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Organic Labeling

QCS must review all labels used to sell, represent, or otherwise market organic products produced or handled by QCS certified operations. There are different regulations depending on the organic standard you are certified to. Click below to view organic labeling guidance and resources regarding the USDA and the European Union organic standards.

USDA Organic Labeling

If your operation is certified under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), you must follow specific labeling rules that govern the use of the USDA Organic seal, ingredient declarations, and certifier statements. These rules apply to retail packaging, non-retail containers, and marketing materials.

View USDA LABELING RESOURCES

EU Organic Labeling

If your operation is certified under the EU Organic Regulation, labeling must comply with European Commission standards. This includes use of the EU organic logo, language requirements, and country-of-origin statements.

View EU LABELING RESOURCES

USDA Organic Labeling

Labels and other marketing material used to represent products as organic must meet the requirements set forth in the USDA Organic Regulations §§205.300-311.

RETAIL LABELS. QCS must review and approve all labels prior to their use. Please reach out to your Certification Project Coordinator if you need to make labeling changes.

  • The  information panel displays the statement “Certified Organic by (Quality Certification Services/QCS)” below the information identifying the handler or distributor of the product, with no printed material or information in between. 
  • All organic ingredients are identified in the ingredient statement with the term “organic” or with an asterisk or other mark.
  • The USDA Seal, if used, replicates the form and design as described in §205.311 and is printed legibly and conspicuously.
  • The QCS logo, if used, is not displayed more prominently than the USDA seal.
  • Refer to section §205.303 for more information.
  • The information panel displays the statement “Certified Organic by (Quality Certification Services/QCS)” below the information identifying the handler or distributor of the product, with no printed material or information in between.
  • All organic ingredients are identified in the ingredient statement with the term “organic” or with an asterisk or other mark.
  • The USDA Seal, if used, replicates the form and design as described in §205.311 and is printed legibly and conspicuously.
  • The QCS logo, if used, is not displayed more prominently than the USDA seal.
  • Refer to section §205.303 for more information.
  • The information panel displays the statement “Certified Organic by (Quality Certification Services/QCS)” below the information identifying the handler or distributor of the product, with no printed material or information in between. 
  • All organic ingredients are identified in the ingredient statement with the term “organic” or with an asterisk or other mark.
  • The principle display panel may state “Made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups)”: Provided, That, the statement does not list more than three organically produced ingredients or three of the following food groups: beans, fish, fruits, grains, herbs, meats, nuts, oils, poultry, seeds, spices, sweeteners, and vegetables or processed milk product. The statement may list 3 ingredients or 3 food groups, not a combination of both. If it lists food groups, all ingredients of each listed food group in the product must be organically produced.
  • The “Made with organic ***” statement, if used, may not exceed one-half the size of the largest type size on the panel and which appears in its entirety in the same type size, style, and color without highlighting.
  • The label may list he percentage of organic ingredients in the product. The size of the percentage statement must not exceed one-half the size of the largest type size on the panel on which the statement is displayed and must appear in its entirety in the same type size, style, and color without highlighting.
  • Refer to section §205.303 for more information.
  • Labeling must identify the product as organic unless organic identification on the retail label, within the non-retail container, is visible.
  • Labeling must display the production lot number, shipping identification, or other unique information that links to container to audit trail documentation. Audit documentation must be sufficient to determine the source, transfer of ownership, transportation, and last certified operation that handled that organic agricultural product.
  • View our resource for non-retail labeling here.
organic

USDA Organic
Labeling - General

Label on jar
The National Organic Program offers guidance to help organic producers
understand labeling categories and requirements

  Non-Retail Container Labeling Guidance with Examples

  Labeling Organic Products Website

  Labeling Packaged Products Under the National Organic Standards

  Policy Memo: Placement of “Certified Organic by ***” Statement

  Guidance: Products in the “Made with Organic ***” Labeling Category

  Policy Memo: Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages with Organic References

  Policy Memo: Labeling of Textiles that Contain Organic Ingredients

USDA Organic
Labeling - Alcohol

  PM 11-13 Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages with Organic References

  Alcohol Beverages Labeled with Organic Claims | TTB: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

  Policy Memo: Placement of “Certified Organic by ***” Statement

  Labeling Organic Wine

  Guidelines for Labeling

  Labeling Organic Malt Beverages

  Labeling Organic Distilled Spirits

EU Organic Labeling

QCS must verify compliance of all labels used and intended for use on EU organic products, packaging, containers, and commercial documents as applicable, including products that will be handled by another operator prior to export to the EU.

Annex III of (EC) No 2018/848 describes the compulsory indications required on product to be imported in the EU and for verification by the importer. References in relation to organic shall be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.

Products exported to the EU shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Inspection. The information mentioned in the Certificate of Inspection shall correspond with the labelling of the products and the accompanying documents.

Agricultural products may be labelled as “organic” or “organically grown.”

Non-retail containers including but not limited to cases, produce boxes, super sacks, etc. or accompanying documents must include:

a.   Name and address of the certified operation
b.   Product name and organic status
c.   QCS certifier code and country code identifying the product’s origin (see below)
d.   Traceability information such as lot numbers

Products produced in the US that are not NOP compliant must be labeled “for export only.”

All labels (retail and non-retail) must use the country code for the country of origin and the code number of the control body (certifier) who has carried out the most recent production or preparation of the product.  Consult the table below for the country and certifier code for your QCS certified organic products.  Contact QCS if your country is not listed.

Products certified to the EU rules on organic production and labeling rules

Code number

Third country

AE-BIO-144

United Arab Emirates

BS-BIO-144

Bahamas

CL-BIO-144

Chile

CO-BIO-144

Colombia

CR-BIO-144

Costa Rica

DO-BIO-144

Dominican Republic

EC-BIO-144

Ecuador

HN-BIO-144

Honduras

ID-BIO-144

Indonesia

JM-BIO-144

Jamaica

TR-BIO-144

Turkey

US-BIO-144

United States

ZA-BIO-144

South Africa

Products certified to the Canada Organic Products Regulation and exported from Canada under the terms of the Canada-EU Equivalence Agreement

CA-ORG-018

Products certified to the USDA organic regulations and exported from the United States under the terms of the US-EU Equivalence Agreement

US-ORG-051

Use of the EU organic farming logo is allowed on labels or other marketing material to represent retail products exported into the EU as organic, but use is not compulsory. Click here to download the EU Organic Farming Logo and here for the User Manual.

  • The logo must not be smaller than 13,5 mm by 9 mm. In the case of very small packaging where this is not possible, 9mm by 6mm is permitted.EU Organic seal formatting rules are located in 2018/848 Chapter IV
  • The country and certifier code shall be displayed above or below the EU organic
  • “Non-EU Agriculture” or “ Agriculture” must appear below the country and certifier code. The country of origin may be used in place of “non-EU agriculture” only when all material was farmed in that country.
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