Anne Bruce
DEFRA is considering using the model of the National Lottery franchise system to reform organic certification in the UK.
Soil Association director Patrick Holden said it was lobbying for the new system, which it says would allow it to see off the rival certifiers.
All 11 UK organic certifiers would bid for a franchise to run UK organic certification, in the same way as Camelot did for its Lottery franchises.
Holden said the Soil Association has discussed various ways to reform accreditation with Michael Meacher, the DEFRA minister of state responsible for organics and GMOs.
The franchise suggestion is Meacher's favoured option at the moment, he added.
Holden said: "Meacher is sympathetic to us. The Soil Association is the dominant organic certification body in the UK, and the only one which is run as a charity.
"We already have an educational role, and we could run organic accreditation on behalf of the government."
Meacher, who took over his new role after the DEFRA reshuffle in September, was a keynote speaker at the Soil Association's national conference for organic food processors this week.
He said: "I think that organic will be one of the most exciting and hugely rewarding areas for the government over the next few years.
"Much of what you hear about organics is what it is not. That is highly relevant, but I would like more emphasis on the positives, like environmental benefits.
"Getting those points across is the way forward."
The Soil Association launched its third annual organic food and Farming report at the conference, using Taylor Nelson Sofres figures to value of the organic market at £920m for the year to April 28 2002, up from £802m in April 2001, up 15%.
Holden said: "This is an immensely positive report. Organic penetration is reaching saturation with 79% of consumers buying organic for the year to April.
"The supermarkets no longer consider it a niche market. Tesco has a target of £1bn organic sales by 2006, and M&S wants 25% of its sales to be organic."
The Soil Association report says growth in the organic market will be driven by casual organic shoppers becoming more committed.
{{NEWS }}
DEFRA is considering using the model of the National Lottery franchise system to reform organic certification in the UK.
Soil Association director Patrick Holden said it was lobbying for the new system, which it says would allow it to see off the rival certifiers.
All 11 UK organic certifiers would bid for a franchise to run UK organic certification, in the same way as Camelot did for its Lottery franchises.
Holden said the Soil Association has discussed various ways to reform accreditation with Michael Meacher, the DEFRA minister of state responsible for organics and GMOs.
The franchise suggestion is Meacher's favoured option at the moment, he added.
Holden said: "Meacher is sympathetic to us. The Soil Association is the dominant organic certification body in the UK, and the only one which is run as a charity.
"We already have an educational role, and we could run organic accreditation on behalf of the government."
Meacher, who took over his new role after the DEFRA reshuffle in September, was a keynote speaker at the Soil Association's national conference for organic food processors this week.
He said: "I think that organic will be one of the most exciting and hugely rewarding areas for the government over the next few years.
"Much of what you hear about organics is what it is not. That is highly relevant, but I would like more emphasis on the positives, like environmental benefits.
"Getting those points across is the way forward."
The Soil Association launched its third annual organic food and Farming report at the conference, using Taylor Nelson Sofres figures to value of the organic market at £920m for the year to April 28 2002, up from £802m in April 2001, up 15%.
Holden said: "This is an immensely positive report. Organic penetration is reaching saturation with 79% of consumers buying organic for the year to April.
"The supermarkets no longer consider it a niche market. Tesco has a target of £1bn organic sales by 2006, and M&S wants 25% of its sales to be organic."
The Soil Association report says growth in the organic market will be driven by casual organic shoppers becoming more committed.
{{NEWS }}
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