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Organic food - labelling and packaging

Organic foods must meet EU standards with regard to the materials used in packaging and labeling. Materials must be recyclable, where possible, and carry the appropriate organic accreditation symbol. In addition, although it is not a legal requirement, organic products should strive to avoid all unnecessary packaging.

How do you know if something is organic?

Organic standards are enforced by organic certification authorities. If in doubt, check the packaging and look for a logo belonging to one or other of these authorities (see below).

All suppliers must be licensed in order to use the word "organic" in the product title. The term "organic" is a legally recognised term, the use of which is governed by trading standards legislation. The principles can be briefly summarised as follows:

• If 95% or more organic ingredients are used, the product may be called organic in the title.

• If between 70-95% of the ingredients used are organic, then the term "organic" may only be used in the ingredients listing.

• If less that 70% of the ingredients are organic, then the term "organic" may not be used anywhere on the product packaging.

In addition, you can recognise organic produce by the use of logos from accrediting bodies, such as OFF and SOPA, or by the EU license code number printed on the packaging.

The UK code numbers are:

• UK1 - DEFRA

• UK2 - Organic Farmers and Growers (OF&G)

• UK3 - Scottish Organic Producers' Association (SOPA)

• UK4 - Organic Food Federation (OFF)

• UK5 - Soil Association Certification Ltd (SA Cert)

• UK6 - Demeter / Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Association (BDAA)

• UK7 - Irish Organic Farmers' & Growers' Association (IOFGA)

• UK 8 - (see note below) - Food Certification (Scotland) Ltd

• UK9 - Organic Trust Ltd

• UK10 - CMi Certification

If you are buying food that is not packaged, but that is still called "organic" on the shop shelf, loose apples for example, the shop must be able to show you proof of organic certification if you ask for it.

Note: Food Certification (Scotland) Ltd provides organic certification for farmed salmon in the UK. While UK regulations permit local certification, EC regulations do not yet address organic fish farming.