Organic seal: what is it?
Green leaf, yellow circle, orange rectangle ... there are
now around 40 organic labels and more than 100 organic labels that are designed
to help environmentally and health-conscious consumers identify products in the
supermarket that are organically grown and / or manufactured .
Every organic seal of approval is based on the EU organic
directives (EC organic regulation). It is legally binding and uniformly
regulated across Europe - including regular, strict controls - and includes the
following focal points:
• 95
percent of the ingredients must come from organic farming
• no
chemical-synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
• Preservation
/ increase of soil fertility
• sustainable
management
• species-appropriate
animal husbandry and preservation of animal health, feeding with organically
produced feed
Organic seal overview: Which organic certificates are there in Germany?
The hexagonal organic logo is still the best-known organic
seal in this country. Germany introduced it in 2001 and according to
Bio-Lebensmittel Monitor 2015, almost 95 percent of consumers are familiar with
it. That is also the reason why many manufacturers still stick this organic
seal of approval on their products. Voluntarily. Because only the EU organic
seal has been mandatory within the EU - and only for all packaged organic food
- since July 2010: a stylized sheet of white stars on a light green background.
It signals that the respective food or product complies with the guidelines of
the EC organic regulation.
For many critics, however, these guidelines do not go far
enough. They complain that organic farmers are not checked often and strictly
enough and that the entire company does not have to work according to the
organic regulation in order to be allowed to label certain products. Some of
these weaknesses should be corrected. In comparison, some organic labels are
already applying significantly higher standards to the products and foods that
want to bear their logo. But be careful, not all alternative labels actually
stand for more “organic”.
Association symbol
This includes labels such as Demeter, Biopark, Naturland,
Gäa, Eco Vin, Ecoland or Biokreis. Most of them are logos from organic farming
associations, the requirements of which are significantly higher than those for
the EU organic seal. In addition to its guidelines, the following criteria must
be met for a product to bear such an organic seal:
• Association
farmers have to convert the entire farm to organic operation. In contrast, the
EU and organic seals allow everything in the chicken coop to be
"eco", while conventional fertilizers and synthetic pesticides
continue to be used in the fields.
• The use
of conventional animal feed is either completely forbidden or very strictly
restricted at Demeter & Co. The organic label is much more tolerant here.
• The same
applies to the maximum number of pigs and chickens that farmers are allowed to
keep per area: the EU approves around 580 broiler chickens per hectare and year
under the organic seal, while Biokreis and other associations only approve 280.
• Association
farmers are not allowed to use liquid manure and liquid manure from
conventional farms for fertilization. EU organic farmers are allowed to do this
- if necessary.
• The
associations are also stricter than the EU organic seal when it comes to
auxiliaries and additives . What can be used for which product group is
precisely regulated. Enzymes and natural flavors are mostly prohibited - in
contrast to the EU regulation and
• the
associations attach great importance to regionality.
Trademarks
This includes labels such as Rapunzel and Alnatura as well
as the organic lines (with their own organic logo) from supermarkets and
discounters such as Rewe, Penny, Aldi or Lidl. While the supermarket organic
products mostly only meet the EC organic guidelines, i.e. the minimum
requirements, Rapunzel and Alnatura products must come from 100 percent organic companies and must not contain any genetic engineering (for EC organic products
the maximum is 0.9 percent genetically modified material permitted in certain
cases). So they are a little more sustainable than their supermarket
counterparts.
Quality mark
Regional promises such as "organic quality guaranteed
from Bavaria" or "organic farming from Saxony" are intended to
arouse feelings of home and trust. Everything that is advertised with
"organic" or "eco" must comply with the EU regulation - and
most of the time it is Transport-related environmental pollution is lower, but
no more.
Organic seal: criticism and misleading
Terms such as “eco”, “bio”, “biological”, “ecological” or
“from controlled ecological / organic cultivation” have been protected. There
are also some similar formulations that are intended to create the impression
that conventional products are organic. Designations such as “close to nature”,
“alternative” or “from controlled cultivation” are no guarantee of eco-quality.
Because the producer alone decides which criteria are used for control.
But even where an organic seal such as the EU logo or a
symbol of the cultivation associations is emblazoned, there are gray areas:
According to the EU directive, animals may, for example, have their horns
removed from time to time; Organic feed is administered or microbial rennet
made from molds is added to the organic yoghurt.
A total of around 50 additives are allowed. In the case of
other quality seals, despite stricter requirements, there are often
"should" and no "must" guidelines ("should beneficial
organisms be encouraged", "should rainwater be collected",
"transport routes should be kept short", "should have a well
thought-out cleaning concept" ).
Organic seal: conclusion
There is no hesitation that there is still room for
improvement, especially with the EU organic label - and consumers will
certainly never be able to be sure that the animals were kept 100% in a
species-appropriate manner or that the organic apple was really not touched by
any chemicals.
This is difficult if only because cows cannot be completely
“biologically sealed off” in the pasture and organic fruit and vegetables are
on the shelf next to conventional products or are packaged in plastic.
Nevertheless: organic goods, especially those with an
organic seal based on strict guidelines, are fundamentally more environmentally
friendly, and the animals from organic farming live under better conditions.
Organic food with an organic label is also verifiably contaminated with less
pesticide residues. It is therefore worthwhile in several ways to spend a few
cents more on corresponding products.