Concerns for domestic organic industry, as MPI accused of 'not listening'

The domestic organic industry may face greater costs and higher barriers to entry under the Organic Products Bill, should it pass in its current form, critics say.

Soil and Health Association general manager Pete Huggins said the sector had concerns that the incoming regulation, currently waiting for its second reading, would “hamper efforts to grow food more sustainably”, despite some otherwise “significant improvements” to the bill after select committee.

Under the proposed legislation, MPI would take control of organic accrediting bodies and for giving final approval to individual operators, which critics say is effectively duplicating the sector’s existing certification process.