Processors are potential outlets for your produce and may provide an opportunity for you to add value to your product through processing. Processing food broadens the customer base, as it provides products for those consumers who choose not to cook from raw ingredients. Processors require a consistent supply so are interested in fostering long term relationships with suppliers. It is worth noting that products that require minimal processing often have the smallest amount of added value and require the highest quality of raw material (for example prepared salads). Higher levels of added value can be attained by products that require a higher level of processing and don't always require the highest quality of produce (for example soups). Organic processing: what the law says The EU regulation states that the following operations must be legally certified. The growing or production of primary agricultural products to be marketed as organic. Packing or labelling of unprocessed agricultural products which are to be marketed as organic. Processing, packing or labelling of organic products intended for human consumption and composed essentially of one or more ingredients of agricultural origin. Importation of organic products from outside the EU which are intended for human consumption (whether they be unprocessed agricultural products or products composed of one or more ingredient of agricultural origin). If you are not sure how your operation should be classified, please contact Soil Association Certification Limited processor information team on 0117 914 2407. Examples of activities this covers Traders, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and packers (and animal feed mills, seed production) who break down, pack, repack, relabel or otherwise process bulk materials of organic origin out of sight of the final customer Grain traders, merchants and wholesalers of bulk organic products which are removed from their containers and stored on the premises of the title holder/bulk storage facilities for organic products Producers who carry out small-scale on-farm packing, or processing of organic products on their farm Multi-collection milk hauliers Brand holders who supply ingredients to their contractors to process on their behalf Packers and prepackers of organic fruit, vegetables and other foods. Soil Association standards for processing cover the following areas: In order to describe a product as organic 95% of ingredients must be certified organic (the remaining 5% must be from a permitted list) Organic and non organic products or ingredients must be kept separate at all stages It must be possible to trace back to source all organic products and ingredients used Cleaning materials and pest control methods are restricted Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are strictly prohibited Flavourings must be either naturally or organically produced. Find out more about processing standards and certification. Lists of organic businesses Processor enterprise lists are available from Soil Association Certification Limited. If the lists are over 10 pages then there is a charge of £5 to licensees and producer members and £10 to non members. In addition, national or regional processor lists are available. Full UK lists are available for £25 to licensees and producer members and £50 to non-members. National lists are available for Wales and Scotland and regional lists for eastern, western, southern and northern England, the Midlands and Northern Ireland. £5 for licensees and producer members and £10 to non members. T: 0117 914 2407 Useful information Registered organic abattoirs and butchers Small scale on-farm poultry processing - slaughter and dressing. Access these and more documents below. If not visible, make sure you have registered and logged in as a producer member. Still not visible? Try our full library. Or contact us to get a copy. » Getting your meat and eggs to market - organic labelling guide for direct sales 08/23/2007 » Technical Factsheet and Briefing Paper Order Form - June 2007 08/17/2007 For a more comprehensive guide to certification see SA Certification's Guide for the Food Processing Industry: - available via the certification forms page of SA Certification's web pages.