ECOCERT CANADA LABELLING GUIDE For Canadian Certified Organic Products Version3 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS Validation of label design........3 Use of the Ecocert Trademark....4 Changes to labels.... 4 Prerequisites for Organic labelling........5 Product Labels for Canadian Market.........6 Prohibited claims and other information......7 Product Labels for United States Market...8 Product Labels for European Union Markets........10 With equivalency agreement between Canada/EU.......10 With certification according to regulation EOS/CE 834/2007......11 Product Labels for Japanese Market......13 Product Labels for Other Markets........14 Annexe 1 Obligations concerning the labelling of certified organic products......15 Annexe 2 Graphic Charter for the use of the Ecocert Logo.... 16 Annexe 3 Label Examples...17 This document is the property of Ecocert Canada. Partial or full reproduction of this document must be authorized by Ecocert Canada. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 2
Validation of Label Designs All label designs intended to be used to market certified organic products must be submitted to Ecocert Canada prior to printing to ensure the organic standard s labelling requirements are met. Ecocert Canada will only verify compliance according to the organic Regulation and standards. The owner of the product is responsible for ensuring that labels meet all other Canadian Regulations (bilingual, nutritional data, weight, category, etc ) During the annual organic inspection, the labels must be available for verification by the inspector. Validation of Label Design Extract from accreditation criteria: 14.4 In order to prevent any inappropriate use of permitted statements and certifier s mark in the labelling and advertising related to certified products, the certification body shall ensure in advance that certified products will be labelled in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. Artwork can be sent directly by your graphic designer to: office.canada@ecocert.com. The subject line of the message should read label verification and the (!) symbol should be activated. We suggest that you indicate in the message your deadline and that you check acknowledgement of receipt. You can expect a delay of up to 2 working days for a validation. If you wish to prepare your labels before obtaining certification of your products, you can send the design ahead, however Ecocert Canada will not be held responsible for any printing costs for products that are not certifiable. Approved labels cannot be unless a valid organic certificate has been issued for the product. This service will be invoiced. Only validated labels can be used. Any changes made to labelling following validation must be submitted to Ecocert Canada to ensure that your Organic System Plan is updated. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 3
Use of Ecocert Trademark: Ecocert Canada s clients are authorized to use Ecocert s trademark and logos to market organic products that have been certified by Ecocert Canada. The use of Ecocert s name and logos must not create confusion for the consumer. The following logos belong to Ecocert: When adding a new product or making changes to certified products, the company must wait until the new organic certificate is issued before making the organic claim or using Ecocert Canada s trademark and logos. When certification is not renewed or is refused, suspended, or cancelled, the company must stop any reference to Ecocert Canada s trademark on labels, publicity, website etc. Changes to Labels When labels are found to be non compliant or have not been submitted to Ecocert Canada for validation prior to printing, the owner must: Inform Ecocert Canada of the number of labels on inventory. Inform Ecocert Canada of the expected date of reprint Ensure that the new art work is sent to Ecocert Canada before printing. Depending on the nature of the required changes, Ecocert Canada can: Allow the use of a portion of the incorrect labels. Ask the owner to seek the accreditation body s agreement to use the incorrect labels (The accreditation body might have fees for this service) A copy of the accreditation body s authorization must be sent to Ecocert Canada Require immediate correction and a product withdrawal from the market. Reminder: Changes to verified labels must be communicated to Ecocert. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 4
Organic Labelling Requirements Certification Decision The organic certificate authorizes a reference to Ecocert Canada and to the organic claim only for those products listed on the certificate. The name of the company and the trademark registered on the certificate must be identical to the name and trademark used to market the certified products and identical to the name and trademark declared in the Organic System Plan submitted with the annual registration. When certification is refused, suspended or cancelled, the products cannot refer to Ecocert Canada or to an organic claim on their labels and marketing materials. Ecocert Canada s Licensed Companies A license allows private brand owners to use the Ecocert Canada reference and trademark issued to their supplier s Ecocert Canada certified products. Suppliers must inform Ecocert Canada of the name and trademarks of companies they work with and with whom they have a private brand agreement allowing the reference to the supplier s certification. These trademarks must be listed on the supplier s organic certificate. When the private brand owner does not want the name of the supplier to appear on the label, Ecocert Canada can authorize the use of an identification code instead. The license must be renewed every year. When not renewed, the private brand owner must stop any reference to Ecocert Canada. Private Brand: When processing products for a private brand, the brand owner may request that the label bear the private brand company s organic reference from their own certification body. This is allowed in Canada. Pre certification The organic claim and the use of Ecocert Canada s trademark and logos are prohibited when the enterprise is still undergoing conversion. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 5
