Preparing for your organic farm inspection

As a certified organic farmer or grower, you will be inspected every year to ensure your farm complies with organic standards. Your inspector will need to review certain information during your farm inspection. To help you prepare for this, we have provided useful documents, checklists and guidance.

Watch these step-by-step videos to find out what happens on the day of your organic farm inspection.

What happens during your inspection

Completing your inspection

What happens after your inspection

When your inspection is complete, the inspector will send you a report outlining what has been checked and discussed.

If any area of compliance that needs more attention has been identified, an Action Summary Form (ASF) will be issued with the report. The ASF will describe the non-compliances and additional information that might be required. You can read our guidance on how to use this form below.

Watch our video about completing your inspection:

Action Summary Form

The signed and complete Action Summary Form (ASF) must be returned, with any additional information, to the certification team within the required timeframe.

Once your ASF has been returned to us, we will review and send you any corrective action as part of the inspection review process.

What you need to do

1. please read through your ASF carefully, checking whether you need to send in any additional documentation

2. please write your corrective actions against any non-compliance listed (each corrective action should clearly show how the non-compliance has been/will be addressed)

3. it is important to include an explanation of how each non-compliance will be prevented from recurring in the future

4. where possible, you should provide evidence in support of your proposed action, or example:

   • copies of new procedures, along with evidence showing that they have been issued and implemented

   • copies of completed records in use, such as veterinary, training, cleaning or goods-in records

   • photographic evidence, invoices

5. sign and date the bottom of the ASF

6. return the completed ASF, together with any requested documentation, within the timescale detailed on the form

Requested timeframes for non-compliances

• critical non-compliance: 14 days

• minor or major non-compliance: 30 days (the inspector will aim to approve minor non-compliances on the day)

How to return the ASF

Email your form to us at farming.growing@soilassociation.org, or post your form to us at Soil Association Certification Limited, Spear House, 51 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6AD.

Action points for Red Tractor farm assurance schemes, once signed and completed, should be sent directly to SAI global at agrifood@saiglobal.com, with any additional information.

It is important that you return the completed form and required information by the date stated. If you miss this date, you risk suspension of your licence, which would mean you could not sell your products as organic.

ASF terms explained

• comment: general information regarding the standards, for your reference

• Certification Committee (CC) issue: an issue that could not be resolved at inspection, which needs consideration by our certification committee (this issue may result in you or us taking further action)

• application requirement: a requirement or standard that you must meet before your licence can be issued

• minor non-compliance: failure to comply with a specific standard

• major non-compliance: more serious breach of standards or a failure to correct a previous non-compliance

• critical non-compliance: repeat failure to correct a previous non-compliance, or a breach of standards deemed to affect the integrity of the product or enterprise, which may result in loss of organic status (critical non-compliances are referred to the certification committee, which considers what action should be taken; a member of the certification team will contact you after the meeting to inform you of the committee's decision)