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Organic certification scam for consumers

A rogue organic certification body appears to have been approved by Consumer Affairs Victoria

By freeranger - 17th March 2010 - Back to News

Consumers lives are being put at risk by a Victorian Government decision which effectively approves an organic certification body which does not meet current standards.

Until now only seven organic certification organisations have been recognised in Australia. All approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

But now an eighth body has been established in Victoria, which has a rudimentary inspection and verification system involving untrained members of the group – which allows members to certify each other.

The scheme was reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in the middle of last year but the only action taken by the ACCC was to refer the complaint to Consumer Affairs Victoria. After a brief investigation, CAV closed its file and took no action, stating that approval by AQIS was not required as Visionary Organic Farmers was not involved in exporting.

Requests for further information about the status of the bogus certifiction scheme have been ignored by officers at Consumer Affairs and the Minister, Tony Robinson.

The Attorney General, Rob Hulls simply referred requests for information to Tony Robinson.

This move by the Victorian Government jeopardises consumer confidence in the domestic organic industry which relies on effective certification to demonstrate compliance with clear production standards, including no chemical use, to justify higher prices for its products.

The decision could see the term 'certified organic' used on a variety of food products containing significant levels of chemical residues – generating huge potential health problems for consumers. Buying organic is not just a lifestyle choice for some - it's a matter of life or death for those with severe allergies.

More at http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/03/17/167391_national-news.html

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: freeranger@dcsi.net.au

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