Organic farming is a legally defined form of agriculture, and any product marketed as organic must comply with strict conditions set at UK, European and international levels. By complying with strict standards the rights of organic producers are protected and consumers can be certain that they are buying a genuine organic product. Most farms will have to undergo a two year conversion period before full organic status is achieved, although a progressive conversion of the farm is allowed. Processors, such as food manufacturers, retailers and caterers, are required to provide adequate physical and financial separation of organic and non organic units or operations under the same management. Imported organic foods must have been produced and inspected to an equivalent standard. There must also be full traceability of organic ingredients back to the primary producer. What are the main requirements for organic certification? Certification with an approved certification body, such as Soil Association Certification Limited Adequate records to demonstrate compliance with the organic standards Annual monitoring and inspection by the approved certification body, including some unscheduled spot checks Strict requirements for labelling and for the use of additives and processing aids. Is there anything I should do before applying for organic certification? Yes, you should contact the Soil Association Food and Farming department and get advice from one of the technical staff about the best way to proceed. They can talk to you about agronomic, managment and marketing factors - all of which must be considered before going organic. Contact the Soil Association Food and Farming department on 0117 914 2400 or email ff@soilassociation.org In the UK, government grant support is available for farmers converting to organic production. In England and Wales, this includes a free one and a half day advisory visit. A list of numbers to ring for futher information is given below: Organic Conversion Information Services (OCIS) England, funded by Natural England: 0800 980 0048 or click here for more information. Scotland, funded by SEERAD: 01224 711 072 Wales, funded by National Assembly for Wales: 01970 622 100 Northern Ireland, funded by DARD: 028 9442 6765 Whether you are a producer, processor or international applicant, we can help you achieve organic certification to the Soil Associations standards, allowing you to use the best known and most trusted organic symbol. Get further information from SA Certification's web pages.