Importing Exporting Wholesaling Distribution Licensee Processor
Aquaculture Bee Keeping Livestock Cottage Industry Horticulture Cropping Biodynamic Grower Group Landless Production (Mushroom and Sprouts) Nursery Production Silviculture Viticulture
Food Manufacturing Abattoirs Butcher Wine Making Pet food Textiles Cosmetics Livestock Feed Manufacturing Contract Processing

Certification Process for Non-Primary Production

Please note that there is no conversion period for operations which are not involved in primary production.

The certification process for non- primary production (such as Processing, Handling, Contract processing, etc) is as follows:

  • Application kit is requested / completed and returned to ACO with application payment and supporting documents. Please find a copy of our Fees Schedule
  • Application and documents are reviewed by ACO for completeness and compliance. Missing information is requested after this review
  • After successful document review, an on-site audit is organised to validate all declared information
  • Audit is executed and report is submitted by Inspector to ACO for review.
  • ACO reviews report to determine whether compliance is met. If successful, certificate is issued. If unsuccessfully, official notice of items which are to be addressed is issued. Once non-conformances are addressed, certification can be finalised.

Copies of all forms can be obtained from Form Search.

A list of certified operators, suppliers, wholesalers, contract processors, non-organic ingredients, and much more, please refer to the Search Operators and Search Products section of the website, by clicking on the "Search" button at the top of this page.

Certification Process for Primary Production

  • Application kit is requested / completed and returned to ACO with application payment and supporting documents
  • Application and documents are reviewed for completeness and compliance. Missing information is requested after this review
  • After successful document review, an on-site audit is organised to validate all declared information
  • Audit is executed and soil test samples are taken (invoiced to operator)
  • Audit report is submitted by Inspector to ACO for review.
  • ACO reviews report to determine whether compliance is met. If operator can demonstrate the land has been handled in compliance for at least 12 months, the property will enter In-Conversion status and remain there until over length of compliance reaches 36 months at which point the property will be upgraded to Organic status.
  • If successful, certificate is issued. If unsuccessfully, official notice of items which are to be addressed is issued. Once non-conformances are addressed, certification can be finalised.

Copies of all forms can be obtained from Form Search.

A list of certified operators, suppliers, wholesalers, contract processors, non-organic ingredients, and much more, please refer to the Search Operators and Search Products section of the website, by clicking on the "Search" button at the top of this page.

The certification of primary production land to Organic status can take anywhere from 12 months to 36 months depending on prior history. See the diagram at the top of this page Converting to Certified Organic