Inspections

This page explains how inspections work, what to expect at each stage, and what you need to do to prepare. It is designed to help food and drink businesses stay compliant with standards and avoid delays to certification.

Inspection guidance

Your business will be inspected annually to ensure that organic standards are upheld.

During the inspection of your food and drink business, there are certain records, documents and processes that the inspector will need to see.

Read the Soil Association organic standards for further information on what the inspection process entails.

Food and drink annual inspection cycle

Most businesses will have a licence renewal inspection once a year. Some low risk operations (for example, those storing packaged goods) may need fewer inspections.

To keep your licence, you must take part in regular inspections and correct any non-compliances. Renewal of your certification documents is linked to the billing cycle, not the inspection cycle. 

At your annual renewal inspection:

• an inspector will contact you via telephone or email to arrange the date

• your inspection takes place on the agreed date

• the inspector will raise anything identified as not meeting the standards, and log these in your Client Portal as a non-compliance (NC)

• you must respond via the portal within the following timeframes:

  • 14 days for critical non-compliances

  • 30 days for major or minor non-compliances, or requests for information

• we will review and approve your corrective actions and inspection report

• once approved, we will send an email confirming that your current certificate or licence remains valid

• if you do not respond or provide evidence of meeting the relevant standards by the set deadline, your licence will be suspended

• if you continue not to respond or provide evidence, your licence will be closed

All operators are also subject to unannounced inspections. These are usually shorter checks of compliance, and you will normally receive less than 24 hours' notice. These inspections take place at your registered inspection address. For this reason, you must have a suitable UK premises.

Inspection checklists

The checklists below provide an overview of what will need to be available based on the activities you are certified to undertake. There is also guidance on completing corrective actions in response to any issues identified at the inspection that need attention.