Product Labels for Canadian market The following information must appear on labels of products sold in Canada: ORGANIC PRODUCT (more than 95% organic ingredients): Organic statement or derivative (ex. ORG) Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) The statement Certified by Ecocert Canada or Certified organic by Ecocert Canada The identification of organic ingredients in the ingredients list Name of country of origin for imported products. Lot number Optional: Canada Organic, Ecocert, and USDA logos % ORGANIC INGREDIENTS (from 70 and 95% organic ingredients) The statement contains x% of organic ingredients ( same police size and prominence) Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) The statement Certified by Ecocert Canada or Certified organic by Ecocert Canada Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list Name of country of origin for imported products. Lot number Optional: Ecocert logo Less than 70% organic content (certification optional) Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list Verified by Ecocert Canada Name of country of origin for imported products. Lot number The Canada Organic logo can only be used on products made of at least 95% organic ingredients. Imported products must show the words imported or product of name of the country near the logo. It s prohibited to use the Canada Organic logo on the labels of the following products: Cosmetics Pet food Natural health food Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 6
Prohibited statements on Canadian labels The following labelling claims are prohibited in Canada: Wine made of organic grapes The only allowed labelling is Organic wine. Statement «without GMOs», unless proven by independent tests and that this product contains one or more ingredients whose equivalent version can be produced in the form of genetically modified crops included in the official list found on the Health Canada website: http://www.hc sc.gc.ca/fn an/gmfagm/appro/index eng.php Gluten free or health claims must be proven. The statement 100% organic The mention Certified Organic without being followed by the name of the Certification Body Export If your product is sold to a company who will export it, the labels must meet the importing countries requirements. The owner of the product at the time of export has the responsibility to comply with the labelling requirements. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 7
Product Labels for United States market Organic products certified according to the Canadian Regulation, except for milk products which have specific additional requirements to meet, can be sold on the USA market according to the Canada/USA equivalency agreement. The following information must appear on labels of products sold in the USA: 100% ORGANIC (1) Organic statement Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) The statement Certified organic by Ecocert Canada. This statement must be on the information panel under the information identifying the processor or distributor of the product Optional: The identification of organic ingredients in the ingredients list Organic Canada, Ecocert, and USDA Logos* * When the USDA logo and the CB logo (ECOCERT) are used on the same label, the ECOCERT logo must not be more predominant than the USDA logo. ORGANIC PRODUCT (more than 95% organic ingredients): Organic statement Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) The statement Certified organic by Ecocert Canada. This statement must be on the information panel under the information identifying the processor or distributor of the product The identification of organic ingredients in the ingredients list Optional: The identification of organic ingredients in the ingredients list Organic Canada, Ecocert, and USDA Logos* * When the USDA logo and the CB logo (ECOCERT) are used on the same label, the ECOCERT logo must not be more predominant than the USDA logo. % ORGANIC INGREDIENTS (from 70 and 95% organic ingredients) The statement contains x% of organic ingredients ( same police size and prominence) Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) The statement Certified organic by Ecocert Canada. This statement must be on the information panel under the information identifying the processor or distributor of the product Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list Optional: Ingredient percentage ECOCERT logo Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 8
LESS THAN 70% ORGANIC CONTENT (certification optional) Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list (1) Unlike the Canadian standard, the NOP standard includes a category of 100% organic product. That category must contain 100% organic ingredients only (excluding water and salt). In Canada, the statement 100% organic is prohibited on the labels because it may suggest to consumers that it is a higher level of certification. The USDA logo can be used on all products certified according to the US/Canada equivalency agreement containing 95% or more organic content. When the USDA logo and the CB logo (ECOCERT) are used on the same label, the ECOCERT logo must not be more predominant than the USDA logo. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 9
