Organic Certification for Products Not Covered in the South Korea-USA Agreement

Earlier this month, South Korea and United States announced an organic equivalency agreement so that organic food manufacturers in the two countries can trade without requiring double organic certification. But the agreement only covers processed foods (specifically, products containing at least 95% organic ingredients).

For all the other consumer products that can be certified organic in each country, two international certifiers-Quality Assurance International (QAI; San Diego) and Australian Certified Organic (ACO; Queensland, Australia)-are providing a solution.

The two certifiers say they will combine inspections in such a way that will save time and money over double certification from a USA-accredited body and a South Korean one. They will certify unprocessed and raw food, livestock, and agricultural and forest products.

U.S. manufacturers will likely know QAI as a local certifier; on the other hand, ACO, while based in Australia, is also competent in and accredited for South Korean organic certification.

Robby Gardner

Associate Editor

Nutritional Outlook magazine

robby.gardner@ubm.com