How to buy organic and what does that mean?

There are a number of organisations in Australia that will certify produce as organic (listed below). However there is no mandatory requirement for certification in the domestic market to use the term "organic" on labels. Standard consumer protections do apply and this means that sellers must not misslead customers by calling something organic that clearly isn't, if a product is marketed as organic it should be produced in accordance with accepted organic principles.

To help you make an informed choice you can use filters to find organic products. For this to work a farmer has to proactively mark their products as organic. Our filter options include:

1. Organic Promise: This is for products that are not certified by a third party but the farmer is confirming they have produced the product according to organic principles.
2. AUS-QUAL: Certified by AUS-QUAL Limited
3. ACO: Certified by ACO Certification Ltd
4. BDRI: Certfied by Bio-Dynamic Research Institute (BDRI)
5. NASAA: Certified by NASAA Certified Organic (NCO)
6. OFC: Certified by Organic Food Chain (OFC).

Organic principles generally refer to the core values and standards that guide organic agriculture and food production. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement, has defined four basic principles of organic agriculture:

1. Principle of Health: Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the planet as one and indivisible. This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems.
2. Principle of Ecology: Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them, and help sustain them. This principle roots organic agriculture within living ecological systems. It states that production is to be based on ecological processes and recycling.
3. Principle of Fairness: Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities. Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice, and stewardship of the shared world, both among people and in their relations to other beings.
4. Principle of Care: Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. Organic farmers, processors, traders, and consumers have a responsibility to protect and enhance the environment for future generations.