Royal FloraHolland steers course in certification based on cooperative and industry interests

Royal FloraHolland (RFH) remains fully committed to a 100% certified supply. Consumers, media and governments increasingly value the responsible cultivation of flowers and plants. Therefore, RFH asks all growers to be transparent about their production processes through certification. This is in the interests of the industry's reputation and future. Certification is a topic of wide interest within the cooperative. Meanwhile, 75% of the sales of flowers and plants through the RFH platform are certified and this percentage is still increasing weekly. Around 300 small-scale growers have now registered for the simplified small-scale grower scheme. At the same time, an initiative ('petition') to deviate from the certification requirement was launched in early August. RFH understands these members' involvement in this difficult issue.  No new arguments have emerged from discussions RFH has had with the promoters. It has also emerged that they will not hand over the signatures for the time being. In view of the upcoming certification deadlines, RFH wishes to provide clarity to all its members and suppliers: the course towards full certification remains unchanged. Meanwhile, we remain in contact with the promoters.

History 

The decision on certification was announced by RFH 18 months ago, after more than five years of conversations and sessions on the importance of transparency in sustainability. Between members themselves, between members and RFH management and with the Members' Council. In order to make certification accessible to all members, various adjustments and concessions have been made to assist growers as much as possible. These include phased implementation dates, a small-scale grower certification framework, an exit scheme, an enforcement scheme, cost compensation (for small-scale Auction Focus growers) and additional assistance and guidance. Meanwhile, the public debate on sustainability in the floriculture sector is intensifying; the objective instrument of certification ensures that we stand stronger together in this debate. With data, we can substantiate the efforts made by growers and refute inaccuracies in the media and public opinion.

Many members are behind this decision and RFH feels supported by members to stay the course in the recent period. The survey recently conducted by RFH among members and suppliers who are not yet certified also shows no reason to deviate from the course that has been set. Many members are already certified or are busy getting certified. The policy remains that all members and suppliers must be certified by 1 January 2026 at the latest, with the exception of members in the Auction Focus membership package, for whom the effective date is 1 July 2027.

Concerns

RFH understands the concerns of some members on this issue. That's why we like to keep talking to growers. There is also contact between the promoters and the management team, in keeping with the character of our cooperative. We have emphasised to the promoters the risk that they could damage the reputation of our cooperative and the interests of many RFH members and the sector with the steps they are taking and/or considering. 

In addition, we note that the public texts of the 'petition' sometimes draw incorrect conclusions based on erroneous information. We also discussed this with the promoters. RFH is committed to providing its members and suppliers with the correct information through this channel. This is important now as deadlines for certification and enforcement approach.

Factual information certification

Below is a listing and explanation, based on the public texts of the initiative:

1. Certification will be introduced in stages: 1 January 2026 for all members and suppliers in Direct Flex, Direct Focus and Auction Flex membership packages.  For members in the Auction Focus membership package, the effective date is 1 July 2027. A complete overview of the sustainability regulations can be found here: Sustainability Regulations 2025. In short, not all growers will need to be certified by 1 January 2026.

2. Various adjustments and concessions have been made to make certification accessible to all members, based on input from various members and the Members' Council, among others. These include a small-scale grower scheme, a stoppers scheme, an enforcement scheme and a €250 allowance for small-scale Auction Focus growers who can demonstrate that they are FSI-compliant. Growers are also supported through various workshops and help documents. Any grower with questions can contact sustainability@royalfloraholland.com.

3. The essence of certification is to provide transparency about sustainability. Certification makes the sector more transparent, as all growers together provide generic sustainability data. This allows us to work together to enhance the reputation of our cooperative and the floriculture sector and to answer questions about sustainability in floriculture. This can then be used to tell the broad sector story to media and society, among others, based on factual evidence. In addition, certification provides individual growers with insights into how to make processes more sustainable or efficient. For buyers too, this offers insight into the supply chain.

4. FSI certification FSI is an organisation that has drawn up an international benchmark against which various certification schemes in the floriculture sector have been assessed. FSI has the ''Basket of Standards'' in which certification schemes are benchmarked on environmental, GAP and Social. These certificates are listed in the FSI Basket of Standards. Thus, there is a unified list of certificates that all conform to a minimum standard. See also: What is FSI?.

5. There is certification and there are government regulations. At the beginning of 2024, 18 months ago, the RFH decision on certification was made. The requirements for certification according to FSI apply to all members and suppliers in all countries: in the Netherlands, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Certification in accordance with international FSI requirements creates a level playing field in terms of transparency.

6. In addition, there is legislation from governments. This concerns, for example, authorisation systems for crop protection in Europe and Africa. The basic principle is the same all over the world: substances must be effective as well as safe for people, animals and the environment.  Crop protection varies from country to country by crop, pest and disease. Read more about the differences by region here.

7. RFH wishes to encourage organic cultivation (for example, with an organic certificate verified by Skal organic inspection) and considers this method of cultivation to be a positive development. RFH has therefore requested that all certificates complying with European organic legislation be added to the FSI "Basket of Standards". As soon as this is definite, it will be announced. Growers with an organic certificate, including the Skal organic certificate, can continue to trade on the RFH platform without restrictions.

8. RFH has been actively and regularly communicating about certification for years and is transparent about the discussions on it, both inside and outside the cooperative. This is done through videos, columns, news releases, press releases and articles on certification. On the website, the member newsletter, Members' Newspaper and through the RFH newsletter and socials. In it, several growers talk about certification, which also includes space for the concerns and difficulties they have, or had, in that area.

Next steps

If any members have any questions, help or ideas on the road to 100% certification, they can contact sustainability@royalfloraholland.com. RFH realises that certification may require additional adjustments, time, energy and sometimes additional resources for some members.  As a cooperative, we would like to support growers in this process and we call on anyone with questions or needs that we have not yet answered within the current set-up to come forward or take a look at a fellow grower who is already certified.