Falsely labelled ‘organic’ products rife on Australian shelves, shoppers warned

Since 1992 Australia has had a national standard for exported organic goods – but it doesn’t apply to domestic produce. Photograph: MB Photography/Getty Images

Organic farmers and retailers have warned that Australians are being misled by producers who engage in a form of greenwashing by falsely labelling their products “organic”.

Australian consumers may be happy to pay higher prices for meat, cheese, cosmetics and other goods marked “organic” but producers can use the term without meeting any particular standards or being certified.