Organic logo rules by market: sizes, colours and clear space
Every organic mark is reserved for products at 95% or more organic agricultural content, certified by the body that owns the mark. The EU leaf must be at least 9 mm high with a 1:1.5 ratio, 10% clear space, a control body code such as NZ-BIO-003 and an origin statement. The USDA seal has no minimum size but must be legible and unmodified. The ACO Bud needs 2 mm clear space and a certification number.
Last updated: 28 September 2026 · Written by Fliss Roberts, ANZOC
Who may use which mark
Two rules apply to every mark on this page, before any of the artwork detail matters. First, the mark belongs to a certifier or a regulator, and you may only use it if that body certifies your product. Second, all of them are reserved for the 95%+ tier: a "made with organic" product at 70–94% carries no organic mark on the front of pack, however accurate its wording is.
| Mark | Owner | Who may use it | Minimum organic content |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU organic leaf | European Commission | Operators certified to EU 2018/848, including via equivalence | 95% |
| USDA organic seal | USDA National Organic Program | Operators certified by a USDA-accredited certifier | 95% |
| ACO Bud | Australian Certified Organic | ACO-certified operators only | 95% (ACOS 3.5.15) |
| AsureQuality organic mark | AsureQuality | AsureQuality-certified operators only | 95% |
EU organic leaf
The most prescriptive of the marks, and the one most often failed at the border. Set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Annex V.
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 1:1.5 height to width |
| Minimum size | 9 mm high × 13.5 mm wide |
| Small pack exception | 6 mm height minimum for packages under 10 cm² |
| Colour | Pantone 376 green, RGB(169, 201, 56); white stars on green |
| Monochrome | Permitted in black and white where colour printing is unavailable |
| Clear space | 10% of logo height on all sides, free of text and graphics |
| Required adjacent text | Control body code and an agriculture origin statement |
USDA organic seal
Governed by 7 CFR 205.311. Simpler than the EU leaf, with one absolute rule: the seal may not be modified. No recolouring, no stretching, no removing the outer ring, no placing it inside another device.
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Shape | Circular, 1:1 |
| Colours | Brown outer ring RGB(107, 66, 38); green inner and text RGB(0, 100, 0); white background |
| Minimum size | None specified — must be legible and conspicuous |
| Modification | Not permitted in any form |
| Eligibility | 95%+ organic, certified by a USDA-accredited certifier |
| Use is | Voluntary — but the word "organic" on the label is regulated whether or not you use the seal |
ACO and New Zealand certifier marks
| Mark | Colour | Clear space | Required text |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACO Bud | PMS 7737C — CMYK 50/0/100/20 — RGB(102, 166, 0); black or white versions permitted | 2 mm minimum all sides | "ACO CERT. NO. XXXX" |
| AsureQuality | Bright green RGB(0, 153, 68) | Per AsureQuality brand guidance | "Organic Certified"; certification number as "New Zealand XXXX" |
Carrying more than one mark
- Each mark needs its own eligibility. Being EU-certified does not entitle you to the USDA seal.
- Clear space requirements apply between marks as well as around them — two marks placed side by side commonly break both.
- The EU leaf keeps its control body code and origin statement even on a pack carrying other marks.
- A mark that is not valid in the destination market should come off that market's artwork rather than being left on "for consistency".
Questions people ask
- Can I use the EU organic leaf on a New Zealand-made product?
- Only if you are certified to EU 2018/848, including through an equivalence arrangement, and the product is 95% or more organic. The pack must also carry the control body code — NZ-BIO-003 for BioGro, NZ-BIO-002 for AsureQuality — and an origin statement, normally "non-EU Agriculture".
- What is the minimum size for the EU organic logo?
- 9 mm high by 13.5 mm wide, at a 1:1.5 ratio, with 10% of the logo height as clear space on all sides. Packages under 10 cm² may reduce the height to 6 mm.
- Can a "made with organic" product carry a certifier logo?
- Not on the front of pack. All the marks on this page are reserved for products at 95% organic or above. ACO states this explicitly for the Bud logo at ACOS 3.5.15.
- Can I use the USDA seal if my product is made in New Zealand?
- Yes, if a USDA-accredited certifier certifies your operation and the product is 95%+ organic. Certification by a New Zealand body alone does not entitle you to the seal.
- Do I have to use a logo at all?
- No. Logo use is voluntary in most schemes. The regulated element is the word "organic" and the claims around it — those apply whether or not a mark appears.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Annex V — organic production logo
- 7 CFR 205.311 — USDA seal
- Australian Certified Organic Standard (ACOS)
- Organic Standards Regulations 2025 — New Zealand Legislation
This page is general guidance, not certification advice. Your certifier's decision is the one that counts — check anything that changes what goes on a label with them before you print.