EU announce new logo for all organic produce
23 April 2010
EU announce new logo for all organic produceThe EU Organic Logo has officially been launched and Defra have confirmed the organic regulation for implementing the use of the organic logo from 1st July 2010. The use of the word organic is regulated by EU and UK law and enforced by independent certification bodies, who will administer the use of the organic logo. The EU expects this logo will become a clear signal to consumers and make it easier to seek out organic produce.
The EU logo can be seen at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/logo/index_en.htm
There are specific conditions of use regarding colour and the association to private logos. But ultimately the EU organic logo will be mandatory on all retail packaged organic foods in the EU; the use of private certification logos cannot overshadow the EU logo and the EU logo cannot be altered.
DIMENSIONS
The Organic logo of the EU must have a height of at least 9 mm and a width of at least 13.5 mm; the proportion ratio height/width shall always be 1:1.5. In exceptional circumstances the minimum size may be reduced to a height of 6 mm for very small packages.
TEXT
DEFRA has confirmed the legal phrase that must accompany the logo on
ALL SOPA ORGANIC PRODUCE is
GB-ORG-03
The use of this phrase is mandatory.
All SOPA members have been advised about these changes and issue of the logo will be made according to organic certification. It is no change that SOPA urges all certified members who are making the changes to their labels, to submit the draft labels to SOPA for validation. We strongly advise you to send artworks to SOPA for validation prior to printing.
The new organic legislation also covers sales and marketing literature, websites etc so all promotional avenues must be updated to include legal display of the new organic logo.
In the past, SOPA has offered certification sticky labels to be used on packaging and we are arranging a new print run to comply with the new legislation.
In very rare occasions it may not be possible to include the SOPA certification logo alongside the EU Logo and all other legal information that is required on retail packaging. So very occasionally SOPA will not enforce mandatory use of the SOPA certification logo, but we will ask that you include the website address www.sopa.org.uk on your label and promotional materials so that your consumers can identify the source and traceability of the organic certification. We believe this is in keeping with our pragmatic approach and without being overbearing we encourage you wherever possible to use the SOPA logo.
More on Organic Logos
The SOPA logo can also be used, subject to approval, on processed goods that have been certified by other organic certifiers. This is in addition, not instead of.
For example:
Your company, Perfect Preserves (PP) is certified by SOPA for jam making. You decide to ask Country Curds (CC) to make, under your label, an organic lemon curd, but CC is certified by AN Other Organic Body. The label on the lemon curd must carry the new EU logo and a reference to AN Other Organic Body code number HOWEVER it can also include the SOPA LOGO.
This is good news for SOPA members who wish to promote their Scottish roots and who are using contractors or processors for own-label added-value goods.
For more information call the SOPA office on 0131 335 6606 or email info@sopa.org.uk