Soil Association in clash over organic food air freight

After three months of consultation on air-freighted organic fruit and vegetables, the Soil Association has concluded that imports must meet strict ethical standards before they receive their seal of approval in a bid to cut harmful carbon emissions.

But the announcement has angered Government officials who say a limit on air-freighted organic produce could harm developing world markets.

The Government has urged the Soil Association not to remove their certification from air-freighted organic produce.

Soil Association policy director Peter Melchett says that Government fears are unfounded.

“We are challenging the Government to say that all imported food should meet ethical or fair trade standards and why not?

“The justification that the Government gives for trade is that it helps developing countries, but they are not prepared to put their money where their mouth is and support us,” said Mr Melchett.

Less than 1 per cent of organic imports come to the UK by air but 80 per cent of the total comes from developing countries.

Chairman of the Soil Association’s standards board, Anna Bradley, said: “It is neither sustainable nor responsible to encourage poorer farmers to be reliant on air freight, but we recognise that building alternative markets that offer the same social and economic benefits as organic exports will take time.

“Therefore, the Soil Association will be doing all it can to encourage farmers in developing countries to create and build organic markets that do not depend on air freight.”

Critics accuse the association of protectionism but it stands by its overall aim to ensure organic production does not adversely affect climate change.

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