Internationally, there are a variety of definitions for what it means for a product to be labelled as organic. Many consumers become confused with the definitions of natural, organic and healthy, as they all have some cross over. However, just because something was designated or raised as organic, it does not necessarily mean that it is healthy for the body. Another consideration when studying organic products is that the definition of what it means to be organic can vary from country to country.

The USDA

The USDA became the US governing body for all organic products in 2002, establishing criteria for products sold within the US to be able to carry the ‘organic’ label. The United States Department states: “Organic crops are raised without using most conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Animals raised on an organic operation must be fed organic feed and given access to the outdoors. They are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.”

As the USDA is a federal agency, the laws that apply to organic products are consistent across all of the 50 states. But, small farmers selling less than $5,000 per year in products are exempt from the USAD rules regarding organic labels and statements.

There are several categories within the USDA’s definition of organic, including the following:

100% Organic- Products that carry this label must contain 100% organically produced ingredients. This is the most difficult designation to be awarded for products sold within the US. And, products sold with this label must show a full ingredients list on their packaging.

95% Organic- Products displaying this label must contain over 95% organic ingredients and they must not contain any added sulphites. Also, products in which are displaying this label must show an entire ingredients list for consumers to review.

Made with Organic Ingredients- In order for a product to carry this label, it must have at least 70% of its ingredients as organic. The product must also not contain any sulphites. The product may contain up to 305 of its ingredients as non-organically produced agricultural products.

What about Organic Designations for Countries Outside of the US?

When buying products produced or farmed in countries outside of the US and in which are not regulated by the USDA, it is important to note that the regulations are different for labelling. Not every country has written standards or regulations for organic products. In fact, the European Union, the US and Japan are among the only primary countries to require regulation on organic product labelling.

Europe’s EcoCert Regulations

The rules with regards to organic labelling in Europe are much more lenient than they are in the US. In order for a product in Europe to be labelled as Organic, it must have 95% of its ingredients as ‘natural’, which is not the same definition standards used by the USDA for organic. In fact, only 10% of the product’s ingredients have to be certified organic to carry the label in Europe.

Japanese Agricultural Standard

Japanese products have been monitored for their organic label designations since 2000 by the Ministry of Agriculture. The organic products, and in particular the foods markets have been growing rapidly in the country of Japan for both exporting and importing.

While the concept of organic products grows in popularity, it is important to understand what the labelling and terminology means both domestically and abroad. While many other countries have some labelling requirements, in general, they are much less strict than those of the USDA protecting consumers in the US. When purchasing products that refer to or use the word ‘organic’, be sure to look closely to determine what specifically that term is referring to the product that you are considering for purchase.