Around 400 companies have been impacted by the collapse of organic certification company, NASAA Certified Organic (NCO), including Fonterra Australia, SunRice, Bellamy’s Organic, and Costa Farms.
NCO went into voluntary administration last week with David Trim and Brent Kijurina from Hall Chadwick appointed administrators on 8 July. The first creditors meeting is on 17 July.
A statement on the NCO website said NCO directors, Anthea Starr and Kim Morgan, had been working with industry bodies and other certified operators for companies to transition to.
“The successful execution on the Plan will maintain the integrity and international reputation of Australian organic certification.
“The support from DAFF will not only enhance the effectiveness of the transition but will also underpin broader initiatives to foster growth, transparency, and competitiveness in Australia and internationally.
“The Directors have been working extensively with industry bodies and are deeply grateful for the significant support, resources, and industry insights provided,” the company said.
The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has told NASAA certified organic operators that their certification to the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce was no longer valid.
It said it had a policy in place for NCO and all other approved certifying bodies to support NASAA operators to ensure a smooth transition and allow businesses to continue with minimal disruption.
Companies need to find a new approved certifying body to work out how to extend certification to the National Organic Standard (NOS).
DAFF said producers must transfer to a new approved certifier otherwise their products would no longer be certified. That extended to organic goods for export, with no exporting permitted until a new certified operator certificate with the new organic approved certifying body’s logo.
