What is BOPP?
The British Ornamental Plant Procedure (BOPP) scheme, was launched in 1996 and sets high standards in legal, environmental and quality practises for the industry. It is governed by the HTA (Horticultural Trades Association) and the management committee is made up of industry peers, including Farplants. As a result of being a part of the committee, they help shape the strategy, management and direction of the scheme. This ensures they support the group meet the BOPP aim to improve standards for the benefit of suppliers, retailers and the environment.
What do you have to do?
There are different categories within BOPP; grower, packhouse and growing media producer. To see if the standards are met, an audit is conducted every year by an unbiased UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) certification body. This is done in season so all processes and procedures are assessed.
The audit covers a wide range of areas:
- Senior Management Commitment
- Cultivation (grower standard only)
- Quality Management Systems
- Product development
- Site Standards
- Physical Product Contamination
- Transport
- Trading Conditions
- Staff Training and Employment
- Health & Safety
- Sustainability
Achieving the BOPP accreditation shows a commitment to best practise. It also provides garden retailers and suppliers with assurance that they have:
- Legal compliance
- Full traceability from customer back to grower
- Pesticide use, storage and management that meets stringent standards
- Managed and controlled fertiliser use
- Stringent customer complaints procedures
- Sustainable production
- Given consideration to biodiversity and the environment
- Fair and respectable treatment towards staff
For more information:
Farplants
wholesale@farplants.co.uk
www.farplants.co.uk