Standards

The GECA Program follows the ISO 14024 standard and offers global best practice in product certification and ecolabelling to the Australian market.

GECA standards are rigorous, scientific and relevant to key Australian industries.

They are designed to reward top performing products and services, and are internationally recognised through GECA’s membership of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).

VIEW OUR STANDARDS

How standards are developed

Our standards development and review process is transparent, consistent, and includes consultation with stakeholders, industry, experts and the general public.



1Proposal

  • Identify potential new standard
  • GECA staff and Standards Committee (SC) conduct feasibility assessment
  • SC recommends development to the GECA Board

2Development

  • Investigation and research
  • Set up Technical Advisory Group (TAG) from stakeholders in relevant product category, consult with TAG, stakeholders, industry, licensees
  • Define scope and assessment criteria for the standard
  • Draft sent to SC and GECA Board for approval

3Public Review

  • Draft standard released for public comment
  • Public invited to comment: announced to industry and GECA network via online and email communications and in relevant trade media.
  • TAG and staff consider submissions, recommend any changes to SC
  • SC recommends revised version for Board approval

4Release

  • Upon Board approval, standard is released
  • Announced to industry and GECA network via online, email and media communications.
  • From date of release, assessments and certification against the standard can proceed.

How existing GECA standards are reviewed

1Identify

  • Standards Committee (SC) identifies existing standards for possible review
  • Review process and market needs assessed
  • SC recommends revision to GECA Board

2Consult & Draft

  • Licensees, industry and stakeholders for product category notified: invited to join Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for review
  • Draft standard update sent to SC for approval
  • GECA, TAG and SC agree on aspects requiring revision GECA and TAG redraft the standard

3Public Review

  • Draft standard is released for public comment
  • Public invited to comment: announced to industry, GECA network and public via print, online, email and media communications.
  • TAG and staff consider submissions, recommend any changes to SC
  •  SC recommends revised version for Board approval

4Release

  • Upon Board approval, updated standard released
  • Notice to industry and GECA network via online, email and media communications.
  • Updated standards supersede previous standards in that category Previous versions closed to new applications for certification.