This document discusses the labeling requirements of the standards to which we certify. Covered are all certification categories from a bulk labeled single ingredient product to complicated multi-ingredient processed product.
O r g a n i c L a b e l i n g and C o m p o s i t i o n G u i d e
IF YOU WANT TO CLAIM:
100% O R G A N I C
( o r s i m i l a r s tat e m e n t )
§205.301 (a)
§205.303 (b)
Label Must
Product Content
LABEL MUST
§205.303 (a)
§205.303 (a)
LABEL MAY
LABEL MAY NOT
Must contain 100% organically
produced ingredients, excluding
added water and salt 2.
Show an ingredient statement when
the product consists of more than one
ingredient.
Use the term “100% organic” to
modify the product name. PDP ip
Any processing aids used must be
organic.
Show name and address of the
handler (bottler, distributor, importer,
manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.)
of the finished product, the statement: “Certified organic by ___” or
similar phrase, followed by the name
of the Certifying Agent. The “Certified
Organic by ___” statement must
be below the handler information.
Certifying Agent seals may not be
used to satisfy this requirement. ip
Use the term “organic” to identify the
organic ingredients 1. Water and salt
included as ingredients must not be
identified as organic. is
Display the certifier seal more
op
prominently than the USDA Seal.
Use the USDA organic seal and/or
certifying agent seal(s). PDP
op
Use the certifying agent’s address,
website or telephone number. ip
Terms
PDP
Principal Display Panel
is
Ingredient Statement
ip
Ingredient Panel
op
Other Panel
1
To identify an ingredient as organically produced, in the ingredient statement use the word “organic” in conjunction with the name of the ingredient, an asterisk, or other reference mark defined below the ingredient statement.
2
Salt cannot contain any additives or flow agents.
O r g a n i c L a b e l i n g and C o m p o s i t i o n G u i d e
IF YOU WANT TO CLAIM:
ORGANIC
( o r s i m i l a r s tat e m e n t )
§205.300
§205.301 (b)
Product Content
Must contain at least 95% organic
ingredients, excluding water and
2
salt.
Must not contain added sulfites.
§205.303 (b)
LABEL MUST
When organic claims are present on
label, list the organic ingredients as
organic in the ingredient statement (if
1
applicable.) Water and salt included
as ingredients must not be identified
as organic.
is
May contain up to 5% total of:
•
Non-organically produced
agricultural ingredients listed on
205.606 AND not commercially
available in organic form
•
Other substances allowed by
7 CFR 205.605
•
Non-organic substances must
not be produced using ionizing
irradiation, sewage sludge,
excluded methods (GMOs).
Show name and address of the
handler (bottler, distributor, importer,
manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.)
of the finished product, the statement:
“Certified organic by ___” or similar
phrase, followed by the name of
the Certifying Agent. The “Certified
Organic by ___” statement must
be below the handler information.
Certifying Agent seals may not be
used to satisfy this requirement. ip
§205.303 (a)
LABEL MAY
Use the term organic to modify the
product name. PDP ip op
Declare product organic
percentage “X% organic” or “X%
organic ingredients.” PDP ip op
note: the size of the percentage
statement must not exceed onehalf the size of the largest type size
on the panel and must all be in
same font type, size, style and color.
§205.303 (a)
LABEL MAY NOT
Use the term organic in the product
name to modify a non-organic
ingredient in the product. (Organic
Salt and Pepper Chips)
Display the certifier’s seal more
prominently than the USDA
Organic seal.
Use the USDA Organic seal and/or
certifying agent seal(s). PDP op
Use the certifying agent’s address,
website or phone number. ip
Any agricultural processing aids
used must be organic or specifically
listed on 205.606 and not commercially available
Cannot contain organic and nonorganic forms of the same ingredient
1 To identify an ingredient as organically produced, in the ingredients statement use the word “organic” in conjunction with the name of the ingredient, an asterisk, or other reference mark defined below the ingredient statement.
2 If your product contains more than 95% organic ingredients and uses a non-organic agricultural ingredient not listed on §205.606 or an ingredient listed on §205.605 with specific annotation only for “made with products”, your product may only qualify for “made
with category.”
O r g a n i c L a b e l i n g and C o m p o s i t i o n G u i d e
If you want to claim:
IF YOU WANT TO CLAIM:
made
with
Organic
( o r s i m i l a r s tat e m e n t )
§205.301 (c)
§205.304 (b)
Product Content
LABEL MUST
Must contain at least 70% organic
ingredients, excluding water and
salt.
