Have you ever wondered if a product labelled Organic really is organic? Do you find organic product labels confusing? Well, you're not alone! In this month's blog, we take a closer look at 3 different Australian certified logos you can find on skin care and food products and what they are all about!

Who certifies the different Organic logos?

Australian organic certification is granted by several organisations that are accredited by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), under the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce.

In order to meet the organic certification, businesses must adhere to strict standards and practices and it applies to a range of businesses wishing to gain organic certification. These businesses may include skin care, cosmetics, food and drinks and manufacturers of certified organic ingredients.

Why is certification important?

Certified organic products give consumers the choice of choosing sustainable products that are free from chemicals and synthetic additives. Products that are certified provide peace of mind and give us the confidence that what you get is an honest product with no green-washing. Some product manufacturers make false claims about their products being organic and the best way to know what you are buying is to look out for the logos. Certification is important as this assures us that the product claims have been independently verified and assessed.

Below are 3 of the certified organic logos explained:

OFC - Organic Food Chain - The OFC offer organic certification for producers of grain, cattle, sheep & other industries, food or skincare, distributors and wholesalers. The OFC is committed to fast friendly service while upholding the National Organic Standard of Australia and other international organic certification standards.

ACO - Australian Certified Organic - An industry leading organic certifier, the ACO ensures integrity, impartiality and authenticity in trade, delivering best value for service for certified clients whilst protecting the rights and interests of consumers of organic products.

The ACO certifies organic cosmetics under the Australian National Standard, National Organic Program (USDA), and COSMOS standards. The COSMOS logo means every aspect of the products have been scrutinized as complying with the stringent organic and quality standards of this certification, in particular, every farmer supplying ingredients must also be certified organic.

NASAA Certified Organic - An Australian and International Organic certifier, the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) is the nation's leading organic certifier – focused on providing quality, cost efficient organic certification services. NASAA provides certification and inspection services, which assist in facilitating market access throughout the world for certified organic products. The NASAA standard covers the organic supply chain – from input manufacturers to producers, processors to wholesale and retail operations - ensuring organic integrity.

Shop certified organic brands: Cosima, Ecotan, Zuii, Cherub Rubs, zk'in

Resources:

http://aco.net.au/organiccertification/cosmetics/

http://austorganic.com/australian-certified-organic-standard2/

http://www.organicfoodchain.com.au/

http://www.nasaa.com.au/welcome1.html

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/health+advice/gps+view+organic+food,8001