Responding to Coronavirus

We are open for business across the Soil Association and Soil Association certification at this time.

We’re shifting as much of our work as we can online and all staff are working from home. We remain operational and can be contacted on the usual email addresses and telephone numbers.

These are extraordinary and unsettling times

Our worldwide media is gripped by coronavirus and it is right that there is deep concern and mass planning for worst-case scenarios.

The global COVID19 pandemic has already affected the lives of everyone in some way and its impacts will continue for some time. Our farmers and local food suppliers are crucial at this time and, despite increasingly challenging circumstances, we’re so grateful for the hard work they are putting in to produce and distribute our food.

New challenges face many of the communities we serve at the Soil Association and we are finding new ways to work with and support them. We’ve been struck by how boldly the UK and wider world has moved to respond to this imminent threat. There could be much to learn from all this, when we have the bandwidth to do so.

This is a moment to come together for the common good. We are stronger when we work together on the biggest challenges we face.

Soil Association Certification inspections and fees

To help reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Soil Association Certification has introduced additional protocols and as of Wednesday 18th March, all physical inspections were suspended until further notice. We expect this will be the situation for the next few months and have therefore introduced self-assessment and remote audits for licensees.
Read our full Soil Association Certification update here.

Many audits will still be conducted as usual for our Forestry Certificate Holders. In countries where this is not possible we will introduce remote auditing. 
Read our full Forestry update here.

Freeze on annual fee increase

To support the organic sector during these extraordinary and unsettling times, Soil Association Certification has also decided to freeze the annual fee increase that was due to come into effect on 1st April 2020. Fees for organic food, farming, COSMOS, Health and Beauty, GOTS and associated organic schemes will all remain at 2019 levels for a minimum of 6 months, and we will review it at the end of September 2020.
Read the full fees update here.

Food For Life Response

Food For Life and Food for Life Get Togethers are postponing all face-to-face activities until further notice. We are working hard to respond to this fast moving and challenging situation.
Read our full Food for Life update here.

Food for Life have also co-signed a letter to Government calling for urgent action on free school meals to ensure all children have access to good, nutritional food.
Read the full news story here.

Looking ahead

The time will come when the UK seeks to repair and rebuild itself. The UK will bounce back – but do we want to bounce back to how things used to be? Or will we choose to invest in a more resilient and sustainable food system which is both less exposed to short term shocks and better able to restore a safe climate, abundant nature and good nutrition?

As always, the Soil Association will work with our supporters, alliances, partners, licensees and with the wider good food movement to make the case for this re-set to happen - we’re so grateful for your continued support.

But for now, all global citizens must come together to support each other. Our world is taking a deep breath, let’s take one with it.

Ideas to keep you busy at home:

1. Get growing these everyday herbs at home. They're great for flavouring your favourite food and bees love them too!

2. Make your own organic deodorant with ingredients you've likely got in your cupboards.

3. Now is more important than ever to limit food waste and use up every bit of your veg. Read these top tips and make the most of your veg.