Prove Your Compost and Bio fertiliser Are Safe, Compliant and Market-Ready

Independent certification for compost and biofertiliser producers supplying the agricultural sector.

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REAL is the UK’s recognised certification framework for organic recycling outputs used in agriculture. As an accredited certification body working with REAL, Kiwa UK provides assurance that compost and biofertiliser products are safe, compliant, and fit for use on land producing food, feed, and crops.

Through the Compost Certification Scheme (CCS) and the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS), we help producers demonstrate regulatory compliance, product safety, and market credibility.

Why Choose Kiwa UK?

Sector Knowledge That Adds Real Value

Kiwa UK brings established expertise in agricultural assurance and fertiliser certification, including delivery of the FIAS scheme on behalf of AIC.

Benefits of working with Kiwa include:

· Proven experience in fertiliser and agricultural certification

· Deep understanding of compost, digestate, and land-application risks

· Alignment with food chain, farming, and environmental assurance frameworks

· Globally recognised credibility through the Kiwa group

This experience allows us to support REAL scheme clients with confidence, consistency, and technical depth.

REAL administers two key schemes critical to the UK agricultural and environmental supply chain:

· The Compost Certification Scheme (CCS)

· The Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS)

These schemes provide assurance that compost and digestate products produced from waste treatment processes meet defined quality, safety, and regulatory standards before being applied to land.

Certification under REAL demonstrates that products are:

· Safe for human, animal, and plant health

· Consistently produced under controlled, audited processes

· Suitable for use in agricultural, horticultural, and land restoration settings

Application Review

Understanding your process, outputs, and intended market

Audit & Assessment

Site audits aligned to CCS or BCS requirements

Certification Decision

Independent review under our UKAS accreditation

Ongoing Assurance

Surveillance audits and continued compliance support

REAL certification is often mandated by customers and end-users, including farmers, food producers, retailers, and land managers. It provides confidence throughout the supply chain that organic fertiliser products are safe and reliable.

Key drivers for REAL certification include:

· Legal and contractual requirements from buyers

· Food supply chain assurance

· Environmental protection and soil health

· Risk reduction for producers and land users

The CCS assures that quality compost produced from composting processes is safe for agricultural use. The BCS assures that biofertiliser (digestate) produced via anaerobic digestion is equally safe and compliant.

Certification audits against CCS and BCS scheme rules

Ongoing surveillance and compliance assessment

Independent, impartial verification of process controls

Certification decision-making backed by technical expertise

This ensures robust, recognised & trusted certification

Compost producers

Anaerobic digestion operators

Organic waste processors

Suppliers of soil improvers and biofertilisers

Organisations serving farmers, growers, and land managers

Access agricultural and food supply chains

Demonstrate compliance to regulators and buyers

Reduce liability and reputational risk

Differentiate certified products in competitive markets

Build trust with farmers and end-users

Our certification services are delivered in line with:

· REAL scheme rules and governance

· UKAS accreditation requirements

· CCS and BCS technical standards

· Relevant waste, land-use, and fertiliser regulations

This ensures certification that stands up to scrutiny from customers, regulators, and assurance bodies.

Is REAL certification mandatory?

While not a legal requirement in all cases, REAL certification is often required by customers, farmers, and food supply chains.

What is the difference between CCS and BCS?

CCS applies to compost from composting processes, while BCS applies to biofertiliser produced through anaerobic digestion.

Is Kiwa accredited to deliver REAL certification?

Yes. Kiwa UK operates as an accredited certification body, with REAL certification delivered under UKAS accreditation.

Can you certify existing operations?

Yes. We regularly work with both new and established composting and AD facilities.

Work with Kiwa UK for trusted, independent REAL certification that supports your market access and protects your customers.