USDA organic products have strict production and labeling requirements. Unless noted below, organic products must meet the following requirements:
Labeling Organic Products Fact Sheet | Labeling Training Module | USDA Organic Labeling Regulations
Can a product be labeled “organic” without being certified?
Overall, if you make a product and want to claim that it or its ingredients are organic, your final product probably needs to be certified. If you are not certified, you must not make any organic claim on the principal display panel or use the USDA organic seal anywhere on the package*.
You may only, on the information panel, identify the certified organic ingredients as organic and the percentage of organic ingredients.
*Some operations are exempt from certification, including organic farmers who sell $5,000 or less.
Who Needs to Be Certified? | Overview: Getting Certified
An overview of labeling the various categories of organic products is provided below.
Principal display panel: portion of the package most likely to be seen by customers at the time of purchase. Your certifying agent will review and approve each of your product labels to ensure compliance.
Information panel: includes includes ingredient statement (list of ingredients contained in a product, from highest to lowest percentage of final product) and other product information.
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