The short answer is “no”. There are many vendors that claim organic on their packaging, but are they really certified organic? And just because a brand uses organic ingredients in their product, can the product be called organic? When is it legal to claim that a product is organic?
First, just because they use some—or all—organic ingredients, it doesn’t mean that they’re certified organic, nor does it mean that they are allowed to claim organic on their labels anywhere. The answer is more nuanced than that.
Organic on the ingredient panel
There’s something called “Organic Processed Product” registration. In California, every year, vendors need to file their Organic Processed Product registration with the Department of Public Health if they want to use the word “organic” on their ingredient panel.
They must follow specific requirements to obtain and maintain their registration—from proving that they’re using certified organic ingredients to verifying the quantities of organic products they sold in each organic category, along with their annual gross sales or revenue from these organic products. As you can see, there are tracking and reporting requirements associated with the “Organic Processed Product” registration.
Upon approval, this registration allows them to put the word “organic” next to the verified organic ingredients in their ingredient panel. Without this registration, they’re not allowed to claim organic ingredients in the ingredient panel. And they’re especially not allowed to call the final product organic. Therefore, they’re not allowed to put “organic” on the front label or box to describe the entire product as organic.
You should also know that the list of ingredients should appear in descending order on the label. For example, a product using 2% organic chamomile should be listed at the end of the ingredient list if the chamomile is present in the smallest quantity in the final product.
And lastly, the permission to put the word “organic” in the ingredient panel does not make a product organic. A lot more needs to happen before a vendor can call a product organic. That’s where the term “certified organic” comes in.
What does certified organic mean?
The organic certification takes the organic processed product process many steps further. It’s much stricter and has a lot more requirements. A vendor may only claim certified organic status if they follow the rules of a national or international governing body. In the US, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the National Organic Program (NOP).
Before a vendor can apply for organic certification, they must hold a valid “Organic Processed Product” registration. And they must prove that the ingredients they use are not only organic, but certified organic. There are many ingredient providers that claim to sell organic ingredients but when you ask for their certification, they don’t have it. So, in order to make sure that a vendor uses certified organic ingredients, they must submit the ingredient provider’s current organic certification with their own application.
The USDA has different levels of organic certification:
- 100% organic – When the final product only contains 100% certified organic ingredients and there’s proper documentation to support this claim. This requirement extends to how and where the ingredient that will go into the final product is grown, processed and handled.
- Organic – When the final product contains 95% or more certified organic ingredients with the caveat that the remaining percentage of the ingredients must be on the USDA’s organic-compliant list. This means that a vendor can’t just use whatever ingredient they want for the remaining up to 5%.
- Made with organic (MWO) – When the final product contains between 70% and 94.99% certified organic ingredients. Again, for the remaining ingredients, they must choose organic-compliant ingredients to be able to claim MWO status.
What are organic-compliant ingredients?
Before a non-certified organic ingredient is allowed in an organic product, the vendor must have the non-organic ingredient approved for inclusion by the USDA. Only upon successful qualification will they be allowed to use a non-organic ingredient in an organic product. Vendors must go through a rigorous vetting process where they need to prove that the ingredient is free of the big 3: GMO, irradiation, and sewage sludge, amongst other strict requirements, such as no synthetic anything. Once approved, these non-organic ingredients are only allowed to be used up to a certain percentage of the final organic product based on its classification.
Certified organic is more than just ingredients
Using certified organic ingredients in a product, however, is only the beginning. Vendors must follow strict rules all the way from how the products are made to how the manufacturing facility and the manufacturing tools are maintained. For example, there are specific guidelines on the types of sanitizer manufacturers are allowed to use to sanitize their tools with or the types of pest control materials are permissible at the facility. And there are rules around handling organic products in the presence of non-organic ones during manufacturing, storage, packing and distribution.
But being certified organic doesn’t stop there. It even extends to record keeping—down to the lot number of not only the final product, but that of each ingredient, and much more.
The organic certification covers operations all the way from ingredient growing and sourcing to manufacturing and distribution. It’s really about running a certified organic operation—year after year because vendors must go through the audit process every year if they want to maintain their certification.
How do I know if a product is certified organic?
I didn’t give much thought to the USDA organic seal on a product until Red Pantz became a certified organic operation. This process gave me a completely different perspective.
Products that qualify for the “100% organic” and “organic” certification will carry the USDA Organic Seal, so look for the logo. Products in the “Made with organic” (MWO) category are allowed to call out up to 3 ingredients on the product as organic but they will not carry the USDA Organic Seal. For example, they’ll say “Made with organic amalaki, chamomile and rose”, but they’ll likely list all the certified organic ingredients in the ingredient panel.
Certified organic operations will also include information about the certifying agency and the manufacturing location on the label.
Why are there such few organic skincare products on the market?
Getting this certification is a tall order for skincare brands. For one, if you look at the product label, you’ll see that skincare products usually contain ingredients that are not only NOT organic compliant, but they’re on the “no” list. Second, their processes and manufacturing facility must also be organic certified—another layer of complexity most manufacturers don’t want or don’t qualify to take on.
To me personally as a founder, it was important to go the extra mile to get the USDA organic certification for our products from skin care to teas. This is one of our commitments to delivering premium-quality products and experiences that are good for you, our community and better for our planet.
If you want to know if you’re purchasing something that’s certified organic, look for the USDA organic seal on the box or the “made with organic (MWO)” claim along with the name of the certifying agency, or ask for the vendor’s organic certification. In addition, you may also search the Organic Integrity Database, which lists all operations that are USDA certified organic along with their certifying agency name.
