Organic seal
“The EU organic regulation is the legal basis for which foods can actually be labeled as 'organic' or 'eco',” explains Luisa Klüpfel, specialist advisor for food and nutrition at the Thuringia Consumer Center.
This regulation contains requirements for organic farming - for example the ban on chemical-synthetic pesticides, more animal-friendly husbandry with opportunities to run outside, and requirements for the further processing of organic products. The regulation also stipulates that at least 95 percent of the ingredients of agricultural origin must come from organic production. There are also strict requirements for the remaining five percent.
In addition, organic farms must be certified by an approved inspection body. These inspection bodies check the respective companies at least once a year and also carry out unannounced random samples. The work of the control bodies, in turn, is under state control.
Orientation in the organic jungle
The EU organic seal is a mandatory label for all prepackaged organic foods that have undergone a processing step in the European Union. The seal shows twelve white stars on a green background, which together form a leaf.
“If an organic food comes from a third country or is unpackaged, the EU organic seal may be used on a voluntary basis. However, the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation must be adhered to in any case,” says Klüpfel.
In addition to the EU organic seal, it is mandatory to state the code number of the responsible control body, for example “DE-ÖKO-000” and the origin of the ingredients according to the model “EU/non-EU agriculture”.
The German organic seal – a green hexagon – is, however, a voluntary label. It is better known than the EU organic label, but is subject to the same legal regulations.
Growing associations and discounters with their own labels
There are also the symbols of the various growing associations, for example “Demeter”, “Bioland” or “Naturland”. The guidelines of the growing associations sometimes go beyond the regulations of the EU Organic Regulation. For example, they demand larger stable and exercise areas for animals, lower maximum amounts for fertilizer use and a lower number of permitted additives.
More and more supermarkets, discounters and health food stores are also selling their own organic private labels. These organic products must also at least meet the criteria of the EU Organic Regulation.
In addition to the mandatory EU organic logo, an organic product can also contain the German organic seal, the symbols of the growing associations and the organic trademark. They all guarantee that the food in question is an organic product.
“Statements such as ‘environmentally friendly’ or ‘only natural ingredients’, on the other hand, are not a sure indication of an organically produced food. These terms are not legally regulated,” says Klüpfel.
In recent years in particular, statements about climate protection and sustainability on food have increased significantly. However, only organic food meets reliable, legally prescribed minimum requirements.
Source: Thuringia Consumer Center
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