Are you ready for the new Soil Association packaging standards September 2025?
In March 2024 Soil Association published new packaging standards.
The new requirements come into force in September 2025. All packaging ordered from September 2025 must be compliant with the new standards.
Packaging stock purchased prior to September 2025 may be used until stocks are exhausted.
What products do the packaging standards apply to?
The requirements apply to product certified to Soil Association higher standards, that you process, pack or label, (including on farm), or have contract made for you, (including by a contracted symbol user). The standards do not apply if you purchase an already certified product (for example, a wholesaler buying an already certified product). In this case you do not have to supply information on the packaging of that purchased product, only supply information for any additional packaging you add before selling/supplying the product to your customers.
We define packaging as all primary (retail), secondary (grouping, display) and tertiary (transport) materials used for:
• containing
• protecting
• preserving
• handling
• storage
• delivery
• labelling
• marketing
• presentation of your products.
Where can you find details of the requirements?
You can view details of the new standards here.
You can view all the Soil Association packaging standards in section 5.16 of Soil Association standards.
You can also find more information in our packaging guide.
What will happen from September 2025?
From September 2025, at annual inspection our inspectors will be asking for evidence that packaging purchased from September 2025 is compliant with these new standards.
If packaging is found to be non-compliant a non-compliance will be issued and you will be asked to submit a corrective action.
All new product submissions will also be checked by the certification teams to ensure they are compliant. Our product specification forms (SIPS & MIPS) have been updated (July 2024) to include this additional information. You can find copies on our website.
Starting in September 2025 we will not approve any packaging that is non compliant.
During August, in preparation for the September changes, we will check that any packaging submitted for approval will comply with the new standards. If it is not compliant the certification officer will inform you that:
• it will not be compliant with the new standards from September 2025
• ask you to confirm when you intend to purchase the packaging
• packaging purchased prior to Sept 2025 can be used until that stock is used up.
Please ensure you review your current packaging material as soon as possible to be ready to comply with the new rules by September 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact the certification teams:
Processors please email food.drink@soilassociation.org
Farmers and growers please email the farming team farming.growing@soilassociation.org.