The Soil Association believes it is vital that organic standards are kept high and enforced effectively. Because we are independent, we can maintain our own standards. To help us do this we have set up a standards board and a number of standards committees. The board and committees are made up of our members and licensees, researchers, advisors, other experts in their field, together with independent people and consumer representatives.
These committees consider proposals and amendments to the standards and advise us on other relevant policy issues. Their recommendations are circulated to all members and licensees for consultation. The board makes a final recommendation on new/amended standards, which are then ratified by our elected council. Over 100 people are involved in the committees, all giving their time and expertise freely to the process of standards development. We are very grateful for the work they do and the commitment they demonstrate.
This rigorous and open process ensures standards remain high, yet attainable.
The standards board
» More information about the standards board
The standards committees are:
Click on a committee title for a summary, current issues they are working on and a list of members.
Standards Workplan 2008-09
As a result of the governance review the Standards Department is now prioritising and focusing on a carefully selected range of key issues. The Standards Board, working with the standards committees, has identified a range of work priorities. The Standards Board has then had to undertake a further prioritisation, due in part to extra staffing constraints. For each of these areas a work plan has been developed including the specifics of stakeholder engagement necessary to make the work inclusive and accountable. The work plans cover the period from Spring 2008 to Summer 2009 so that new standards can be printed for implementation from 1 January 2010. You can read the standards workplan here.
|