The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure that consumers and the trade have confidence that combinable crops are grown on farms with a high standard of management, especially of farm operations which might affect the wholesomeness or safety of the food produced or the health of the environment and countryside. 

The Scheme assists farmers to meet their obligations under the Food Safety Act 1990.

SQC ensures that member farms operate production systems encompassing high standards of crop management, and particularly that fertiliser, crop protection product, growing, storage and overall farm standards have all been subject to an independent assessment procedure.

With effect from 1st October 2022 Food Integrity Assurance (FIA) Ltd has been appointed by Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) as the sole certification body for the SQC Scheme.  FIA is the only certification body allowed to conduct assessment, certification decisions and issue of certificates of conformity on behalf of SQC.

LRQA, as the outgoing certification body, is no longer contracted to conduct independent auditing or services for the SQC Scheme.

NOTE - any Certification Bodies that are no longer entitled to conduct independent auditing under the SQC scheme shall be listed for at least 12 months after the last audit.