UK Control Authority
Legal Authority and the Control of Organic Farming Regulations in the UK
The EC regulation regarding organic produce came into effect on 1st January 1993. this gives legal meaning to the word "organic." It is illegal to use the word "organic' in connection with food stuffs unless the producers has been certified by a recognised EC body.
In this country DEFRA is the recognised Organic Control Authority and in order to comply with legal requirements producers need DEFRA approval.
SOPA is approved by Defra to operate the organic certification scheme in Scotland. This means that SOPA administers Organic Regulations to Scottish producers with a pragmatic understanding of the climate, geography and specific challenges faced by Scottish agriculture. SOPA is dedicated to upholding organic standards in Scottish conditions.
The objective of the DEFRA Scheme is to provide means by which organically produced food can be supplied to retailers, wholesalers, and customers in a way that is demonstrated by a certificate of registration and where practical by means of a certification mark, that the produce has been produced only by producers who operate to the standards, procedures and practices defined and approved by DEFRA.
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