A national standard for organic production will be advanced as a Government Bill next year.
It would give consumers confidence in organic claims and businesses certainty to invest and innovate in the growing sector, Agriculture and Food Safety Minister Damien O'Connor said.
"We are one of only two of the
top 25 organic markets in the world that have voluntary instead of mandatory standards," Mr O'Connor said.
Global demand for organic products was increasing and New Zealand's organic sector had responded with growth of 30% over the past couple of years and was now worth about $600 million a year, he said.
