With allergies on the increase we are looking for products which
aren’t going to make us sneeze or break out in rashes or
irritate our children’s sensitive skin. We scan the supermarket
and health food store shelves and find there is a huge range of
products on our shelves that claim to be “all natural” and
“organic”, but are they?
When it comes to skin care or body products, the ingredients
used are generally derived from plants. We want to know that
these plants have been grown or farmed in such a way that they
are not laced with chemicals, pesticides or hormones, which
subsequently leech into our skin and cause us harm.
Organic farming means farming in a way that cares for the
environment, without relying upon synthetic chemicals and other
unnatural interventionist approaches to farming and food
production. Hence, organic food comes from organic farms
utilising the best of both traditional agriculture and modern
techniques. Rather than using synthetic pesticides to kill
pests, farmers prevent pests by planting a diverse range of
crops, by rotations, using natural biological and environment
friendly applications, and conserving natural ecosystems. This
means no artificial pesticides, no herbicides, no hormones and
no growth promotants that have questionable place in our aim to
maintain healthy bodies.
The same logic of natural and preventative health management
(rather than reactive disease management) is applied to GMOs, or
Genetically Modified Organisms, that the organic industry
prohibits in the production of organic foods. With many safe and
proven forms of farming already available, the organic farmer
believes it is important to allow Mother Nature to provide us
with food the way nature intended. For organically processed
foods and personal care products, only minimal processing is
permitted, with a limited number of non-agricultural but natural
or traditional ingredients allowed. Hence no synthetic
chemicals, unnatural dyes, colourings, flavourings or other
additives are permitted.
Now you know how they grow it, but how do you know the farmer is
following the rules. You look for the Certification Logo on the
packaging.
SO WHAT IS CERTIFICATION? The certification program was set up
in the 1980s by the BFA to ensure that what was claimed to be
organic was just that. It required an independent set of
Standards and an independent team of assessors (known as
auditors) to ensure that farmers, processors and others in the
production chain were complying with the rules and regulations
laid down by the organic community.
To obtain organic certification for a product, a minimum of 95%
of all ingredients of agricultural origin must be certified
organic. The remaining 5% of ingredients however are also bound
by strict guidelines. They are, for example, not permitted to be
synthetic chemicals or artificially processed ingredients.
There are two levels or categories to certification: Farmers
require a minimum of three years of organic management before
they can carry a certification stating “Organic”. There is a
transitionary certificate called “In Conversion to Organic”
which can be borne after the first 12 months of organic
production until the three-year period is complete. In both
instances, foods bearing either label confirm that those
products are being produced organically.
SO WHO MONITORS THE MONITORS? The BFA, via its certification
arm, is strictly scrutinised both nationally and internationally
by organisations such as AQIS – the Australian Quarantine
Inspection Service as well as IFOAM – the International
Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, and other
international government authorities. There are no substitutes
or half-measures in organic farming and production. The BFA is a
not-for-profit co-operative, owned by its members, which ensures
that the true interests of the organic community are maintained
and upheld.
So why purchase certified organic products? Every time you
purchase certified organic products you are investing in the
future of your country, its hard-working and caring farmers and
their families. This is a future we can ill afford to ignore. We
have the power to make a difference. One thing we can do every
day to support our sustainable agricultural future is to
purchase certified organic products.
Of course the personal health and wellbeing benefits of organic
products are well documented. No wonder this industry is growing
at the rate it is. People around the world are awakening to a
realisation of what they have been missing out on for decades.
The benefits of certified organic products and processes:
Independent third-party guarantee of quality, and
purity of ingredients. Safe, clean and potent plant
extracts of high vitality. Sustainable agriculture that
respects, supports and nurtures the complete ecology and energy
of our planet. Authenticity and integrity of organic
and natural claims. Prevention of damage to the
environment and humans by the poisonous chemicals used in
conventional agriculture. While 'natural' and 'organic'
claims abound, the only way you can be sure is by using a fully
certified organic range of products. Many may claim to use
organic ingredients, but none have achieved third party
independent certification.
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