About EOPAA

The Essential Oils Producers Association of Australia was inaugurated in 1994.  The Association's main object is to promote and facilitate the production of essential oils and allied products in Australia by bringing together all parties working in this field, e.g. growers of essential oil bearing crops, producers of essential oils, firms trading in essential oils, researchers engaged in the study of the agronomic aspects of the commercial growing of essential oil bearing plants and the chemistry of essential oils,  the pharmacology of essential oils as well as persons or companies intending to enter this industry.

Essential oils are used in a variety of products.  They are used in the compounding of perfumes and flavours, as additives in cosmetics as well as constituents of medicinal preparations.  They are also used as industrial solvents.  As a consequence of their varied industrial uses their trade has to comply with the requirements of numerous governmental regulations, in particular regulations pertaining to safety and health aspects as well as with established industrial standards.

A major function of EOPAA is to provide a unified approach of the industry as a whole, in dealings with government departments by presenting Government with EOPAA's views and by providing expert advice and assistance with the framing of new regulations.  Such assistance to be provided at a national level and where appropriate at an international level as well.

Some success has been achieved in dealings with STANDARDS AUSTRALIA (in the elaboration and revision of Australian as well as International Standards), the THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINSTRATION (participation at meetings and workshops dealing with the toxicity and scheduling of essential oils) and the DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (Exemption from Export Control of Essential Oils from Australian Native Species).

Owing to the geography of Australia and the relative isolation of individual members EOPAA aims to provide information on any new or impending regulations likely to affect the trade in essential oils, notify members of planned industrial or scientific meetings which might be of interest and disseminate research findings on all aspects of the essential oil industry.