SOIL ASSOCIATION Certification has frozen its planned annual fee increases for organic licenses.

An increase was due to come in to effect from April 1 for all organic schemes run by the certification body, however due to the extra pressures facing farmers and food suppliers across the supply chain during the Covid-19 pandemic, this has now been delayed until the end of September 2020. However the fee freeze does not apply to any scheme that Soil Association Certification deliver on behalf of other partners such as Red Tractor.

Business development director at Soil Association Certification, Clare McDermott, commented: “In these extraordinary and unsettling times it’s vital that we come together to support all our licensees, especially our farmers and food suppliers. Soil Association Certification is, and always has been, committed to supporting the organic movement. 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.

"The global pandemic has already affected the lives of everyone in some way and its impacts will continue for some time. Our licensees are crucial at this time and, despite increasingly challenging circumstances, we’re so grateful for the hard work they are putting in to produce and distribute our food,” she concluded.

The certification body has also chosen to suspend physical inspections during the outbreak and are currently reviewing the option of remote/desk-based inspections.