Soil Association Forges New Partnership to Certify Organic Exports to China

22 Apr 2014 --- The Soil Association Certification and China’s organic body, Organic Food Development Centre (OFDC), have entered into a unique partnership to make it cheaper and easier for UK organic firms to export to China.

The UK’s Soil Association certified organic business saw strong growth of 6% in 2013, and this new partnership will allow these businesses to export to this major market. The Chinese organic foods market is estimated to be worth $7.8bn by 2015, as demand grows rapidly across the nation.

“This new partnership comes at a time where there is positive growth in both the UK and Chinese organic markets and exports to UK organic product to Chine can really flourish,” said Emma Yeats, senior certification manager, Soil Association Certification. “Working with the OFDC will make the process of certification for our UK licensees wanting to export to China both efficient and cost effective. We are delighted with this partnership which helps develop an important export opportunity.”

Xingji Xiao, director of OFDC in Beijing, said: “We think the partnership is good and very important for our collaboration and can help us promote our mutual organic programme.”

The new partnership forms part of the Soil Association Certification’s Export Support Programme, where experts are working with international governments, trade associations, export agencies and certification bodies in different markets, working to open up new business opportunities for Soil Association certified organic businesses.

Chinese consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety, according to a report from BioFach China, the nation’s leading annual organic products trade event. In 2010 China’s sales of organic products accounted for only 2.7% of total global sales but this market is developing rapidly. It is predicted that China will become the second largest producer of organic products and the fourth largest consumer over the next ten years.