Beware of Questionable "Organic" Claims
Let's face it, not all “organic” products are really organic. Back in 2004 a government sample told a story of pesticide-laden "organic" veges. More recently in 2006 two Auckland butcher shops were found defrauding customers by selling conventional meat but saying it's "organic" or even "certified organic".
So what can consumers do to make sure that "organic" products are really organic?
The simple and reliable answer is to only buy certified products from certified outlets.
But beware there are distractions which can confuse consumers!
WARNING SIGNS
- Emphasis is on where the product/produce is made or grown but not on organic status
- Label says “Organic” but doesn’t mention a certification number
- Label says “Certified Organic” but does not show which certification body certifies the product
- Label says product is “Bio-Gro” or “Biodynamic” or “AgriQuality” or “OFNZ” but fails to show a certification number
- Advertisement mentions “Certified Organic” but the shop is in fact not certified at all
- Advertisement says “our products come from certified farms” but the shop itself is not certified
- Advertisement mentions “been certified organic for X number of years” but is in fact no longer certified due to certification violations
It is also quite common for vendors to display organic certificates of producers to mislead consumers into thinking the vendor's products are certified.
A PRODUCT IS CERTIFIED ORGANIC only if it meets all the criteria listed in the organic standard and has been audited and approved by a Certification Body.
In New Zealand, there are 4 Certification Bodies. They are AsureQuality (formerly AgriQuality), Bio-Gro, Demeter, and OFNZ. All of them offer certification services to vegetable growers, fruit growers, and meat/poultry farmers. AsureQuality and Bio-Gro also offer certification services to manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.
Certification services available from these bodies include the “domestic standard” and the more rigorous “export standard”.
All “export standard” certifications are audited to a set of international organic standards. These are called “IFOAM compliant”.
Retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers can also be certified under “IFOAM compliant” standards. Both AsureQuality and Bio-Gro offer this kind of certification service.
Seven Fields Organic is certified under the IFOAM compliant Organic Standard by AsureQuality since 2005. No other retailer in the South Island is currently certified.
Seven Fields Organic passed all organic audits with flying colours. No non-compliances were ever cited!