Home

The UK Advisory Committee on Organic Standards (ACOS) supports Defra in its governance of organic standards and includes representatives from government and industry as well as consumers.  Christine Watson (SAC Research) is one of the Scottish representatives on ACOS and chairs the R & D sub-committee.  On the ACOS remit is the application of standards, approval of certification bodies and research and development.  It makes recommendations to Defra who are the competent authority responsible for the effective implementation of the EU organic regulations in the UK.

The delegates ventured out to see firsthand the challenges faced by organic farmers in the northeast with visits to local dairy, pig and poultry units as well as a look around SAC’s long-term rotation trial at Craibstone.  The farmers made an excellent impression with their in-depth knowledge of their sectors and informed the committee of the most pressing issues they currently face.  An evening a meal of (mostly) organic food was served at SAC along with bottles of organic wine whose labels were thoroughly scrutinised!

The following day was committee business.  Current hot topics include poultry, fish and glasshouse cropping.  By a fortunate coincidence the meeting took place on the first day of the organic PgDip study weekend and, before travelling home, ACOS members met the students and took part in a very useful exchange of ideas on a wide range of current issues in the organic sector.