Amendment to GB Certificate of Inspection template and importing guidance
Defra have amended the GB Certificate of Inspection (COI) template and issued some updated importing guidance.
If you import organic product from 3rd countries (excluding EU, EEA and Switzerland), then your exporter will need to use this new COI template when requesting a COI from their certification body.
Defra have informed us they have sent these updated documents to third country certification bodies and competent authorities. Defra require them to use these updated COIs from 1st September 2023.
Box 2 has been amended to remove redundant tick boxes. These tick boxes are completed by the exporter’s certification body.
Defra have stated that they will be working with ports to minimise any disruption. We have requested to Defra that ports are flexible over accepting the previous version of the COI in order to avoid unnecessary delays.
Please find updated COI template and Defra guidance documents on our importing webpage.
If you have any specific questions for Defra you can contact them via Organic.Imports@defra.gov.uk
Alternatively, if you have questions about importing contact our certification team at food.drink@soilassociation.org