When you can label your product as ‘organic’
You can only label foods as ‘organic’, or use terms relating to organic production methods, if:
Other terms relating to organic methods include:
- ‘bio’
- ‘echo’
- ‘organically grown’
- ‘organically produced’
- ‘grown or produced using organic principles’
- ‘grown or produced using organic methods’
The rules also apply to company names, or brand names. For example, you could not use the name ‘Smith’s Organic’ for a non-organic product or business.
If your product has less than 95% of organic ingredients
If your product contains less than 95% organic agricultural ingredients and you wish to make organic claims on the product labelling, or in the marketing, you must obtain certification for your product from an organic control body.
You can only use ‘organic’ in the ingredients list on the label or accompanying documentation. You cannot include ‘organic’ in the product name or description. For example, the ingredients panel of your label may include ‘organic sugar’ in a list of other ingredients.
You are breaking the law if you call a food product ‘organic’ if it has not been inspected and certified.
Register with a UK organic control body
To label your product as organic, you must register with one of the UK organic control bodies in order to be certified. You can decide which control body to register with based on your location and business needs.
If you use a third party to carry out your labeling, then they will also be subject to these labeling requirements.
If you do not comply with the labeling requirements, your control body could stop you labeling your products as organic.
What you need to include in your labeling
You must include:
- your control body code number
- a statement of agricultural origin
Control body code
Your food label must include your control body’s code number. For produce originating in the UK, the code number format is ‘GB-ORG-XX’.
Operators exporting to third countries (EU and non-EU) must also include the ‘GB-ORG-XX’ code. The code shows the products are certified to the Great Britain domestic regulations.
Non-UK organic produce usually has a different 3-letter code. The code is normally ‘BIO’.
Find the codes you need in the list of control bodies and control authorities.
Statement of agricultural origin
You must include one of the following statements on all organic pre-packed products produced in Great Britain:
- ‘UK Agriculture’ – where the agricultural ingredients are produced in the UK
- ‘UK or non-UK Agriculture’ – where the product is produced using a mixture of agricultural ingredients grown in the UK and outside the UK
- ‘Non-UK Agriculture’ – where the agricultural ingredients are produced outside the UK
An operator can use more specific references if 98% of a product’s agricultural ingredients are grown in a specific area. For example, milk from Northern Ireland can be labeled as ‘Northern Irish Agriculture’, or Welsh lamb can be labeled as ‘Welsh Agriculture’.
You must make these labeling changes to products for the UK market by 30 September 2022. When printing new labels, you should comply with the new labeling requirements. You must not remove or deliberately omit mandatory information.
Using the EU logo
Including the EU organic logo on Great Britain domestic regulations organic food or feed is optional. If used, the organic product must meet the EU organic labeling requirements and include an EU declaration of agricultural origin (‘EU’ or ‘Non-EU Agriculture’).
If you use the EU organic logo for Great Britain domestic regulations exports to the EU, you must include an EU statement of agricultural origin (‘EU’ or ‘Non-EU Agriculture’). You must also include a UK statement of agriculture.
Download the EU logo
organic regulations
In Great Britain the following regulations apply: