EU to display organic logo on food label

New EU rules on organic food labelling including the requirement to display the new EU organic logo, entered into force on July 1, 2010.

The so-called "Euro-Leaf" will now be obligatory on pre-packaged organic food products that have been produced in any of EU Member States and meet the necessary standards. Other private, regional or national logos will continue to appear alongside the EU label.

The logo stays optional for non-packed and imported organic products. In addition to the logo, the new labelling rules also include the compulsory indications of place of farming of the products' ingredients and code number of the body that had been in charge of the controls.

"Our hope is that the new EU logo can develop into a widely recognised symbol of organic food production across the EU, providing consumers with confidence that the goods are produced entirely in-line with the strict EU organic farming regulations", according to EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Dacian CioloÅŸ. "I hope that these changes will give a boost to the organic farming sector, but also further enhance consumer protection".

Operators have a two-year transition period to comply with the new labelling rule.