New Zealand

Country

New Zealand

Continent

Oceania  

Market Performance

The total value of the organic sector in New Zealand is estimated to be between $340-$360 million.

The total value of the domestic market for organic products is estimated by OANZ to be between $126m and $133m and has grown about 25% since 2009.

Growing at approximately 8% globally per annum in 2013, organics is estimated to reach USD$104.5 billion by 2015.

Consumer Preferences & Channels

The AC Nielsen Scantrack programme in NZ recorded that organic sales through supermarkets as worth $67.5 million in 2012, representing an increase of 7.5% from 2011 and an increase of 26.8% from 2009.

Specialty retail has grown faster within the same period, growing value from $12M in 2008 to $25M in 2012. For organic products other than produce and meat, supermarkets account for around 80% of sales.

Within the supermarket sales channel, around one-third of total sales value is attributable to produce and meat (est. $33M) in 2012 In 2012 Processed Foods were the largest domestic organic category (34%) with Produce second (27%) followed by meat and dairy (13% & 10% respectively)

Legislative Considerations

Products certified as organic overseas may be sold in New Zealand labelled as organic. In New Zealand, the use of the term ‘organic’ is controlled through the Fair Trading Act 1986. This means that representations about food must be truthful and must not mislead a consumer and importers must be able to be demonstrate that products labelled as ‘organic’ are produced organically.

If you import any organic ingredients used in New Zealand products which are then exported under the Official Organic Assurance Programme (OOAP) you must be registered with a recognised Third Party Agency (TPA) and the imported product must be certified organic by an appropriate body and be able to be verified as organic.

Sources & Links to Further Info

The organic sector organisation – Organics Aotearoa New Zealand
Inc. (OANZ) publish the NZ Organic Market Report - www.oanz.org

For more information about organic standards and import requirements : http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/industry/sectors/organics/importing/index.htm