Organic Products and Production Act 2023 (2023 No 14).

The purpose of the Act is to enhance consumer confidence in purchasing organic products and provide greater certainty for businesses making organic claims. Additionally, the Act aims to facilitate international trade in organic products. This Act establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for organic products. The Act introduces mandatory organic standards that cover the production, processing, packaging, storage, and handling of organic products. Businesses labeling or advertising products as organic must be approved as operators by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), ensuring they meet these standards.
The Act also sets up "recognized entities" to oversee compliance and allows the MPI to manage imports and exports of organic products, ensuring they meet both domestic and international standards. Enforcement measures include the appointment of organic products officers with inspection powers and the establishment of penalties for non-compliance, including fines for misrepresenting products as organic or failing to meet regulatory requirements .
The Act consists of 8 Parts as follow: Part 1 provides for preliminary matters; Part 2 deals with some general matters and with approval and recognition, and empowers the relevant chief executive; Part 3 sets out provisions relating to imports and exports; Part 4 relates to cost recovery; Part 5 deals with enforcement; Part 6 provides for powers for making regulations and issuing notices; Part 7 sets out general provisions, including establishing an advisory council, providing review rights in relation to certain decisions under this Act, and the use of automated electronic systems; and Part 8 makes consequential amendments to other enactments.