The ministry has completed the initial consultation and information gathering phases on the issue.
Details of any standards will then be consulted on separately.
If a proposal is agreed to, that consultation will take place next year at the earliest.
The sector is becoming increasingly important to New Zealand's economy.
Organic Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) released its 2018 Organic Market report at Parliament on June 20 and its figures showed the organic sector had grown by 30% compared with 2015, and is worth $600 million.
Organic exports increased by up to 42% during the same time, and are worth $355 million.
OANZ chief executive Brendan Hoare said the organic industry had "endless potential''.
''We have to get the standards right as it is important to have those regulations if we want to grow our exports,'' Mr Hoare said.
He said the global momentum towards organics was ''phenomenal''.
Europe, North America and Australia were the sector's primary export markets, taking up to 70% of New Zealand's organic exports.
However, many countries, including the United States, had regulatory standards, which inhibited our exports to them.
He said as New Zealand had no such framework, and although we had some access, it was like ''driving with the handbrake on''.
''The EU has just completed a new regulatory framework for organics.
''In the past they have been lenient with us but won't be in the future.''
He said the two-yearly survey revealed huge growth and an increasing consumer interest in organic products.
About 80% of people surveyed bought organic products at least every fortnight.
Those surveyed said they did so because of the expectation the products were chemical-free and sustainably produced, or to look after their own and their family's health.
''Consumers are looking for something that gives them a guarantee or assurance they were doing the right thing.
''We, the organic sector, are not the solution, but we certainly offer solutions.''
The report said organic product retail sales were growing twice as fast as conventional sales, up 8.1% to $245million compared with non-organic products at 4.8% pa since 2015.
The number of certified organic operations had increased by 12%.
Exported fresh fruit and vegetables had grown by 26%, while exported dairy, meat and wool were up by 45%, processed food and ingredients by 7%, wine exports by 13%, and other beverages and vinegar by 20%.
Honey exports had grown $230,000 to $1.4million.
Farmers Allan and Sonia Richardson, of Heriot, own two organic sheep and beef farms.
Mr Richardson said he was seeing a growing domestic demand for organic products, but
the ''really important thing'' they were waiting for was national organic standards, which would allow New Zealand to increase its exports to the United States and other countries.
-By Yvonne O'Hara
[An earlier version of this story saying the new regulatory standards were expected to be released this year was incorrect. - Editor]
