About the Consultation

DAFF sought feedback on how to strengthen the credibility, consistency, and traceability of sustainability claims made by Australian agricultural producers and supply chains. This was in response to increasing scrutiny from international markets and growing concern about misleading environmental and social claims. The discussion paper explored: 

• Verification methods and data requirements 

• The role of third-party certifications 

• How to future-proof claims for compliance with evolving trade regulations (e.g. EU’s EUDR, CSRD) 

Why this matters for GS1 members and the industry: 
Credible claims require reliable, standardised data that moves with products through the supply chain. Without this, businesses face risks of greenwashing allegations, market access delays, and costly duplication of assurance systems.

Key Documents & Links 

• DAFF Consultation Page

• Assuring Agricultural Sustainability Claims – Discussion Paper (PDF) 

• Summary of submissions (anticipated in 2025)

GS1 Australia Submission 

GS1 Australia’s submission emphasised the importance of globally accepted data standards and interoperable traceability systems in assuring agricultural sustainability claims. Key messages included: 

1. Link claims to the product itself – GS1 standards (e.g. GTINs, GLNs, EPCIS) allow digital credentials to be linked directly to products, locations, or lots - supporting real-time verification and reducing misuse of static PDFs or outdated certificates. 

2. Standardise certification data – Many current third-party certification schemes do not use globally unique identifiers or digital traceability, making it hard for regulators or marketplaces to verify claims efficiently. GS1 advocated for DAFF to work with industry and certification bodies to adopt common identification and registry standards. 

3. Leverage existing infrastructure – Australia already has strong foundations (e.g. the GS1 National Product Catalogue and global GS1 registries) that can be used to deliver scalable, secure, and cost-effective sustainability verification. 

4. Support Digital Product Passports – GS1 recommended DAFF engage with UN/CEFACT’s Recommendation 49 (UN Transparency Protocol) to explore decentralised, interoperable data-sharing models—critical for trade-aligned ESG claims. 

5. Avoid duplication and reduce burden – The government should build on what industry already uses and incentivise convergence of existing systems rather than introducing new silos. 

📄 Download GS1 Australia's Full Submission (PDF)