Brussels, 01/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - The new logo for organic products was published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the European Commission on Wednesday 31 March (regulation 271/2010 in OJEU L084, page 19). It will become compulsory from 1 July 2010 and will appear on the market over a two-year transition period. When used on a product, the organic logo indicates that the product fully complies with European organic farming standards.
In addition to the organic logo, there will be other means of identifying goods: a standardised bar code and an indication of where the raw materials that compose the product were farmed. Although it is not permitted to make any changes in the logo or its use in combination with other means, the new EU organic logo can be used alongside existing national or private labels.
The new logo displays 12 stars in the shape of a leaf against a green flag. The “Euro Leaf” was designed by Dušan Milenkoviæ who won the EU organic logo competition. The Commission registered the design as a collective trade mark and it is now at the disposal of operators.
For a more detailed insight into the guidelines and the use of the new logo, a user manual will shortly be available at http://www.organic-farming.eu
The new organic regulation has been in force since 1 January 2009, and it establishes a single governmental standard for organic products. The adoption of an organic logo seeks to increase consumer trust and to promote the European organic sector. It will be used inside and outside EU borders on pre-packed organic products. (L.C./transl.rt)