View the MY24/7 by Red Pantz USDA organic certification.
Organic versus USDA certified organic products
USDA “Made With Organic” (MWO) products contain 70–94% organic ingredients and must follow USDA organic certification standards, but cannot use the USDA Organic Seal. USDA Certified Organic products contain at least 95% organic ingredients and may display the USDA Organic Seal. Products labeled “100% Organic” contain only certified organic ingredients.
| Most Products | Registered Organic Product | USDA Certified Organic Product (Made With Organic – MWO) | USDA Certified Organic Product (Organic Seal ≥95%) | USDA Certified Organic Product (100% Organic) | |
| What it means | Conventional product; may include marketing claims like “natural” without certification | Product registered (e.g., state-level organic registration) allowing limited verified organic ingredient claims | Certified organic product with 70–94.99% organic ingredients | Certified organic product with ≥95% organic ingredients | Certified organic product with 100% organic ingredients |
| Certification required | ❌No | ⚠️Registration (not full certification) | ✅USDA organic certification required | ✅USDA organic certification required | ✅USDA organic certification required |
| Can use USDA Organic Seal? | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Organic % requirement | None | Not defined at product level | Minimum 70% certified organic | Minimum 95% certified organic | 100% certified organic ingredients |
| Non-organic ingredients allowed? | ✅Yes (no restrictions) | ✅Yes | ⚠️Yes — only USDA-approved non-organic ingredients upon prior approval | ⚠️Yes — ≤5% USDA-approved non-organic ingredients upon prior approval | ❌No |
| Organic ingredient listing allowed in ingredient labelsection? | ❌No | ⚠️Yes — subject to regulatory oversight and ingredient verification | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Organic claim allowed for entire product on packaging (front label)? | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes — must say “Made with Organic X” (MWO designation required) | ✅Yes — may say “Organic” and use USDA Organic Seal | ✅Yes — may say “100% Organic” and use USDA Organic Seal |
| GMO / prohibited methods allowed? | Often allowed | ⚠️Depends on ingredient sourcing | ❌Not allowed | ❌Not allowed | ❌Not allowed |
| Manufacturing standards | ❌None | ❌Not fully regulated as organic system | ✅Must follow USDA organic standards | ✅Must follow strict USDA organic standards | ✅Must follow strict USDA organic standards |
| Facility certification required | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Business operations (e.g., logistics) | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes (handling, storage, logistics must comply with USDA standards) | ✅Yes (handling, storage, logistics must comply with USDA standards) | ✅Yes (handling, storage, logistics must comply with USDA standards) |
| Audit & traceability | ❌No | ⚠️Limited oversight | ✅Annual and random audits + traceability | ✅Annual and random audits + full traceability | ✅Annual and random audits + full traceability |
| Label transparency | Low | Moderate | High | High | High |
Consumer trust level | Low–variable | Moderate | Very high — same USDA certification process and standards as ≥95% and 100% organic | Very high — meets ≥95% organic threshold with full certification | Very high — 100% certified organic ingredients with no non-organic inputs |
Key takeaways
“Organic” and “certified organic” are not the same and are regulated differently
Vendors must meet specific requirements to use the word “organic” in the ingredient panel
Certified organic products must follow strict standards set by regulatory bodies like the USDA
There are different certification levels: 100% organic, organic (95%+), and made with organic (70–94.99%)
Non-organic ingredients must be USDA-approved and meet strict criteria to be included
Certification applies to the entire operation, including sourcing, manufacturing, and record keeping
The USDA Organic Seal is the easiest way to identify certified organic products
Frequently asked questions about certified organic
Are “organic” and “certified organic” the same thing?
No. A product may contain organic ingredients and list them in the ingredient panel, but that does not mean the final product is certified organic. Certified organic status requires compliance with strict regulatory standards and formal certification.
When can a product legally use the word “organic”?
Vendors can only use the word “organic” in the ingredient panel if they hold a valid Organic Processed Product registration and meet reporting and verification requirements. Without this, they cannot legally claim organic ingredients on the label.
What does certified organic mean?
Certified organic means the product meets strict standards set by a governing body such as the USDA. This includes verification that ingredients are certified organic and that the entire production process follows regulated guidelines.
What are the different USDA organic certification levels?
There are three main levels:
100% organic: all ingredients are certified organic
Organic: at least 95% certified organic ingredients
Made with organic: 70–94.99% certified organic ingredients
Each level has specific rules about what can be included and how it can be labeled.
What are organic-compliant ingredients?
Organic-compliant ingredients are non-organic ingredients that have been approved by the USDA for limited use in organic products. They must meet strict criteria, including being free from GMOs, irradiation, and sewage sludge.
Does certified organic only apply to ingredients?
No. Certified organic applies to the entire operation, including ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, sanitation practices, storage, packaging, and distribution. It also includes detailed record keeping and annual audits.
How can I tell if a product is certified organic?
Look for the USDA Organic Seal on the packaging for products that qualify as “100% organic” or “organic.” You may also see “made with organic” claims and the name of the certifying agency. Consumers can also verify certification through the Organic Integrity Database.
Why is it nearly impossible to find certified organic skincare products?
Certification is more complex for skincare products because many commonly used ingredients are not organic compliant. In addition, manufacturing facilities and processes must also meet certified organic standards, which adds another layer of requirements.
What are good-quality certified organic skincare products?
MY24/7 by Red Pantz offers premium, Ayurveda-inspired, USDA-certified organic skincare products designed for all skin types and is especially loved by sensitive skin. It’s more than clean beauty. You can learn more here: https://redpantz.com/my247/.
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