Many misconceptions, mistaken beliefs, and wrong ideas about certified organic Spirulina exist. This short article aims to clarify these misunderstandings.

Understand the Certified Organic concept

“Certified Organic”, such certification is not something that can be obtained in Australia. In other words, Spirulina, the produce, cannot get a certified organic certification in the country. It is the law. Here is the explanation of why,

Certified organic produce: primary production can only be organically certified if grown in soil. Since Spirulina is grown suspended in water, it cannot receive certified organic certification. That is law in Australia (and so is in the U.S. and other Western countries).

In plain words, the claimed certified organic Spirulina is not true, even if it comes from overseas.

Yes, asking a private company, giving them xx dollars, and having them certified as organic is possible. However, the cultivation method and fertiliser used will remain the same.

The certified organic spirulina loophole

How do they do it, and why we cannot

We have been answering this question quite a lot over time. A common question asked over telephone conversations and emails is: How is it possible that I (the person over the line) see the Australian Certified Organic (ACO) seal on overseas imported Spirulina? How can other companies claim, then, that their Spirulina, Spirulina imported from places like China, for example, is certified organic and features the ACO seal?

The answer to that question is quite simple. In other countries, the law allows obtaining a certified organic certification for non-planted soil produce. While not confirmed by a conversation with ACO personnel, we know that the ACO accepts other organisations’ certifications as valid. The ACO then provides, for a fee, an ACO certification and seal. The seal is then placed on the packaging, and the product is claimed as certified organic (100% legal and not questioned).

In other words, the Certified Organic organisations recognise and re-certify each other’s products. What is Certified Organic in an overseas country will get the Certified Organic stamp in Australia even if it doesn’t meet the criteria in Australia.

Our certified organic claims

While we cannot get the ACO seal, we can claim to be under the Australian Certified Organic Standards more than anyone else.

Fresh Spirulina, the farm stands on an Australian Certified Organic farmland. Its water source and soil are tested frequently by ACO personnel and standards. The greenhouses the Spirulina cultivated within are also certified organic, and the fertilisers we use are certified organic an are food grade.

Growing the Spirulina is tested to the Australian Certified Organic standards level. However, Spirulina cannot receive the certification because it is cultivated suspended in water and not planted in soil. Any other claims are inaccurate.

Other companies rely on that loophole in other countries and their laws. We accept that it could be manipulated and is legal, but the final product is the same.

We get to describe that our farm is physically built on Certified Organic land and is subject to all relevant Australian Certified Organic rules and regulations, including the Australia New Zealand Food Standard Code, local codes, standards, and local quality assurance. This is a lot in comparison to what is found elsewhere in the world.

Our organically grown yet not certified organically fresh spirulina powder can be viewed here.