BioGro New Zealand Ltd 

Organic Certification New Zealand Ltd (OCNZ)

Latest News

22 February 2010 USDA NOP final rule on access to pasture On the 12.02.2010 the USDA issued a final rule to provide greater detail to the NOP livestock regulations, especially as they relate to pasture and ruminant animals. The purpose of the new rule is to provide certainty to consumers that organic livestock farms are pasture based systems where animals are not confined and are actively grazing pasture during the grazing season. This rule establishes clear and enforceable standards regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations. The main requirements include: Animals must graze pasture during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days per year Animals must obtain a minimum of 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing pasture during the grazing season; Producers must have a pasture plan and manage pasture as a crop to meet  the feed requirements for the grazing animals and to protect soil and water  quality; and, Livestock are exempt from the 30 percent dry matter  intake requirements during the finish feeding period, not to exceed 120 days.  Livestock must have access to pasture during the finishing phase. The full text of the rule can be viewed on the USDA website http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateN&navID=PastureRulemakingNOPNationalOrganicProgramHome&rightNav1=PastureRulemakingNOPNationalOrganicProgramHome&topNav=&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPAccesstoPasture&resultType=&acct=nopgeninfo The rule becomes effective on 17 June 2010, with full implementation by 17 June 2011 but comments on the exceptions for finish feeding of ruminant slaughter stock may be submitted before April 19, 2010. Any comments on the finish feeding provisions can be submitted to BioGro and we will forward them to the USDA through NZFSA.

16 February 2010 BioGro JAS training course and workshop 16 March 2010. For more information and registration

12 February 2010 The Canada Organic Regime (COR):  Electronic version of the Canada Organic Standard now available. The Canadian Organic Office has released an electronic version of the Canada Organic Standard that is free to download from: English:http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html French: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-f.html Please note the disclaimer that the electronic version is an unofficial version, and the printed version (available to purchase online from the above website) remains the official version. In the event of discrepancies, the official version takes precedence over the electronic version. You may use the electronic version as a guide but as your accredited certifier we must apply the official version, and you must confirm with BioGro prior to making any changes to your current OMP for the COR.

09 February 2010 South Korea - market access     Currently South Korean regulations on organic foods only cover primary products such as fresh fruit. These regulations are administered  by the South Korean Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF).  A new MIFAFF regulation on labelling of organic processed (non-primary) products was due to enter into force on January 1, 2010 but this has been delayed until January 1, 2011, it appears to allow time for the Korean authorities to consider equivalence of other country systems. Source:  International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS)  E-News   4th February 2010. IOAS provide IFOAM Accreditation. BioGro's Export and IFOAM Accredited certification programme will continue to provide access to Sth Korea for processed products during 2010.

New Zealand Biological Producers and Consumers Council own:-

The BioGro Logo and Trademark The BioGro New Zealand Organic Standards BioGro New Zealand Ltd - which provide Certification to BioGro Standards Organic Certification New Zealand Ltd - which provide marketing, training and other support services.