USA: NOP instruction on organic

The US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program has published an instruction on the use of brand or company names containing the word organic. This instruction clarifies the requirements regarding the use of brand or company names that contain the word “organic” or its variants on the labeling of agricultural products and affects accredited certifying agents (certifiers) that certify operations to the USDA organic regulations. Certifiers should refer to the following principles, ordered by product certification category, when reviewing labels of agricultural products:

Agricultural products certified as “100 percent organic” and “organic”: Brand or company names that contain the term “organic” may appear anywhere on the labeling for these products, in compliance with applicable labeling requirements.

Agricultural products certified as “made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups)” : Brand or company names containing the term “organic” should not be used on the principal display panel (PDP) of these products. Company names containing the term “organic” may be displayed as the name of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor and listed on the information panel as required by Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, the display of such company names should be reviewed in consideration of its potential to mislead consumers about the composition and organic certification of the product. Although this information is required by the FDA, it should not be displayed in a manner that falsely implies an agricultural product meets certification requirements that it does not. Brand or company names containing the term “organic” should not be used elsewhere on the labeling of these products.

Uncertified agricultural products, even if containing organic ingredients: same as agricultural products certified as “made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups)”. The full document is available here.