What are certified organic products?
- Certified organic products are those which have been produced, stored, processed, handled and marketed in accordance with precise technical specifications (standards) and certified as “organic” by a certification body.
- Once conformity with organic standards has been verified by a certification body, the product is afforded a label. This label will differ depending on the certification body but can be taken as an assurance that the essential elements constituting an “organic” product have been met from the farm to the market.
- It is important to note that an organic label applies to the production process, ensuring that the product has been produced and processed in an ecologically sound manner.
- The organic label is therefore a production process claim as opposed to a product quality claim.
What is behind an organic label?
- An organic label indicates that a product has been certified against specific organic standards.
- The label carries the name of the certification body and the standards with which it complies, (e.g. EU 2092/91).
- To the informed consumer, this label can function as a guide. Certification bodies evaluate operations according to different organic standards and can be formally recognized by more than one authoritative body.
Three Labeling Categories
a) “100% Organic” (may use USDA and/or certifier seal)
b) “Organic” (may use USDA and/or certifier seal)
– At least 95% organic ingredients
– Remaining 5% must be on the “National List”.
– Must use organic ingredients if commercially
available.
c) “Made with Organic (Ingredients)” (may use certifier seal)
– From 95% to 70% of the ingredients must be organic.
- No GMOs, sewage sludge, or irradiation allowed for any of these
categories.