Guidance

Organic control bodies outside the UK: apply for recognition to certify exports to Great Britain

How organic control bodies can apply for recognition to certify organic food, feed and seed from non-UK countries (third countries) for export to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

If you are a control body or control authority based outside the UK, you can apply for recognition to certify organic food for export to Great Britain. Northern Ireland applies EU rules for control body recognition.

The non-UK organic registers list control bodies and control authorities that can certify organic food to an equivalent standard to Great Britain.

What recognition means

A recognised control body can certify certain organic food in certain countries to an equivalent organic standard to Great Britain.

You must apply for recognition for each:

  • country or territory where you plan to certify food for export to Great Britain
  • category of food you plan to certify for export to Great Britain

Apply for recognition

To apply for recognition, email UK_TC_CB_comms@defra.gov.uk with your:

  • full name
  • full official postal address
  • contact details for 2 people – these will be the only people Defra will contact throughout the application process
  • website address

Defra will email you an application pack.

Published 21 April 2023