Information for AFRISCO's clients

Organic and Organic-In-Conversion

By using the Afrisco organic standards, farmers and other operators will be able to move towards certified organic farming.  However, this cannot happen overnight.   If the land has been farmed with conventional methods of agriculture, there may still be residues of the chemicals that have been applied.  For this reason, and because consumers have the right to expect that certified “organic” products do not contain such residues, farmers need to pass through a conversion period.
During the conversion period, operators may be certified as “in conversion” and can then use AFRISCO’s “organic in conversion” logo.  Many retailers are happy to accept “in conversion” products.

On land that has been previously treated with chemicals:

• First year without chemicals: produce must be sold as conventional production
• Second and third years and after certification: produce can be sold as “organic-in-conversion”
• Fourth year, and after certification: produce can be sold as organic (but if a soil test indicates persistence of residues, the conversion period may have to be extended). Perennials will be subject to the same 3-year conversion.  

On land that has not previously been treated with chemicals for at least three years:

• First year, and after certification and residue testing, and with the assessment that the client understands organic management: produce can be sold as “organic-in-conversion.”  Rarely, and only if the operator has a history in organic agricultural production, and can prove active organic management of soils for at least one season, there can be immediate organic certification.
• Second year, and after inspection, certification and soil residue testing: produce can be sold as organic

On land that has been previously certified by another certification authority

• Afrisco will accept the previous certification if it was by an organisation approved by the national Department of Agriculture or accredited by the International Organic Accreditation Service, or the European Commission

On land that has demonstrably been organically farmed for three years plus, but not certified

• AFRISCO will waive conversion, and will assess the operation for full organic status

For livestock production

• Land as above.  Animals according to timetables for conversion set out in the standards. 

Testing laboratories

Afrisco has contracts with the following accredited laboratories for checking on chemical residues and genetic modification in earth and plant matter, and encourages its operators to use these laboratories:

For residues:
Hearshaw and Kinnes Analytical Laboratory in Capetown, 021 702 4131
For GMO testing:
Eurofins Genescan, Germany.

For soil samples, which are required annually, and which must include carbon content (which ought to rise over time, as you put more carbon into the soil with good organic management) please contact you nearest laboratory through the department of agriculture.  Try to take your soil sample at the same time of each year.