Product Labels for the European market Product Covered by the Canada EU Equivalency Agreement Products covered by the Canada/EU equivalency agreement = all agricultural ingredients were grown in Canada. Products covered by the Canada/EU equivalency agreement: Raw agricultural products grown in Canada ex Canadian grains, Canadian vegetables... Processed products composed only of Canadian origin agricultural ingredients (excluding additives and processing aids) ex: maple syrup, flour from Canadian grains, fruit juice made of Canadian fruits... *** If your product does not meet the above requirements you will need a EU certification / EOS to export in the European Union (see labeling rule on page 12.) The following requirements must be met for product labels covered by this agreement: ORGANIC PRODUCT (more than 95% organic ingredients): Organic statement Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) ECOCERT CANADA CODE : CA ORG 006 The identification of organic ingredients in the ingredients list The lot number Optional: The Eurofleaf* and Ecocert Logos. CODE The European Community replaces the reference to the certification body by a code. Each certification body has a code. ECOCERT Canada s code is CA ORG 006. Mandatory: The reference code number of the Certification Body of the operator who has carried out the most recent production or preparation operation must be displayed on labels. (NB: packaging and labelling are also preparation operations). If it is you, the code to use is the CA ORG 006. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 10
If you also assure the distribution or brokerage of products, you may also include a reference to your own CB code but you must mention the operations controlled by each certification body : E.g. «processing certified by code number of manufacturer Certification Body» and «distribution certified by code number and/or name of vendor Certification Body» Euroleaf logo The Euroleaf logo can be used on labels of products containing 95% and more organic ingredients. If the Euroleaf logo is used you must refer to, under the logo : Ecocert Canada Code : CA ORG 006 The country of origin, this way: NON EU Agriculture. CA ORG 006 NON EU Agriculture Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 11
Product Labels for the European market Product NOT Covered by the Canada EU Equivalency Agreement. Products that contain agricultural ingredients not produced in Canada are not covered by the agreement. These products must be certified according to the EU Regulation (CE 834/2007) EOS (ECOCERT ORGANIC Standard). Products covered by the Canada/Europe equivalency agreement: See page 10 The following requirements must be met for products not covered by the equivalency agreement: 95% or more organic content Organic product identification Name of product certificate owner (or identification code) ECOCERT SA CODE: CA BIO 154 or CA BIO 602 Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list Lot number Optional: The Eurofleaf and Ecocert logos Less than 95% organic content ECOCERT SA CODE: CA BIO 154 or CA BIO 602 Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list Lot number Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 12
CODE The European Community replaces the reference of certification body by a code. Each certification body has a code. The codes assigned to ECOCERT SA are CA BIO 154 and CA BIO 602. The choice to use code CA BIO 154 or CA BIO 602 is based on product category and content (Unprocessed plant products or processed agricultural products, Certification body of supplier, origin of product, category of product). It is thus very important to submit your labels to get approval and know which code needs to be used, before printing and shipment Mandatory: The reference code number of the Certification Body of the operator who has carried out the most recent production or preparation operation must be displayed on labels. (NB: packaging and labelling are also preparation operations). If it is you, the code to use is the Ecocert SA code If you also assure the distribution or brokerage of products, you may also include a reference to your own CB code but you must mention the operations controlled by each certification body : E.g. «processing certified by code number of manufacturer Certification Body» and «distribution certified by code number and/or name of vendor Certification Body» Euroleaf logo The Euroleaf logo can be used on labels of products containing 95% and more organic ingredients. If the Euroleaf logo is used you must refer to, under the logo : Ecocert SA Code : CA BIO 154 or CA BIO 602 The country of origin in this form: NON EU Agriculture. Ex: CA BIO 154 NON EU Agriculture CA BIO 602 NON EU Agriculture Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 13
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Product Labels for Japanese market Products sold to Japan must be JAS certified. JAS requires that the JAS logo be shown on both labels and transaction documentation all along the production chain from the farm to import to Japan. Producers (agricultural products) Name of organic product JAS Logo (Ecocert name is part of the logo) Processors and Repackers (processed products) Technical name of the organic product. ( Name of product + Organic mention ) ex: Organic Orange juice, Organic Bread Organic ingredients identified in the ingredient list JAS Logo (Ecocert name is part of the logo) The commercial name of product (ex: Pure Organic Orange juice, Super Organic Orange Juice ) may also be used on label but the Technical name of product must always be present. The JAS logo is the proof of JAS certification. A product exported to Japan without the JAS logo cannot be marketed as JAS certified A JAS logo without the name of the CB is not valid Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 15
Product Labels for Sale in Other countries Ask your buyer about the standards required to export your products then contact us to learn about requirements. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 16
