Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/01/13/2011-573/national-organic-program-notice-of-draft-guidance-concerning-made-with-organic-specified-ingredients
Timestamp: 2015-11-26 12:26:00
Document Index: 437222302

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 205', '§ 205', '§ 205', '§ 205', '§ 205', '§ 205', '§ 205', 'art 205']

Federal Register | National Organic Program: Notice of Draft Guidance Concerning “Made With Organic (Specified Ingredients or Food Groups)” Products: Product Composition and Use of Percentage Statements
-2331 (4 pages)
Document Number: 2011-573
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2011-573 Regulations.gov Docket Info
The guidance explains the policy of the National Organic Program (NOP) concerning the portions of the regulations in question, referenced herein. The NOP invites organic producers, handlers, certifying agents, consumers and other interested parties to submit comments about these guidance provisions. A notice of availability of final guidance on this topic will be issued upon its final approval. Once finalized, this guidance document will be available from the NOP through “The Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents (ACAs) and Certified Operations.” This Handbook provides those who own, manage, or certify organic operations with guidance and instructions that can assist them in complying with the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations. The current edition of the Program Handbook is available online at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop or in print upon request.
Purpose & Applicability Back to Top
I. Product Composition Back to Top
Multi-ingredient products labeled as “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” may contain up to 30 percent of the following: (1) Conventionally produced (non-organic) agricultural products such as fruits, spices and grains regardless of the synthetic substances which may have been used in their production or processing; and (2) natural and synthetic ingredients or processing aids listed in § 205.605 Nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups)).” Any synthetic substance may be used to manufacture a substance on § 205.605; however, if the synthetic is present in the final § 205.605 substance, the synthetic must also be on the National List and allowed for the intended use.
II. Statement of Percentage of Organic Ingredients Back to Top
The NOP regulations (§§ 205.303(a) and 205.304(a)) state that products in packages described in §§ 205.301(a), (b), and (c), may display the terms, “100 percent organic,” “organic,” and “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” respectively, as applicable. These provisions also state these products may display the percentage of organic ingredients in the product.
The “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” statement is essential to clarify the product category and may be used without the percentage statement. The statements, “made with organic ingredients,” or “made with (insert number)% organic ingredients,” do not comply with §§ 205.304(a)(1)(i) or (ii) and are not acceptable variations of a “made with organic” statement. The correct formats for “made with organic” statements are: “made with organic (specified ingredients); or (specified food groups),” provided that the statement does not list more than three organically produced ingredients or food groups.
Acceptable variations of percentage statements include: “X% Organic,” “X% Organic Ingredients,” “Contains X% Organic Ingredients,” “Made with X% Organic Ingredients.” Each of the above versions of a percentage statement need to appear with a proper “made with organic” statement. Additional versions of percentage claim statements may be acceptable as long as they are not misleading. Percentage statements must appear without highlighting and in the same type size, font and color in its entirety. The size of a percentage statement must not exceed one-half of the largest type size on the display panel, in accordance with § 205.304(a)(2).
The purpose of GGPs is to ensure that program guidance documents are developed with adequate public participation, are readily available to the public, and are not applied as binding requirements. The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the NOP's current thinking on these topics. It does not create or confer any rights for, or on, any person and does not operate to bind the NOP or the public. Guidance documents are intended to provide a uniform method for operations to comply that can reduce the burden of developing their own methods and simplify audits and inspections. Alternative approaches that can demonstrate compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522), and its implementing regulations are also acceptable.
7 U.S.C. 6501, et seq.; 7 CFR part 205.