Step by step: getting organically certified with Skal
You become organically certified with Skal Biocontrole by registering, having an admission assessment and then coming under supervision. The process consists of five steps, from preparation to periodic checks. The rules come from the EU regulation on organic production (2018/848) .
First it must be clear whether you are subject to the obligation. You can read that on is organic certification mandatory?. Which role fits your business is set out in who must be certified?. Below is the order of the steps, with what you need for each one.
On this page
You read the five steps in order. After that come the costs in brief, the mistakes that cause delays and the frequently asked questions. For the full rates, go to costs and timeline.
Preparing
Ask Skal which checklist belongs to your business type. That checklist helps you prepare for the admission assessment.
Example: Cheese farm De Groene Weide (fictional) milks cows and makes cheese, so the business falls under agriculture and processing.
Registering
Choose the registration form that fits your category. Complete it in full and send it by email to landbouw@skal.nl for agricultural businesses, or to bereiding@skal.nl for all other businesses. The registration process only starts once Skal has received the fully completed form.
Skal confirms receipt. After that you receive a unique Skal number and two invoices: one for the registration costs and one for the annual supervision fee.
Admission assessment
The assessment takes place within 25 working days of registration. If you want it sooner, there is an urgent procedure within 10 working days, which carries extra costs.
An inspector checks whether your organic activities comply with the regulation. After a successful assessment and a completed inspection report, you receive your first certificate. Some webshops and shops only need registration, without this assessment.
Converting (agriculture only)
Agricultural businesses usually go through a conversion period of about two years. During that period, the whole business, including land and animals, must operate under the organic rules. You ask Skal for the start date of the conversion.
Example: Vegetable business Het Veldje (fictional) has 1 March as its start date. From that date the two-year conversion runs. Crops that grow in that period may not yet be sold as organic.
Supervision
Once you are certified or registered, an inspector visits periodically. How often this happens depends on the supervision arrangement.
What does the process cost in brief?
Skal charges registration costs first and then annual fees. For agricultural, processing and trade businesses, the registration costs are about €387. For a point of sale, per location, they are about €228. The admission assessment costs about €136 per hour on top of that.
These are indications from Skal’s 2026 rates sheet. Ask Skal whether the amounts are excluding or including VAT. The full overview of the annual fees is on costs and timeline.
Mistakes that delay the process
Some mistakes take more time than the inspection itself. These are the most common ones.
| Mistake | Why it causes delay | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| The form is not completely filled in | The registration process only starts after a complete form | Check the form for empty fields before you send it |
| You send it to the wrong address | Agriculture goes to landbouw@skal.nl, the rest to bereiding@skal.nl | Choose the address based on your category |
| You trade as organic before the certificate is in place | Without a certificate you may not use the organic label | Wait to sell until you have the certificate |
An urgent procedure of 10 working days is faster, but it costs more. Preferably plan for the standard period of 25 working days.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take before I have an organic certificate?
The admission assessment takes place within 25 working days of registration. After that come the inspection report and the certificate. For agriculture, the conversion of about two years is added to that. Conversion applies only to agricultural businesses.
Do I receive two invoices on registration?
Yes. After registration you receive an invoice for the registration costs and an invoice for the annual supervision fee. The amount of each invoice is stated in Skal’s rates sheet.
What happens after the admission assessment?
After the assessment, an inspection report follows. If it is good, you receive your first certificate. If you have doubts about a finding in the report, contact Skal via the general number.
Further reading
- Costs and timeline - Rates and timeline in one overview
- Organic conversion - The period for agricultural businesses
- Inspection and organic control - What the inspector checks
- Check a Skal number - Check the number of a supplier