A Technical Information Bulletin
of the
Northwest Horticultural Council

Organic Labeling

In 2002, the final rule implementing the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 took effect. Under this Act, the National Organic Program (NOP) within the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) established national standards for organic food production, provided an accreditation process for states and private organizations to certify organic producers and handlers, and limited the use of the term “organic” in food labeling to those products produced in accordance with NOP standards. The NOP guidelines for labeling certified organic produce are summarized below and can be found in their entirety at AMS’s website.

Retail Packaging:

Fruit that has been certified to meet NOP standards may be labeled       “100 percent organic” and may carry the USDA organic seal.  If an organic claim is made, then the label must also contain the phrase “Certified organic by ____” (or a similar phrase) followed by the name of the Certifying Agent on the information panel of the label below the name and address of the packer, importer or distributor.       Certifying Agent seals alone will not satisfy this requirement.       It is also permissible to include the Certifying Agent business address, telephone number, or internet address in the information panel and the Certifying Agent’s seal on any panel provided it is not more prominently displayed than the USDA organic seal.       The term “100 percent organic” may also be used to modify the product name.

Bulk Shipping Containers:

Non-retail containers used to ship or store fruit identified as organic may bear the USDA organic seal. These packages may also bear the seal and/or name and address of the Certifying Agent that certified the packer or handler of the finished product, provided the Certifying Agent’s seal is not more prominent than the USDA seal. The container may also bear special handling instructions needed to maintain the organic integrity of the product.

Any non-retail container used to ship or store raw or processed agricultural product labeled as organic must display the product’s production lot number.

Additional Information:

Products eligible to display the USDA organic seal may also use the seal in their advertisements.

Products for export that are produced and certified to foreign national organic standards or buyer requirements may be labeled in accordance with the organic labeling requirements of the receiving country provided that the shipping containers and shipping documents are clearly marked “For Export Only”.  The handler must also meet NOP record keeping requirements for exempt operations.

Please note that none of these requirements preempt Food and Drug Administration, USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms labeling regulations or label approval requirements.

11/26/13