PRESS RELEASE
21 June 2023
Plant-based producers are set to benefit as Vegan Organic Network and Soil Association Certification have renewed their collaborative agreement to certify Stockfree Organic farmers and growers.
After 15 years of collaboration, the two organisations have confirmed their partnership to certify organic farmers and growers; those who abide by the Stockfree Organic standard.
Soil Association Certification is an accredited certification body, established in 1973, for the delivery of organic certification.
Vegan Organic Network VON is an educational charity established in 1996, promoting stockfree organic food production, and maintains the Stockfree Organic standards.
The standard was developed in 2007 and has since served to promote methods of producing plant-based foods, to organic standards.
Certified Stockfree Organic growers must not keep animals for food production or commercial gain on the registered holding and must not use animal manures or slaughterhouse by-products of animal or fish origin.
Soil fertility on stockfree organic holdings is maintained through crop rotations, green manures and cover cropping.
The Stockfree Organic symbol (logo) on food products provides consumers with an additional to organic quality assurance, as to the stockfree status of the farm of origin and seeks to prevent the exploitation of animals in food production.
Soil Association Certification Senior Certification Manager said: “Certification logos are the best way for shoppers to get a guarantee that products truly meet the credentials they are looking for, so we are delighted to be extending our partnership with the Vegan Organic Network. We look forward to supporting our licensees who wish to gain this additional Stockfree Organic certification.”
Tamara Schiopu runs the Stockfree Organic Services as part of VON and relates: “There is much wisdom and resiliency in those stockfree organic farmers who are proving that farming can be good for the environment, for animals and for humans. We want to develop the network and strive to increase the number of Soil Association Certification licensees abiding by Stockfree Organic practices.”
Interested farmers and growers can find out more about the standard and about the service on the new website www.stockfreeorganic.net.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Soil Association Certification certifies more than 70% of organic products sold in the UK as a subsidiary wholly owned by the Soil Association charity. Certifying organic food and farming since 1973, and organic textiles, health and beauty products for more than a decade, the team has built up extensive practical experience and provides unrivalled support before, during and after certification. It also audits other schemes within catering and forestry, including the Organic Served Here scheme, and the FSC and PEFC forestry standards internationally, delivering assurances of quality and provenance that industry and consumers can trust. Its Chief Executive is Dominic Robinson and its independent board is chaired by Nick Buckland.