Developing Business In The Garden Industry
Striving to raise standards with BOPP
The British Ornamental Plant Producers Certification Scheme (BOPP), which aims to raise the standards of ornamental horticulture in the UK, has set out their strategy for 2012-15 and announced a new acting chairman for the scheme.
The scheme, which forms a specialist HTA group, aims to set high standards of quality and professionalism in the way in which certificated businesses operate. The ultimate objective is to ensure that customers can have complete confidence in both product and service when dealing with BOPP certificated suppliers
Seven major supermarkets and the DIY chain retailers currently support the scheme. Certification to one of the scheme’s standards provides assurance to these customers that their products are grown or packed to consistently high standards with respect to good horticultural and manufacturing practices in line with legislative requirements.
Rebecca Grant from Joseph Rochford Gardens, the new acting chair for BOPP comments, “The BOPP vision is to be recognised as the preferred certification standard required to supply UK retailers with ornamental horticultural produce and our new strategy sets out this vision clearly.”
The key components of the strategy are:
Ensure that the BOPP standards provide the appropriate level of quality assurance to meet market expectations
Ensure UKAS accredited Scheme independence
Develop long term relationships with retailers and suppliers
Provide members with business enhancing benefits
Promote the BOPP brand within the UK horticultural industry as the trusted certification scheme for raising ornamental horticultural produce and business standards.
BOPP members can download the strategy from www.bopp.org.uk
Contacts
Gill Ormrod, Angela Bean or Cassie King
HTA Media Office
Tel: 0118 930 3132
Email: media.office@the-hta.org.uk
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The British Ornamental Plant Producers’ Certification Scheme (BOPP) has been designed for use by growers and packers of ornamental horticultural products and by growing media producers. The Scheme aims to set high standards of professionalism in the way in which certificated businesses operate and through unbiased and effective evaluation, by an United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited Certification Body where applicable, to ensure that these standards are maintained. The ultimate objective is to ensure that customers can have complete confidence in both product and service when dealing with BOPP Certificated suppliers. For further details see www.bopp.org.uk.
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is the trade association for the UK garden industry. It is dedicated to helping develop the industry and its member businesses, including most garden centres and other garden retailers, growers, landscapers, manufacturers and service providers. The HTA was founded in 1899. Its key roles include: provision of advice-based services such as business improvement schemes, briefings and help lines; training, conferences and events for members; market information and research; promotions such as the National Garden Gift Voucher scheme; and working closely with government and the media to influence policy and projects.
Last updated: 09/08/2012 12:56