One of the most important considerations in this National Standard update is around the issue of antibiotics. Below is a list of what AOL consider to be key risks and benefits of the proposed changes.

Potential Risks of Allowed Antibiotics Use:

1. This change could jeopardise current access to certain export markets as well as future export markets. US organic standards strictly prohibit any antibiotic use. Introducing antibiotics into Australian standards would create a critical variance, meaning that products from these animals would be excluded from any future equivalency with USDA National Organic Program. This could pose significant barriers for Australian exporters targeting the US market.

2. Both South Korea and China prohibit antibiotic use in organic livestock products, which could risk excluding livestock and livestock products from any future equivalency arrangements. This is especially pertinent given the Letter of Intent for equivalency signed last week by both the Chinese and Australian governments.

3. Research shows that over 30% of organic consumers specifically value organic meat for being hormone- and antibiotic-free. Introducing antibiotics could risk eroding consumer trust in the integrity of organic labels.

4. Organic producers can already use antibiotics on livestock where required for animal welfare and or treatment requirements (with additional requirements, however under the National standard, these livestock would be downgraded/decertified if they are meat animals and incur a 6-month withholding period if they are for milk or fibre purposes ensuring animal welfare requirements are met.

Potential Benefits of Allowed Antibiotics Use:

1.Ensures essential care for painful conditions and topical antibiotic options.

2. Aligns Australia with EU, Japan, and New Zealand practices.