The European organic label: what does it actually mean?

Organic agricultural products are produced using natural ingredients and practices. The European Union has legal standards that a product must meet to qualify for this label. Some examples of such rules include a ban on the use of artificial fertilisers and chemical-synthetic plant protection products. Furthermore, an organic product must consist of at least 95% organic ingredients. Moreover, the guidelines go beyond the production phase of products; processing, transport and storage are also checked.

The characteristics of organic

When producing organic food, the environment and animal welfare are taken into account as much as possible. All sorts of regulations and requirements define what this means. In the Netherlands, organic products must comply with the European Organic Production Regulation. In the Netherlands, the institute Skal checks compliance with the regulations on behalf of the government. When a product is certified by Skal, it is allowed to apply the organic logo. You can find this logo on many different products. For example, dairy products, meat and fish, eggs, fruit and vegetables, and processed foods.

Extensions of EU organic label

Were you already familiar with the EU organic label? Then maybe you already know the EKO label and the Demeter label as well. These labels build on and add to the European requirements for organic products. Products with the EKO quality mark do even more for people, the environment and animal welfare. The Demeter label stands for products originating from biodynamic agriculture. Here, life processes are supported as much as possible by closing cycles and attention is paid to (interactions between) humans, animals, plants and the cosmos.