2024-05: European Union regulatory requirements for sampling and unannounced audits

Attention
Organic approved certifying bodies
 

Purpose

To communicate the minimum regulatory requirements for sampling and unannounced audits of certified organic operators by organic approved certifying bodies, aligning with European Union (EU) organic regulation.

Key points

All organic approved certifying bodies (ACBs) must ensure the below activities are carried out annually, and in a risk-based manner.

Sampling

• A minimum 5% of all operators certified to the National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce (National Standard) by an ACB must undergo sampling. ACBs must ensure EU-certified operators are represented in the group of operators sampled each year.
• When conducting sampling, ACBs must determine whether soil or tissue samples provide the most appropriate means by which to verify the organic integrity of a certified organic operator and product/s.

Unannounced audits

• In addition to regular annual audits of all certified organic operators undertaken by ACBs, a minimum additional 10% of all operators certified to the National Standard by an ACB must undergo unannounced audits. ACBs must ensure EU-certified operators are represented in the group of operators that are audited unannounced each year.

Background

Australia's organic export system is EU-recognised as having equivalence through a government-to-government arrangement for the following commodities:

• unprocessed plant products, excluding seaweed
• processed agricultural products for use as food composed of essentially one or more ingredients of plant origin, excluding wine and yeast
• vegetative propagating material and seeds for cultivation

Some organic approved certifying bodies have entered conformity assessment arrangements with other countries. These are certifier-to-foreign government agreements. Conformity arrangements assist in facilitating trade for organic goods that fall under a product category outside of the scope of existing equivalence arrangements and that need to meet importing country requirements.

Further information

Contact OrganicExports@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
 

The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.