On-Farm vending machines

With many farm businesses looking at diversification options to add value to produce produced on farm we have seen an increase in the number of on-farm vending machines. Many of these are milk vending machines but can include eggs and other produce from the farm.  

Whilst the retail of pre-packaged organic goods is exempt from the regulatory framework governing organic certification, the processes undertaken prior to this stage (e.g. pasteurising, grading, washing, labelling) do require to be included under your SOPA membership and covered by your organic certificate.  

If you have a vending machine on farm that has not been included in your organic inspection before or if you are considering a new venture for 2022 please contact your SOPA Producer Certification Officer to discuss in more detail.

Where a vending machine is sited on-farm this can generally be inspected and certified as an extension to your existing farm membership as an on-farm processor.  If, however, the vending machine is sited away from the farm with the potential for more than one you may require a stand-alone processing registration.  

Inspection and certification of all vending machines must take place prior to the marketing of products as organic.