We have created this quick checklist to guide you through the key labelling requirements for the EU organic regulation and Soil Association standards. When designing your labels please use this guide as this will speed up the process of approval by your certification officer so you can get your labels printed quickly. Completing the checklist does not confirm your labels are ready for printing.
If you have any questions about the requirements or are unsure how they apply to your product please call your certification officer on their direct number or call the office on 0117 914 2411.
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1. It is compulsory to use our symbol on all consumer packaging. It must appear as shown below:
at least 10mm in diameter
in black or white
clearly visible
If your labels are too small to fit the 10mm symbol or you need to print it in another colour, please give your certification officer a call.
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2. The EU logo was introduced in July 2010 and must be on all pre-packed products that have been produced in the EU; it is optional for imported goods.
9mm high and 13.5mm wide.
The logo must be used in Pantone Green (no 376), but can be used in black and white if a 4 colour printing process (CMYK) is not used.
If you have any questions about the colour please contact your certification officer.
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3. Each organic certification body is given a code by the EU; our code is "GB-ORG-05". All labels applied by SA Certification licensees in the UK must display 'GB-ORG-05'.
Labels applied by a licensee not with SA Cert must use the code of that certification body.
Labels applied outside of the EU will have different codes.
Contact your certification officer if you are unsure which code to use.
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4. When applying the EU logo, your labelling must also say where the ingredients have been farmed. Use one of the following phrases as applicable:
'EU agriculture'
'Non-EU agriculture'
'EU/non-EU agriculture'
You may declare a specific country of origin if all ingredients were farmed there.
This must appear immediately below the certification body code number as shown below and in the same visual field as the EU logo.
GB-ORG-05
EU agriculture
If you use a non-SA Cert licensee to label your products they will need to use a different code.
Labels applied outside of the EU will also have different codes.
If you are unsure what code to use just ask your certification officer
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5. In the ingredients panel organic and non organic ingredients must be distinguished. You can do this with an asterisk as shown below. They must also be in descending order by weight.
Thank you for completing this Organic Labelling Guide Wizard.
This covers the key labelling requirements you need to follow. Please could you send your labels to your certification officer for final approval by emailing
They will do the final checks before you print the label and, once we have all the information about your product, they will add it to and issue you a new trading schedule.
What needs to appear on your label
Our labelling guide gives visual explanation of what should be included on pack and will help you get your product approved more easily.
Using the Soil Association Organic Symbol and EU Organic Logo
The Soil Association and EU organic logos can be downloaded from here, along with further guidance on using the symbol.
Our standards provide further information on what is required when labelling goods.
