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Proposed Organic Export Requirement: Recognised Agencies and Persons

Update – 29 November 2019

Revised requirements issued

This consultation is closed.

Revised requirements for recognised agencies and persons operating under the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP) are being published together with revised requirements for organic operators.

More information on the Update box on the latest consultaton page

Have your say

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is reviewing the requirements for recognised agencies and persons operating under the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP). MPI is replacing the current standards with a single document called Organic Export Requirement: Recognised Agencies and Persons.  The major changes from the previous standards include:

  • allowing accreditation to ISO 17065 as an alternative to ISO 17020
  • requiring a contract between MPI and third party agencies as a condition of recognition 
  • allowing agencies to use the Key Technical Person model as an alternative to the current performance-based model
  • clarification of the process and requirements for being recognised as a third party agency or recognised person, and how to maintain and continue that recognition
  • extending the duration of MPI recognition for both agencies and persons
  • clarifying how ongoing conformance of agencies and persons will be monitored
  • introducing options and processes for managing poorly performing agencies and persons
  • introducing a review process for appealing MPI decisions
  • updating to the latest MPI format for requirements.

Consultation documents

Background to consultation

This current draft builds on the consultation of these requirements in 2014. In addition, it focuses on aligning requirements and processes for agencies and persons under the OOAP with those under the Food Act 2014, Wine Act 2003 and Animal Products Act 1999. 

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the consultation document by 5pm on 9 February 2018 to organics@mpi.govt.nz

Make sure you include in your submission:

  • the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
  • your name and title (if applicable)
  • your organisation (if applicable)
  • your address.

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

OOAP: Recognised Agencies and Persons Consultation
Food and Beverage Group
Plants, Food and Environment Directorate
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

Submissions are public information

Any submission you make becomes public information. Anyone can ask for copies of all submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the information available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. You can find those grounds in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA. Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include, it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombusdman, who may require the information to be released.