you must submit, along with your first annual recurrent claim, confirmation from your organic certification body of the conversion start date of the area subject to conversion payment, showing that you have begun organic certification within the permitted timescales as set out above. Further claims and payment information.

you must comply with the organic standards (as laid out by European Commission Regulations and the UK Organic Products Regulations) and additionally the Organic Production and Care of the Environment Standards as advised in the UK Compendium of Organic Standards for the duration of your contract for the area subject to conversion for each payment category

you must enter a viable production unit (as agreed by an Organic Certification Body), manage it according to organic standards, be an active farmer and remain registered with a Certification Body throughout the period of the agreement

each year of your contract, you must submit a copy of your annual production (Land Parcel) schedule and your most recent certificate(s) in support of your annual recurrent claim. The certificate(s) provided must cover the whole period of the year of claim. You should send these to us as soon as they are supplied to you by your organic certification body

if you enter land into the Fruit and Vegetables Conversion option you must grow a fruit or vegetable crop on that land at least once in years three to five of your contract. There is an expectation that land entered under the fruit and vegetables option will grow organic fruit or vegetable crops that are destined for human consumption. You should consider whether you can meet this expectation carefully before selecting the fruit and veg option.

In general, land which was registered as fully organic at any time since 1 January 2000 is not eligible for conversion, unless the land lost it’s original organic registration and is being presented again for organic conversion by a different and unrelated business to the business that originally converted the land to organic. See supporting guidance.

you should also refer to the checklist of requirements

common grazings committees seeking to convert the common grazing to organic must contact their local RPID office for advice before submitting an application

Ancient Wood Pasture

Away Wintering Sheep

Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) - for application guidance and scheme administration

NatureScot - for environmental advice and endorsements where required

Farmwalk - for digital farm mapping and environmental compliance support