Organic Trade Group launched

The Soil Association has formed an Organic Trade Group, the first open membership group in the UK, open to all organic businesses, including Soil Association and other certification body licensees. It represents organic business from multiple industries with one single voice to promote sales across organic food, health & beauty and textile markets. The group also aims at giving a platform to communicate the benefits and developments of the organic sector and to advance organic standards, while ensuring that the public’s trust in organic products is maintained. 

The group is led by an advisory committee and chaired by an industry representative. The first meeting was held in June 2007 and involved over 90 businesses as well as representatives from other organic certification bodies, the Government and finance and marketing organisations. The next meeting will take place in September.

Great Britain’s organic market increased by 30 % in 2005. There are currently more than 500 organic box schemes in the country. The numbers and range of people buying organic food has risen as well – two out of three consumers are buying organic food consciously now. More than 40 health & beauty companies, over 35 fashion and textiles companies and over 4,500 companies are licensed with the Soil Association.

www.soilassociation.org