The History of Organic Standards

Apart from Demeter, there was no formal definition or recognition of organic farming until the 1960s. The Soil Association was the first, publishing its ‘standards for organically grown food’ as four pages of guidelines in its magazine Mother Earth. The standards ended with a ‘declaration of intent’ for those prepared to subscribe to them. In 1973 the Soil Association took the next step and formed the Soil Association Organic Marketing Company Limited as a wholly owned subsidiary. Initially its role was to market products grown to the Soil Association standards. However, it soon dropped marketing to concentrate on certification. Through the ’70s and early ’80s the inspection element was informal and cursory, but this gradually changed as the organic...

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Genetically Modified Ingredients- GM

The Soil Association campaigns against the use of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in human and animal food and on the commercial planting of GM crops in the UK. Until there is a ban, then there must be tighter regulations governing the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment and stringent regulations for clear and informative labelling which identifies the inclusion of all GM ingredients or derivatives in foods. The Soil Association believes that the use of GM has no place in the production of safe and healthy food. Organic farming systems have been designed to produce food with care for human health, the environment and animal welfare. The use of genetically engineered crops is not compatible with this aim. This position is shared...

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