Must not contain added sulfites;
however, wine may contain added
sulfur dioxide in accordance with 7
CFR 205.605.
May contain up to 30% total of:
•
Nonorganically produced
agricultural ingredients without
being limited to those on
7 CFR 205.606
•
Other substances allowed by
7 CFR 205.605.
•
Non-organic substances must
not be produced using Ionizing
irradiation, sewage sludge and
excluded methods (GMOs).
§205.304 (a)
LABEL MAY
Show an ingredient statement.
List the organic ingredients as “organic” when other organic labeling
is shown.1 Water and salt included as
ingredients must not be identified as
organic. is
Show name and address of the
handler (bottler, distributor, importer,
manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.)
of the finished product, the statement: “Certified organic by ___” or
similar phrase, followed by the name
of the Certifying Agent. The “Certified
Organic by ___” statement must be below the handler information. Certifying
Agent seals may not be used to satisfy
this requirement. ip
If stating “Made with organic:”
•
May contain organic and nonorganic forms of the same ingredient
§205.304 (c)
2
Statement must appear in the same
font, size, style and color without
emphasis and may only be one half
the size of the largest type size on
that panel.
•
Only three organic ingredients or
product group may be listed in this
statement.
•
If specified food group is used, all
ingredients must be organic.
LABEL MAY NOT
Use the USDA Organic seal
Use the term “Made with organic (specified ingredients or food
groups 2 ).” PDP ip
op
Declare a percentage statement:
“X% organic” or “X% organic ingredients.”, as long as the
statement appears in its entirety in
the same font size, style and color
and cannot be more than one half
the size of the largest font on that
panel. If the percentage statement
is used, a “Made with Organic
(specified ingredients or food
groups)” claim must also be made
on the same panel. PDP ip op
Use certifying agent seal(s).
PDP
Use company/brand names that
includes the word “Organic” or
similar phrase, or imply that the
3
product is in the “Organic” category.
op
Use certifying agent’s address,
website or phone number.
ip
1 To identify an ingredient as organically produced, in the ingredient statement use the word “organic” in conjunction with the name of the ingredient, an asterisk, or other reference mark defined below the ingredient statement.
2
3
Product groups allowed are: beans, fish, fruits, grains, herbs, meats, nuts, oils, poultry, seeds, spices, sweeteners, vegetables, and processed milk products
Company names that include “organic” or a variation of the word “organic” are only permitted to be listed on the information panel as part of the information identifying the handler/distributor
O r g a n i c L a b e l i n g and C o m p o s i t i o n G u i d e
Less
IF YOU WANT TO CLAIM:
than
7 0 % or g a n i c
( o r s i m i l a r s tat e m e n t )
§205.301 (d)
§205.305 (a)
§205.305 (a)
Product Content
LABEL MUST
LABEL MAY
Any percentage of organic content.1
May contain over 30% of:
•
non-organically produced
agricultural ingredients; and/
or other substances, without
being limited to those in 7
CFR 205.605 of 205.606
Identify organic ingredients as
“organic” in the ingredient
statement. 2
is
“X% organic ingredients” when
organically produced ingredients
are identified in the ingredient
statement.
ip
LABEL MAY NOT
Use any reference to organic
contents.
Use the USDA Organic seal.
Use the certifying agent seal.
Refer to organic certification of
ingredient or product
1 Your product could contain any amount of organically produced ingredients. However, the product is limited to this label category if materials not listed on 205.605 are used.
Note: a product certified in this category and containing less than 70% organic ingredients can be used as an ingredient in a manufactured product making an organic or made with claim as long as the non-organic
ingredient portion is allowed in that organic or made with product category. If the less than 70% organic product is certified by an accredited certifier, the organic content of the product can be used to count toward the
product composition requirements in the higher category.
2 To identify an ingredient as organically produced in the ingredient statement, use the word “organic” in conjunction with the name of the ingredient, an asterisk, or other reference mark defined below the ingredient
statement.
All Regions
PDF
4062, 4062, OrganicLabellingGuide_180220.pdf, OrganicLabellingGuide_180220.pdf, 158708, https://cms.organictransition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/OrganicLabellingGuide_180220.pdf, https://cms.organictransition.org/resource/organic-labeling-and-composition-guide/organiclabellingguide_180220-pdf/, , 1, , , organiclabellingguide_180220-pdf, inherit, 4061, 2024-01-08 08:13:37, 2024-01-08 08:13:37, 0, application/pdf, application, pdf, https://cms.organictransition.org/wp-includes/images/media/document.png