Your guide to organic logos

Are you confused by all the different organic logos? Don’t know which ones you can trust and what you should look for? Here’s a quick guide to the logos you should look for on organic food and drink.

Six groups are approved by the Department of Agriculture to carry out organic certification.

Each is required to have its own organic standard, which uses the Australian Government’s National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce as a baseline.

The certifying groups are similar to the Heart Foundation Tick. They are paid by companies to assess a product’s ability to be organic and carry out annual audits. The fees include the right to use an organic logo.

Fees depend on a company’s turnover, varying from $800 – $4,500 (applicable for large companies such as Coles and Woolworths).

Australian organic logos

There are five commonly used government approved organic logos in Australia. They are Australian Certified Organic, NASAA (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia), AUS-QUAL, Demeter and OFC (Organic Food Chain).

organic logos

A rarely used logo but one that is also approved is Safe Food Queensland Certified Organic.

Organic logos

 

 

 

Tasmanians will be familiar with the TOP logo which is still used; however TOP merged with Australian Certified Organic so it is no longer a certification company but the logo is used on locally grown organic food to promote it’s proud Tasmanian origins.

Organic logos TOP

 

 

 

 

Overseas organic logos

We import a stack of certified organic food and beverages to meet demands. Organic tomatoes and pasta are good examples, most are from Italy.

This means imported organic products will often wear logos from other countries and nations.

Here are some examples. From left to right – International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (this is the global representative organisation which recognises organic certifying groups), United States, European Union, UK Soil Association, Japan, and Controllo Biologico from Italy.

International logos3

Organic cosmetics, skincare and textile logos

All of the above logos are more common on food and drinks. There are organic standards written specifically for organic clothes and organic cosmetics and skincare and you’re more likely to see this logo for organic cosmetics and this one for organic clothing.

Sustainable Shopper hopes this helps but let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Image: Thanks to Alexandra Bellink YouthNet photography 

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