ORGANIC REGULATIONS RELEASED: OANZ Begins Regulatory Review

The long-awaited regulations under the Organic Products and Production Act 2023 have now been released. This is a significant milestone for the organic sector in Aotearoa, following years of advocacy and consultation.

OANZ will be reviewing the regulations closely with our technical experts over the coming weeks. We’ll provide members with feedback and analysis next month to help us all understand what these changes mean in practice.

At this stage, there is no further consultation on the regulations themselves. The next opportunity for input will come when consultation opens on the notice content that will sit alongside these regulations.

You can view the regulations here:
* Organic Products and Production Regulations 2025
* Organic Standards Regulations 2025

We’ll keep you updated and make sure you have the information you need as this process unfolds.

About the Organic Products and Production Act 2023

The Organic Products and Production Act 2023 is new legislation that creates a legal framework for organic standards in New Zealand. It mandates that anyone labelling or advertising a product as “organic” must comply with government-recognised standards, be approved as an operator, and undergo oversight to ensure integrity and compliance.

The goal of the Act is to lift consumer confidence in organic claims, give certainty to businesses about what “organic” means, and ensure New Zealand’s organic products can compete in international markets. The Act enables rules (via regulations, standards and notices) to define exactly what organic production, processing, storage, testing, labelling, etc. involve.