Organic food products sales in the UK are now over £1 billion each year. The organic market is growing 10% yr with three out of every four babies now fed with organic lines. The UK is now fifth largest area in the world under organic agricuture - about 4% total area, with 4000 farms farming over 1/2 billion hectares.

Demand is growing faster (40% per annum) than supply (25%). However, growth is likely to slow to around 20 per cent per annum. About 11 per cent of all meat sales are organic, with demand pushed up by disease and animal welfare concerns. The main problem is that 70% of organic products are imported. Most dairy products are imported, 70 per cent of fruit and vegetables, 50 per cent of cereal products, but only 5 per cent of organic meat.

UK Government subsidies around £35 million are hoped to increase the market share supplied by UK producers. Home grown products now provide 62% of market - en route to government's target of 70%. Organic imports also require control to ensure that standards are maintained. For more see DEFRA Organic Imports

Organic food production, unlike most food assurance schemes, is subject to statutory control. Once a producer or processor decides to become involved in organic food production and processing, they become subject to an EC Regulation. The EU Regulation 2092/91 aided the development of premium organic markets through certification and labelling. The UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) was established in 1987 to administer the regulation, provide baseline organic standards and to approve and monitor the work of organic certification bodies. Each member state has recognised certifying bodies - see UK Organic Certifying Authorities.

EU Regulation 2078/92 created support for the provision of subsidies for conversion to, and support of, organic farming. Each member state uses a different mixture of incentives, in the UK this is through the Organic Farming Scheme.

Organics standards of different countries are coordinated through International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM). There are some differences between the EU and IFOAM standards, which are occasionally higher (e.g. livestock) but are generally less prescriptive than EU standards.