Appendix 1 Labelling Requirements in the Canadian Organic Regulation Extracts from the Organic Product Regulation (Canada): 2. These Regulations apply to food and drink intended for human consumption and food intended to feed livestock, including agricultural crops used for those purposes. They also apply to the cultivation of plants. Part3 LANGUAGES 21. Any claim or statement referred to in sections 24 and 25 shall appear on the label of an organic product in English and in French or in one of those languages if, in accordance with subsection B.01.012(3), (7) or (11) of the Food and Drug Regulations, the information that is required by those Regulations to be shown on the label of the food may be shown in that language only. LOGO 22. The logo set out in Schedule 2 is prescribed as an agricultural product legend. USE OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT LEGEND USE OF THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT LEGEND 23. (1) No person shall affix the logo set out in Schedule 2 to a product other than an organic product. (2) Despite subsection (1), no person shall affix the logo set out in Schedule 2 to a multi ingredient product whose organic content is less than 95%. LABELLING AND ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS 24. (1) No person shall affix a label to a product, or make an advertisement for a product, that contains the words organic, organically grown, organically raised, organically produced or similar words, including abbreviations of, symbols for and phonetic renderings of those words unless the product is a) an organic product, other than an organic product that is a multi ingredient product; or b) a multi ingredient product that is an organic product and that contain At least 95% organic contents. (2) Despite subsection (1), a multi ingredient product that is an organic product but contains less than 95% organic contents may be labelled or advertised with the words organic ingredients if those words (a) are immediately preceded with the percentage, rounded down to the neares whole number, of the contents that are organic; and (b) are of the same size and prominence as the preceding words, numbers, signs or symbols that indicate the applicable percentage. (3) Despite subsection (1), a list of ingredients on a label affixed to a multi ingredient product that is not an organic product may indicate which of the ingredients are organic. OTHER REQUIREMENTS 25. No person shall affix a label containing the words referred to in subsection 24(1) or (2) to an organic product unless the label also contains (a) the name of the certification body that has certified the product as organic; (b) in the case of a multi ingredient product, the organic contents identified as organic in its list of ingredients; and (c) in the case of an imported product for which the agricultural product legend is used on the label, the statement Product of immediately preceding the name of the country of origin or the statement Imported in close proximity to the legend. Please note that this Regulation only applies to food products. The Canadian logo or any reference to this Regulation is not permitted for non food products. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 17
Appendix 2 Logo Graphic Charter It is prohibited to alter a logo s form and typography. Canada Organic logo: Can be used in color (green Pantone 368, red Pantone 186), or in black and white. The logo is displayed in either black with a white background (as illustrated), in black with a transparent background or in colour. If displayed in colour, the background is white or transparent, the outer and inner borders are green (Pantone no. 368), the maple leaf is red (Pantone no. 186) and the lettering is black." To use this logo onmarketing documents you must get permission from the CFIA (registration form available on their website) ECOCERT Logo Must be used in color (red Pantone 185). Black or white permitted on contrasting background. Minimal length of 8 mm, with respect to proportions. The logo must be surrounded by an empty space measuring at least one third of its length. USDA Logo: Can be used in color (green PMS 348, brown PMS 175) or black and white Euroleaf logo: Can be used in color (green Pantone 376). The black and white version can be used on contrasting background (Euroleaf guide available on our website). The logo should not be smaller than 13,5 mm by 9 mm. (Exception for very small packages 9 mm by 6 mm The logo must be surrounded by an empty space measuring at least 1/10th of its height. The code number and the origin of the raw materials composing the product ( Non EU agriculture ) need to be displayed in the same visual field of the EU organic logo as shown. The place of farming should be placed immediately below the code number. The Code number and origin of the raw materials composing the product must be aligned to the left side of the logos and the first dash of the code must be aligned with the first star of the base of the leaf. Logo JAS: Must be higher than 5 mm Width must be twice the height JAS word must 3/10 of internal height JAS word and Ecocert words must be the same size Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 18
Appendix 3 Label Samples Canadian cultivated or processed product (over 95% category) Organic products imported to Canada (over 95% category) Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 19
Products containing 70% to 95% organic ingredients, sold in Canada Product certified according to the USA/Canada equivalency agreement (over 95% organic content) sold in the USA Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 20
Canadian products covered by the EU agreement sold to EU countries (Euroleaf logo used) Canadian products covered by the EU agreement sold to EU countries (without the Euroleaf logo) Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 21
Organic products that meet requirements of both equivalency agreements (EU and USA) Organic ingredients identification in the ingredient list In the ingredient lists, organic ingredients can be identified using an * with reference to the word organic at the end of the list. Ex : Ingredients : Apple*, Sunflower oil*, Sugar*, Salt. (* organic) OR In the ingredient lists, organic ingredients can be identified using Organic or org Ex : Ingredients : Organic Apple, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Sugar, Salt. Labelling Guide Version 3 Page 22