Organic

What is Organic?

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.  Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering  are not permitted in organic production and processing operations.

Do I Need to Be Certified Organic?

In order to use the USDA Organic Seal you must become certified. Most farms and businesses that grow, handle, or process organic products must be certified, including:

  • Farms that sell more than $5,000 in organic products per year (gross sales).
  • Handlers that sell more than $5,000 of organic processed food, including handlers that place bulk products into smaller packages or that repackage/re-label products.
  • Processors that sell more than $5,000 of organic processed products, unless all products contain less than 70 percent organic ingredients or only identify the organic ingredients in the ingredient statement.
  • Vendors that handle (e.g. package) and sell products online (but not in stores) or otherwise deliver organic products.

Overall, if you make a product and want to claim that it or its ingredients are organic, your final product probably also needs to be certified.

Overview: Getting Certified

Do I Need to Be Certified Factsheet

Organic Standards

The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before products can be labeled USDA organic. Overall, organic operations must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances. A brief summary is provided below. View regulations.

Organic crops. The USDA organic seal verifies that irradiation, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides, and genetically modified organisms were not used.

Organic livestock. The USDA organic seal verifies that producers met animal health and welfare standards, did not use antibiotics or growth hormones, used 100% organic feed, and provided animals with access to the outdoors.

Organic multi-ingredient foods. The USDA organic seal verifies that the product has 95% or more certified organic content. If the label claims that it was made with specified organic ingredients, you can be sure that those specific ingredients are certified organic.

Organic Certification

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is a USDA accredited certification agency. Under the National Organic Program (NOP), products sold as organic in the United States must be certified by a USDA-NOP accredited certification agency.

The CDA verifies that the requirements of organic production and handling practices meet the national standards. CDA certifies Crop, Wild Crop, Process Handling and Livestock categories.


For the Consumer

The program assures consumers that these products are produced without prohibited substances such as synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

For the Producer

The program allows participating producers to sell their products as USDA certified Organic. The implementation of the USDA standards has brought uniformity to the organic industry throughout the United States. Colorado producers are able to sell their products in other states and countries without barriers.

If you are a Producer and want to be USDA certified

Please contact the Department for an informational packet at (303) 869-9074 or request information by email.

Organic Labeling

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

An overview of labeling for 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 ingredient statement (list of ingredients contained in a product, from highest to lowest percentage of final product) and other product information.

100 Percent Organic
Raw or processed agricultural products in the “100 percent certified organic” category must meet these criteria:

  • All ingredients must be certified organic.
  • Any processing aids must be organic.
  • Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

Principal display panel: May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim.

Information Panel: Must identify organic ingredients (e.g. organic dill) or indicate them via asterisk or other mark.

Organic
Raw or processed agricultural products in the “organic” category must meet these criteria:

  • All agricultural ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on the National List.
  • Non-organic ingredients allowed per the National List may be used, up to a combined total of five percent of non-organic content (excluding salt and water).
  • Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

Principal display panel: May include USDA organic seal and/or organic claim.

Information panel: Must identify organic ingredients (e.g. organic dill) or indicate them via asterisk or other mark.

Made with organic
Multi-ingredient agricultural products in the “made with” category must meet these criteria:

  • At least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).
  • Any remaining agricultural products are not required to be organically produced but must be produced without excluded methods.
  • Non-agricultural products must be specifically allowed on the National List.
  • Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

Principal display panel: May state “made with organic (insert up to three ingredients or ingredient categories).” Must not include USDA organic seal anywhere, represent finished product as organic, or state “made with organic ingredients.”

Information Panel: Must identify organic ingredients (e.g. organic dill) or indicate them via asterisk or other mark.

Specific organic ingredients
Multi-ingredient agricultural products that contain less than 70 percent certified organic content (excluding salt and water) don’t need to be certified.

Principal display panel: Must not include USDA organic seal anywhere or the word “organic” on principal display panel.

Information panel: May only list certified organic ingredients as organic in the ingredient list and the percentage of organic ingredients. Remaining ingredients are not required to follow the USDA organic regulations.

Related Links: