What additional administrative work does an organic online store require?

The administrative process surrounding organic products revolves around one question: Can you prove that what you call organic actually is—and has remained—organic? That means you must be able to provide a traceable record from procurement to shipment. Most of this happens automatically if your data is accurate from the start.

Your purchasing side

Van elke biologische partij die je inkoopt heb je documentatie nodig van je leverancier, net zoals je partner zijn certificering moet kunnen laten zien. Bewaar die gestructureerd, want dit is het deel dat niemand anders voor je kan reconstrueren. Zonder bewijs aan de inkoopkant helpt een perfecte magazijnadministratie je niet.

Your article database is the linchpin

For each item, it must be specified whether it is organic. That single field determines how it is handled in the warehouse, how it appears in your reports, and what you can document. It’s cheapest to do it right the first time and most expensive to fix it later.

What the warehouse records for you

Binnenkomst, locatie, partij en uitgaande orders worden geregistreerd. Daarmee is de route van een partij door het magazijn te volgen zonder dat je er zelf iets voor bijhoudt. Je kunt die gegevens opvragen wanneer je ze nodig hebt.

Your sales side remains yours

What you claim on your website, what’s printed on your packaging, and which certificate number you list are your responsibility. A certified warehouse does not take on that responsibility. Check your own text just as carefully as you check your inventory.

Be prepared for an inspection

Certification means that audits are conducted—both at your facility and throughout your supply chain. This isn’t a cause for concern if your data is accurate, but it is a reason to keep track of it as it happens, rather than after the fact.

Where Online Stores Lose Time

Most of the time is spent figuring things out after the fact that could have been documented in two seconds upon arrival. On balance, a standardized submission process saves you more work than it costs.

Start with a baseline measurement

Before making the switch, review your product inventory for the organic designation and check whether you have the documentation for each current batch. Anything missing there will also be missing from your warehouse records later on.

Waar je de regels zelf naleest

De eisen rond biologische productie en handel staan niet in een handleiding van je fulfilmentpartner maar in de regelgeving zelf. Voor de Nederlandse uitleg daarvan kun je terecht bij de RVO, en voor de certificering bij Skal Biocontrole. Dat scheelt je discussies achteraf over wat wel en niet mag.