Soil Association Certification has announced it will continue to freeze fees for all licensees until the 31st March 2021. All core fees for organic schemes for food and farming will remain at 2019 levels.
In another bid to support smaller business, Soil Association Certification will offer free entry (limited to two entries per business) for the Best of Organic Market Awards (BOOM) to any Soil Association Certification Licensee with organic sales turnover of under £250k. The awards will open for entries in December 2020.
“In response to the predicted uncertainty ahead, we hope this price freeze will allow our certified growers, producers and processors to continue the fantastic work they’ve been doing to secure a resilient and sustainable food system – for now and for the future.”
Clare McDermott, business development director at Soil Association Certification, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on businesses, farmers and food suppliers across the supply chain. Soil Association Certification is, and always has been, committed to supporting the organic movement.
“In response to the predicted uncertainty ahead, we hope this price freeze will allow our certified growers, producers and processors to continue the fantastic work they’ve been doing to secure a resilient and sustainable food system – for now and for the future.”
Soil Association Certification claims to have been the first certification body to suspend physical inspections and introduced additional protocols in light of Covid-19 enabling inspection to continue and to ensure minimal disruption to new organic licences being issued.
