Certified Organic

Certified Organic products are grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Standards and adherence to these standards are essential to prevent unscrupulous operators falsely claiming “natural”, “environmental” and “organic” practices.  There are national certifying bodies and whilst their standards vary, they are a basis for confidence, provided the allowance thresholds are understood. These standards guide production, processing, other inputs, marketing and handling. All certified operators are assured through an independent annual audit. The Australia Certified Organic (ACO) standard is linked to AS6000 and is considered internationally to be one of the better standards. The US Department of Agriculture Organic (USDA Organic) standard prohibits synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering. Two other recognized certifying bodies are; BFA (Biological Farmers of Australia) and IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements).

Six considerations in choosing “Certified Organic” are your support for: (1) enhancing the soil,  (2) benefiting the environment,  (3)  improving the health of the people, (4) the absence of synthetic chemicals, (5) avoiding irradiated food and (6 the absence of GMO’s.  Looking for the recognized certified organic logos is important as many unscrupulous companies highlight natural ingredients in products that have not been produced to the standards of certified organic products.  Many uncertified products contain toxins and ingredients detrimental to health.  More on organic certification as it relates to food and cosmetics can be found at the Miessence website .