm the requirements and timing.

6. Audit findings and non-conformances: At the conclusion of the audit, the auditor will discuss audit observations and any matters requiring further information. The formal audit report will record any non-conformances that must be addressed. Non-conformances must be closed before certification can be granted. If non-conformances are not closed within six months, a re-audit may be required.

7. Certification decision: After the audit report, any sample results and any additional required information have been received, AsureQuality will review the file and make a certification decision. If certification is granted, a certificate will be issued confirming the certified operation, effective date of certification and certified categories or scope. A certificate is not issued during the stand-down year; instead, written confirmation of status is provided.

8. Maintaining certification: Organic certification is maintained through annual certification fees, updated Organic Management Plan information and ongoing reassessment audits. Reassessment audits occur at least annually. A booking request is generally issued approximately three months before an audit is due. Certified operators must notify AsureQuality of significant changes to their Organic Management Plan, premises, ownership, management structure or any other matter that may affect compliance.

Indicative timeframe: Initial certification commonly takes around three months. Timing can vary depending on the completeness of your application, the complexity of your operation, seasonal availability of relevant activities for audit, auditor availability and the time required to close any non-conformances.