Who can make your organic product: contract manufacturers in New Zealand

Certification is site-specific and scope-specific

A certificate is not a general badge. It names the operator, the site, the processes covered and the products covered, and it expires. A manufacturer certified for dry blending is not thereby certified for wet filling; a site certified for one product category may not be covered for yours.

This is the check that gets skipped, usually because the manufacturer says "yes, we're organic certified" and everyone moves on. Ask for the certificate itself and read the scope.

What to check before you commit

1. The certificate is current, with an expiry date after your planned production run. How to verify a certificate.
2. The scope covers your process — the specific operations, not just the product category.
3. The certifier is recognised for your markets. If you intend to export to the EU or the US, the manufacturer's certification has to support that, not just the domestic claim.
4. Segregation and cleandown procedures exist where the site also runs conventional product. Ask how changeover is documented, not whether it happens.
5. They will give you batch records. You need traceability from your organic inputs to your organic outputs, and those records live with them.
6. Mass balance can be reconciled. Organic in should account for organic out, with documented losses. This is a standard audit test and you need the manufacturer's cooperation to pass it.
7. They have done it before. A site with existing organic clients will have the procedures; a site certifying for your project will be learning on your timeline.

What belongs in the agreement

• An obligation to maintain organic certification for the term, and to notify you immediately if it lapses, is suspended or changes scope.
• A right to receive batch records, cleandown records and mass balance data for your production.
• A requirement to notify you before any change to process, input source or sub-contracting.
• Who carries the cost if a batch loses organic status through a site failure.
• Access for your certifier's auditor where they require it.

Finding a certified manufacturer

ANZOC's directory lists certified operators drawn from certifier data, including processors and manufacturers. Start with organic manufacturers in New Zealand, and use the full supplier directory where you need a specific product category.

Directory listings reflect the certifier data at the time of the last refresh. Always confirm the current certificate and its scope directly with the manufacturer before you contract — a listing is a starting point for the conversation, not evidence of current certification.

Questions people ask

Can I make an organic product at an uncertified factory if all my ingredients are organic?

No. Organic certification covers the process, not only the inputs. A product made at an uncertified site cannot be sold as certified organic however the ingredients were grown.

Does my contract manufacturer's certification cover my product?

Only if their certificate scope includes the process and product category involved. Read the scope on the certificate itself rather than relying on a general assurance that the site is certified.

Do I still need my own certification if my manufacturer is certified?

Yes, in general. The manufacturer certifies the site and process; you certify the product and the brand making the claim. Your certifier will confirm what your specific arrangement requires.

Can a site run organic and conventional product on the same line?

Commonly yes, with documented segregation, cleandown and changeover procedures, and with records that prove them. What matters is that the procedures exist, are followed, and are auditable.

Sources

• Organic Products and Production Act 2023 — New Zealand Legislation
• MPI — Organic product requirements in NZ

This page is general guidance, not certification advice. Your certifier's decision is the one that counts — check anything that changes what goes on a label with them before you print.