Organic mark: using the EU organic logo with Skal
The organic mark you see on most packaging is the EU organic logo. It is a green logo with stars in the shape of a leaf. The rules for its use are set out in the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848 . The European Commission also explains them on its page about the logo . If you want to know whether you may use the logo, start with the Skal certificate, because your use follows your certification.
Short answer: you may only use the logo if your product meets the organic rules and you are certified. The logo must always appear with the code number of the control body. For Skal, that is NL-BIO-01. To check whether certification is mandatory for you, ask Skal on 038-4268181.
The logo is not decoration. It is a promise to the buyer that the product has been checked. If you use it without the right to, Skal can intervene.
When is the logo mandatory?
The logo is mandatory for most organic products. It must appear on all pre-packaged food made in the EU and sold as organic. For other products, the logo is optional, so not required but permitted.
| Situation | Logo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-packaged food, made in the EU, sold as organic | Mandatory | The standard case, for example a jar of honey or a bottle of apple juice |
| Imported product that meets the import rules | Optional | The code number is still required |
| Product not pre-packaged | Optional | For example bread or loose vegetables in a shop |
| Organic product sold outside the EU | Optional | May also be used outside the EU |
| Information campaign | Optional | Allowed, as long as the campaign is not misleading |
| Product in conversion | Not allowed | See conversion to organic |
| Product with less than 95% organic ingredients | Not allowed | The product may not carry the logo |
| Products outside the organic rules, such as cosmetics | Not allowed | Do not fall under the EU organic rules |
Example: juice producer De Boomgaard
The fictional juice producer De Boomgaard presses apple juice from Dutch apples. The juice is pre-packaged and sold as organic. The bottle then carries three things: the EU organic logo, Skal’s code number NL-BIO-01, and the origin of the raw material. For apples from the EU, the company writes “EU agriculture”.
Note: these three elements should sit close together. The origin label must fall within the same field of view as the logo. If you place it somewhere else on the packaging, that can be wrong.
What does the code number mean?
Next to the logo is the code number of the control body. That is the organisation that checks the business. The code number starts with the country code, for example NL, and belongs to the body that checked the production. For businesses checked by Skal, that is NL-BIO-01.
The origin label shows where the raw material comes from: from the EU, from outside the EU, or from both. That indication is mandatory if you use the logo.
The logo and the Dutch organic mark
On older packaging you may still see a Dutch organic mark. The EU logo is the logo that the rules cover. Ask Skal whether a national logo may still be used and how it relates to the EU logo. That way you avoid using packaging that is no longer correct.
What goes wrong with incorrect use?
Incorrect use of the logo affects your certificate. Skal can suspend or withdraw your certificate. During a suspension, you may not use the certificate and may not trade products with an organic description. With a withdrawal, this applies from the end date.
For serious breaches, criminal prosecution can follow alongside withdrawal. Skal can also issue a disciplinary statement (tuchtrechtelijke verklaring). Read more about checks in inspection and organic control.
Frequently asked questions
May I put the logo on a product that is still in conversion?
No. The EU logo is not allowed on products in conversion. You may only sell those with the description “in conversion to organic farming”, and only from 12 months onwards. See conversion to organic.
May I use the logo in an information campaign?
Yes, using the logo in an information campaign is optional. It is only allowed as long as the campaign is not misleading. If you are unsure about a specific item, such as an advert or a web page, ask Skal.
What should I do if a supplier uses the logo?
Check whether the supplier is validly certified. Use checking a Skal number for this. A valid Skal number and the code number on the packaging should match.