The power struggle between UK organic licensing bodies has intensified as Sir Don Curry's Farming and Food Commission Report turns the spotlight on the sector, calling for more organic production. The disagreements come as the UK register of organic food standards (UKROFS) is reviewed, with plans to hand over the remit of the DEFRA-funded organic overlord to the UK Accreditation Service. But Soil Association director Patrick Holden says the Soil Association should be the only registered UK organic accreditation body. The largest certifier, with a 50% share of the market, it sets its own standards over and above those of UKROFS, in common with its nine rivals. Holden said: "The Soil Association is a charity. The proliferation of assurance schemes run as businesses is putting pressure on standards and compromising inspection procedures." He added: "We would initially like to see the number of assurers reduced and confined to non profit making organisations." But the organic industry is in danger of self-combustion if it continues to take the same austere and over-zealous approach, according to another leading organic certifying body. Organic Food Federation executive secretary Julian Wade said: "We don't want to go for the lowest common denominator, but we do need a level playing field. Individual organic certifying bodies which keep jacking up their standards for the sake of it will cause a public backlash." OFF is part of the Food and Drink Federation's organic liaison group, a steering group which promotes consistency on organic policy among certifiers and manufacturers. Wade says the forum must be used to decide how to take a realistic approach to market practicalities. He said: "We all want to maintain good environmental standards, but we must not be fanatical and elitist." {{NEWS }}