Please contact IOA on 090 64 33680 or email [email protected] to talk through the process with a member of our friendly team, who will send you standards/information pack. These packs include all you need to apply to IOA.
Application: Our Certification team will be happy to explain how the standards fit in with your farming system. When you are ready to apply, send us your application form, conversion plan, soil analysis results, maps, ORG1 form and payment. This team can also give you technical and other information on organic certification. Please call us on 090 64 33680 or email [email protected]
The Organic Farming Scheme is operated by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and the scheme is now currently closed to new entrants.
• Application
When you are ready to apply, send us your application form, conversion plan, soil analysis results, maps, ORG1 form and payment. Please call us 090 64 33680 or email [email protected] you have any questions about filling in the form.
• Initial inspection
Once we have received and reviewed your application, an inspector will contact you directly to arrange a convenient date to inspect your farm. When the inspection is complete, the inspector will forward the inspection report form and summary to IOA. If necessary, you may need to propose amendments to your plan and send details of these to IOA.
• Certification
Our Certification team will review your inspection report and where applicable your responses to the compliance sheet. If everything is in order, your file will be submitted to the Certification Panel for review. Following the Certification Panel meeting we will issue your first licence/trading schedule so you can apply for government schemes/grants.
• Licence Renewal
Each year your organic licence will need to be renewed. IOA issue Annual Renewal Forms at the end of the year for renewal of the licence. These forms need to be completed and returned to IOA with the annual renewal fee.
• Annual inspection
IOA will need to inspect your farm every year. You will be directly contacted by your inspector to arrange a convenient date.
We aim to make the process of certification as straightforward as possible, please allow 8-12 weeks from your date of application to the completion of the process.
More information about the certification process and our procedures is available on request, so please do get in touch if you would like to find out more.
