What is the biolabel?

An essential requirement of products with the biolabel is the EU Eco Regulation ((EC) No. 834/2007). In addition, higher requirements (supplementary requirements) apply, e.g.:

• The agricultural businesses must operate 100 % ecologically. The person responsible for production must have a proof a completed agricultural training.
• More stringent provisions regarding livestock number and use of permitted organic fertilisers apply.
• The largest proportion of the feed used must stem from the business’s own production. Ruminants must be given enough green forage.
• Animal keepers must conclude a care contract with a veterinarian.
• The animal transport time to the slaughterhouse is restricted to a maximum of four hours.
• Fruit and vegetables must meet either Class Extra or Class I in compliance with the EU marketing standards or UNECE standards.
• Higher quality requirements apply for beef and veal, pork, lamb and poultry meat.

If products are labelled with the biolabel with indication of origin, the following requirements apply:

• Monoproducts designated to a region of origin, such as potatoes or meat, must be produced according to the requirements of the biolabel from that designated region.
• For processed products, this applies to the ingredients stated on the product label. In total, at least 90 % of the recipe components in processed products must comply with the requirements of the origin.
• Animals must be raised and slaughtered in the designated region; specific regulations apply to brought-in animals, such as piglets.

EU Eco Regulation
Supplementary requirements animal
Supplementary requirements vegetal

Owner of the label

The legally responsible owner of the biolabel is the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, represented by the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (Ministerium für Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz; short: MLR). The owner of the label is responsible for the content and further development of the label. The owner also decides on licensing.

A transfer of the system to another member state or region of the EU is possible by means of a contract with the MLR. With conclusion of a corresponding contract the member state or the region becomes the subordinate owner of the label. Member states or regions interested in the system transfer may inquire at about the possibilities for the transfer:

Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz
Referat 22 – Vermarktung, Marketing, Ernährungswirtschaft
Kernerplatz 10
70182 Stuttgart

Contact: Mr Bruno Krieglstein, phone: 0049 711 126-2112, e-mail: bruno.krieglstein@mlr.bwl.de

Provided that no contractual agreement can be concluded between a member state or a region within the EU and the MLR, the latter will issue licences upon request directly to licensees located in the relevant regions or member states.

Licensees

Upon request, the MLR awards the right to use the biolabel by means of a license agreement to organisations, associations or alliances in production and marketing of ecologic products of the agriculture and agri-food industry, who are able to provide monitoring of the label’s use regarding the applicable provisions.

Parties interested to act as a licensee shall inquire in writing to the owner of the label:

Ministerium für Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz
Referat 22 – Vermarktung, Marketing, Ernährungswirtschaft
Kernerplatz 10
70182 Stuttgart

Currently, the following licensees are listed for the biolabel Baden-Wuerttemberg.

User of the trademark

Users of the trademark are businesses of the agricultural and agri-food sector that utilise the biolabel towards the consumer. For this purpose they conclude a trademark agreement with a licensee and will hence be integrated into the quality assurance and control system. They agree to comply at all times with the biolabel’s rules and requirements during production, processing and marketing.
At present, approximately 200 users of the biolabel Baden-Wuerttemberg are listed for their products (as of July 2016).

Businesses interested in the use of the biolabel shall inquire in writing to one of the licensees.

The employees of MBW Marketinggesellschaft will be happy to provide you with more information.

Producers

Producers are businesses producing agricultural goods for use of the biolabel (with according trademark users). They agree to comply with the biolabel’s rules and requirements in their agricultural production at all times.

As a producer, how can you participate in the biolabel Baden-Wuerttemberg?

Producers submit a statement of participation through a trademark user towards the licensee and will hence be bound by contract into the quality assurance and control system.

The employees of MBW Marketinggesellschaft will be happy to provide you with more information.

In Germany, the general control system for organic farms consists of a governmental monitoring authority and authorised private control institutions. All organic agricultural farms are inspected at least once per year.
This is the basis for the control system of the biolabel Baden-Wuerttemberg. The specific requirements for the biolabel will be inspected simultaneously with the organic control by the same control institution. For this purpose, the monitoring authorities dispose of elaborated control checklists and inspection instructions. Synergy effects are then exploited and costly redundant controls avoided.

The whole control system of the biolabel Baden-Wuerttemberg is monitored by the MBW Marketinggesellschaft mbH on behalf of the owner of the seal. Hence, the control of the inspections is ensured.

An overview of approved monitoring institutions of the biolabel Baden-Wuerttemberg can be found here.