Certification

Australian Certified Organic

Australian Certified Organic (ACO) is Australia's largest certifier for organic and biodynamic produce and has over 1500 operators within its certification system. ACO is a fully-owned subsidiary of Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA). Having been established in 1987, the BFA/ACO has over 20 years experience working specifically for and within the organic industry.

ACO provides certification services to operators from all sectors of the organic industry. ACO certification ensures compliance with national production standards and allows the origin of all products a high level of traceability.

ACO certification gives market advantage due to its high standard of compliance for organic products worldwide.

The ACO 'bud' logo is Australia's organic industry's leading logo. It carries with it the ability to market organic produce in both domestic and international markets with confidence.

The logo is well recognised in Australia, and now in key areas such as Asia, Europe and the US. Having the largest market share means that organic certification is now becoming synonymous with BFA certification and the 'bud' logo.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established an organic certification program that requires all organic foods to meet strict government standards. These standards regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed. The USDA uses private and state agencies to inspect and certify food companies that market organic foods. Any farmer or food manufacturer who labels and sells a product as organic must be USDA certified as meeting these standards. Only producers who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic foods are exempt from this certification.

The Label

If a food bears a USDA Organic label, it means it's produced and processed according to the USDA standards and that at least 95% of the food's ingredients are organically produced. The seal is voluntary, but many organic producers use it.

Products that are completely organic — such as fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-ingredient foods — are labelled 100% organic and can carry a small USDA seal. Foods that have more than one ingredient, such as breakfast cereal, can use the USDA organic seal or the following wording on their package labels, depending on the number of organic ingredients:

• 100% organic. Products that are completely organic or made of all organic ingredients.

• Organic. Products that are at least 95% organic.

• Made with organic ingredients. These are products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients. The organic seal can't be used on these packages.

Foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients can't use the organic seal or the word "organic" on their product label. They can include the organic items in their ingredient list, however.

Fair Trade

The Fairtrade certification scheme sets out to reduce poverty and empower producers in developing countries. It is an ethical certification system and movement with a 'people first' approach to trade.

Fairtrade offers farmers and workers in developing countries a better deal, with the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade offers consumers a way to reduce poverty and initiate change through their everyday choices.

Poverty remains widespread amongst many producers around the world. Some face an uncertain future due to range of factors, leaving many struggling to support themselves and their families.

Fairtrade delivers a better deal for farmers and producers in the developing world through the Fairtrade standards by delivering:

- a designated fair and stable price for most products, aimed at covering the cost of sustainable production and helping protect them from damaging fluctuations in world market prices.

- an additional sum of money for investment in social, economic and environmental development

- helping them grow their businesses and invest in their communities by building roads, schools and hospitals.

- security of long-term contracts and access to pre-financing

- Improved working conditions through core International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

- mandating environmentally sustainable farming and production practices.

- providing democracy within decision making processes including Fairtrade Premium use.

The Fairtrade Label

The Fairtrade Label confirms Fairtrade standards have been met at each step of the supply chain: FLO-CERT certifies all Fairtrade producer organisations and is the only ISO 65 accredited certification body for an ethical label.