How to check an organic certificate in Australia (step by step)

Guide · 2026-10-16 · 5 min read · by the Blueberry Bear Team

A certifier's logo on a label is a good sign. A logo you've checked takes only a couple of minutes and is better still. Australia's main organic certifiers publish searchable registers of the businesses they certify, and anyone can use them.

This is the same process the Blueberry Bear Team follows before we approve a seller. Here's how to do it yourself.

Why bother checking?

Most organic claims are genuine. But certificates expire, businesses change certifiers, and occasionally a logo is used without permission or after certification has lapsed. Because organic certification isn't legally required for food sold within Australia, the logo and number are the main things that separate an audited claim from an unaudited one. Checking them is quick, free and anonymous.

Step 1: Find the certifier and the number

Look on the label, sign or website for:

• The certifier's logo or name. For example the ACO "bud", the Demeter mark, or the name Organic Food Chain or Southern Cross Certified.
• A certificate, licence or operator number. It's often printed near the logo, sometimes in small type on the back of the pack.
• The business name. This may be the brand, the farm or the packer. It isn't always the name on the front.

On a market stall, look for a printed certificate on display, or simply ask to see it.

Step 2: Search the right register

Each certifier runs its own register. As of October 2026, these are the public registers we use:

Search by business name first. If that doesn't work, try the certificate number, the brand name, or just the town. Registers are maintained by each certifier, so layouts change from time to time. If you can't find the search page, look for "certified operators", "register" or "find a supplier" on the certifier's website.

Step 3: Check four things

When you find the entry, look for:

1. Name. Does the operator name match the business you're buying from, or the brand on the pack?
2. Status. Is it shown as current or active? Some registers also list suspended or withdrawn operators.
3. Scope. What is the certificate for? A farm might be certified for vegetables but not for eggs, or a business might be certified as a processor but not a grower. The product you're buying should fall within the scope.
4. Dates. If an expiry or validity date is shown, is it in the future?

If all four line up, you can be confident the claim is backed by a current audit.

Step 4: If it doesn't match

A mismatch isn't automatically a red flag. Common innocent reasons include:

• Trading names. The certificate may be in the company's legal name rather than its brand or shop name.
• Contract packers. A brand may be certified through the business that packs for it.
• Recent changes. New certificates can take a little while to appear, and some operators recently moved certifiers (see below).
• Retailers. A shop may sell certified products without being certified itself. In that case, check the brand on each product, not the shop.

The simplest next step is to ask the seller for a copy of their certificate. If you still can't confirm it, you can contact the certifier directly. Certifiers publish contact details, and some explicitly invite enquiries about whether an operator is certified.

A note on NASAA certificates

NASAA Certified Organic (NCO) withdrew as a DAFF-approved certifying body in June 2025, and its operators had to move to another certifier. If a business still shows only a NASAA certificate, it's reasonable to ask which certifier they're with now. Older stock with NASAA labels may still be around, but a current certificate should come from a different body. Our separate guide on the NASAA closure explains this in more detail.

What about imported products?

Imported organic food may be certified under an overseas scheme, for example the EU organic logo or the USDA Organic seal. Those schemes have their own databases. An Australian certifier's register will only show businesses it certifies, so an imported brand may not appear there even though it is genuinely certified elsewhere. Look for the overseas certifier's name or code on the pack and check that scheme's register.

Spotting warning signs

Most claims check out. A few signs suggest you should look more closely:

• A certifier logo with no number anywhere on the product or website.
• A number that doesn't appear on the named certifier's register under any likely name.
• A certificate that is out of date with no sign of renewal.
• A logo that looks altered, blurry, or is from a certifier that has closed.
• "Organic" in the brand name (for example "Organic Valley Farms") with no certification shown. A brand name is not a certification.

If you believe an organic claim is misleading, raise it with the business first. If that doesn't resolve it, you can report it to the ACCC, and you can let the named certifier know if its logo is involved.

How Blueberry Bear Organics does it

Before any seller goes live, we:

1. Collect the certifier, certificate number, expiry date and a copy of the certificate.
2. Search the certifier's public register and check that the name, status, scope and dates match.
3. Save a dated record of the register entry.
4. Contact the certifier if anything is unclear, and hold the listing until it's resolved.
5. Remind sellers before their certificate expires, and hide listings automatically if it lapses.

Every verified shop shows its certifier, certificate number and expiry date, so you can repeat the check yourself. We'd genuinely encourage you to.

Registers checked 16 October 2026. Website addresses and layouts may change. General information only.

— the Blueberry Bear Team