Organic products in an organic store or supermarket often carry an eco quality mark. Sometimes there are even several quality marks on the packaging. Which quality marks for organic products are the most common and what exactly do they mean? What is the difference between the different quality marks? Is there a special quality mark for organic meat, organic clothing and natural cosmetics? And what is an eco certificate?
International organic quality mark
European organic quality mark exists for organic agricultural products and organic food . It means that not only the farmer or grower, but also the production and processing companies, packaging and storage companies, importers and wholesalers and retailers that trade the products, comply with European legislation and regulations for organic products. Only stores that sell packaged products directly to the end consumer do not have to comply with the regulations.
In the Netherlands, the inspection is carried out by the inspection and certification body for organic products Skal on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Organic foods that have been checked by Skal carry a green leaf of stars. The international NaTrue quality mark exists for natural cosmetics and the EU Ecolabel exists for organic non-food products and services, such as clothing and cleaning products.
EKO quality mark
The EKO quality mark is a Dutch quality mark for organic food and agricultural products. The quality mark is intended as a supplement to the European organic quality mark. The meaning of the eco quality mark is that the product not only comes from organic farming, but that it comes from a producer, trader or farmer who makes an extra effort for sustainability. This also means doing business respectfully, transparent chains, climate-neutral production, renewable packaging or showing social involvement. The EKO code, which organic farmers have drawn up together with the EKO Quality Mark Foundation, helps companies to determine their sustainability status and see where they can and want to make improvements. The eco products that are produced according to the standards of the EKO quality mark can be recognized by the black and white eco logo. Control is in the hands of the inspection and certification body for organic products Skal.
There is also an EKO Quality Mark for Hospitality for restaurants, kitchens and catering companies that purchase organic products and an EKO Quality Mark for Shops for organic stores whose range is more than 90% organically certified and that make extra efforts towards sustainability.
Ecocert quality mark
The Ecocert quality mark is a French quality mark for organic food, organic clothing and natural cosmetics. The meaning of this eco quality mark is the same as the European organic quality mark and the Dutch EKO quality mark. It is sometimes found together with these quality marks on organic products in an organic store or supermarket.
Soil Association quality mark
Soil Association is an English quality mark for organic food, organic clothing and organic health and cosmetics products. Health products are products in a pharmaceutical form and with a pharmaceutical appearance, such as nutritional supplements. The meaning of this eco quality mark is the same as the European organic quality mark and the Dutch EKO quality mark. Just like the EKO quality mark, Soil Association goes further than European rules. For example, the quality mark body has rules for animal welfare and nature conservation. The quality mark is sometimes placed together with the European organic quality mark and the EKO quality mark on organic products.
Organic guarantee label
Bio guarantee label is a Belgian quality mark for products from organic agriculture. The quality mark stands for the same as the European organic quality mark. You sometimes see this quality mark together with the European organic quality mark on organic products in the supermarket or health food store.
Bio Siegel
Bio-Siegel is a German eco quality mark that is used on products from organic farming. The requirements are largely comparable to the European organic quality mark. You can sometimes find this organic quality mark together with the European organic label on organic products in health food stores and supermarkets.
Agriculture Biologique (AB) quality mark
Agriculture Biologique (AB) is a quality mark of the French government for organic agriculture. It provides the same guarantees as the European organic quality mark.
Demeter quality mark
The Demeter quality mark guarantees that a product comes from biodynamic agricultural companies and processors. These products comply with the European standards for organic agriculture and also with the Demeter standards and guidelines for biological dynamic agriculture, such as the use of preparations that support the vitality of crops and the promotion of the cohesion between soil, plants, animals, people and environment.
What is an eco certificate?
Sometimes products do not have an eco quality mark, but there is an eco certificate that can be submitted by the seller. An eco certificate means that an independent third party has determined that an organization strives to manage and improve environmental performance, such as setting up and improving an environmental management system and CO2 footprinting. Standards have been drawn up for this within ISO: the ISO 14000 standards for environmental management.
Is there a quality mark for organic meat?
There is no special quality mark for organic meat. Organic meat can be recognized in the store by the European organic quality mark, the EKO quality mark or the Demeter quality mark.
