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EU introduces new label for organic food

Pre-packaged organic food made in Europe will have to carry a new logo as part of new food-labelling rules that are being implemented from today (1 July).

The 'Euro-Leaf' will be compulsory on pre-packaged organic food products that have been produced in any of the EU member states but will remain optional on non-packed and imported organic products.

German student Dusan Milenkovic, winner of a competition aimed at EU art students, designed the logo.

Dacian Ciolos, EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development, said: "Our hope is that the new EU logo can develop into a widely recognised symbol of organic food production across the EU, providing consumers with confidence that the goods are produced entirely in-line with the strict EU organic farming regulations."

In addition to the logo, new labelling rules also include the mandatory indications of the place where the product’s ingredients were farmed, and the code number of the body in charge of the controls.

The new rules also cover organic aquaculture production of fish, shellfish and seaweed. They specify that biodiversity should be respected, and organic feeds supplemented with fish feeds from sustainable fisheries should be used.