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Organics - Exporting

Third party agencies

Third party agencies (TPAs) are recognised by NZFSA to verify that organic products are produced in accordance with:

• NZFSA organic standard OP3

• relevant market-specific export requirements.

Both the organisation and its personnel (‘individuals’) must be accredited to ISO 17020 and comply with NZFSA organic standards OP1 and OP2.

Responsibilities

Third party agencies:

• register organic operators for the official organic assurance programme (OOAP)

• evaluate each operator’s organic management plan (OMP) to confirm that it covers the required operations and will deliver product that complies with NZFSA organic standard OP3 and relevant market-specific export requirements

• verify that the organic management plan continues to meet the NZFSA organic standard OP3 and that the operators are following the management plan

• determine how frequently operators will be assessed against the NZFSA organic standard OP3. Frequency is based on demonstrated performance.

• manage the timely resolution of non-compliance issues

• report to NZFSA regularly, on their own activities and compliance with NZFSA organic standards OP1 and OP2

• report to NZFSA regularly, on the performance of their registered organic operators

• verify that individual consignments of organic products are produced and handled in accordance with criteria in NZFSA organic standard OP3, and so are eligible for export under the official organic assurance programme (OOAP)

• issue export certificates for markets where they have been given the authority to do so.

Organic standards

Third party agencies must comply with 2 organic standards:

• NZFSA organic standard OP1 – accreditation (ISO 17020), recognition and performance criteria for third party agencies and their individuals

• NZFSA organic standard OP2 – third party agency responsibilities.

Third party agencies verify that operators and exporters comply with the NZFSA organic standard OP3 and market-specific export requirements.

NZFSA organic standard OP3

Market-specific export requirements

Becoming a third party agency (TPA)

If your company is interested in becoming a third party agency, both the company and its individuals (personnel) must be accredited to ISO 17020 and NZFSA organic standards OP1 and OP2 by an accreditation body. The accreditation body then recommends that NZFSA recognises the company and its individuals as a third party agency.

Accreditation bodies – IANZ and JAS-ANZ

Contact NZFSA to discuss the application process.

Once you are recognised, NZFSA publishes your details in a register of recognised third party agencies and their accredited individuals on the NZFSA website.

Organics third party agency register

Contact

organics@nzfsa.govt.nz

Updated 11 August 2009