What is the EU-Organic Certification?

The original concept for Bio-labels is derived from the desire to separate organic products from non-organic products. Labeling these products as such helps consumers select organic products following a specific standard that promotes sustainability, animal welfare and the avoidance of genetically modified products that some may consider harmful. Consumers are now accustomed to seeing some kind of visual indication on the product itself of the product’s traceability and/or documentation. It generally puts the consumer at ease knowing the exact origin of the product and the certification means the product meets a certain standard, ensuring the quality.

But what is the EU-Organic Label? What does it imply and what do you need to do to attain it? The EU-Organic Label was created back in 2000 and it defines the standards for all organic products that are produced in any of the countries included in the European Union. The impetus behind the EU-Organic certification was the goal of producing healthy food with maximum nutrition and minimal environmental impact. The organic label sets the product apart from other consumables because it shows the potential buyer that this particular product is legitimately organic and represents safe and credible food that is doing its part to protect the environment.

Some of the other requirements for the EU-Organic Label are:

• The ingredients must be comprised of 95 percent organic farming
• Throughout production, there must be a clear division between organic and non-organic products
• Little to no use of antibiotics on animals
• Strict compliance to rules regarding animal welfare and conditions
• Zero use of genetically modified products whatsoever

The question for most then is how to actually attain the EU-Organic certification that allows you to label the product as such. The certification is only granted after a thorough inspection of all facilities involved in the production of the product. If the company meets every specification, the certification will be granted.

There are several certification areas in which a company can be assessed.

Some of them include:

• Agricultural commodities
• Manufacture of processed food
• Trade with a third-party country (Import)
• Contracting a third party
• Production of animal feed

As soon as the company passes its lofty set of inspections, the EU-Organic label must use it on all of the products in which it pertains to. The label must be clearly legible and listed next to the logo of the product.

The specifications in terms of presentation are quite extensive in and of themselves. Based on regulations imposed by the EU, an organic identification mark MUST always have:

• Name and signature of the producing-manufacturing-trading company
• Identification of the product-raw material
• Product related organic reference (example: “Organic yogurt”)
• Code number of the control body (example: PW-ORG-18)

Though the qualifications and standards are pretty stark, the EU-Organic label is kind of badge of honor for companies within the EU and EU imports. The organic label has become something that consumers actively seek out, and the advantage is granted to the companies that are able to meet all of the expectations of the EU-Organic governing body.