EDIT: All the following are the USDA requirements for FOOD. Currently there are NO regulations for the term "organic" for personal care products. A company can submit for the USDA seal if they wish and must follow the below requirements, but it is NOT mandatory. So any company can use the word organic even if the ingredients are not certified.
Image carries a line called Ormedic, made with organic ingredients. The company states that the line is 75% organic. I know that Image is a reputable line and holds it's products to the highest standards, so I trust their information. This may not be true for some of the companies out there, so all I can say is DO YOUR RESEARCH!!
This info is handy to know even though a lot does not pertain to skin care.
According to the USDA National Organic Program there are several guidelines companies have to follow when labeling their products.
100% Organic
In order for a product to make this claim it must contain 100% organically produced ingredients, with the exception of any added salt and water.
The labels MUST show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor,
importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished
product, the statement:
"Certified organic by ____" or similar phrase, followed by the name of
the Certifying Agent. Certifying Agent seals may not be used to satisfy
this requirement.
Organic
These products must be made with at least 95% organically produced ingredients and cannot contain sulfites.
The other 5% can be comprised of non organically produced agricultural ingredients which are NOT commercially available in organic form (including: kelp, cornstarch, lecithin, pectin and gums) and/or other permitted ingredients like added minerals, acids and some synthetic ingredients. (Click here if you would like the full list.)
The label must also use the word "organic" before the ingredients on the list. As with 100% organic, the label must also include the processor and the "certified organic" statement.
Made with Organic Ingredients.
These products must contain 70% organic ingredients with no added sulfites (except for wine).
The product can also contain 30% off the above non organically grown and synthetics listed above with the addition of yeast.
These products CANNOT carry the USDA certified organic seal
Now here is where things get confusing!
To claim a product has some organic ingredients
These products may contain less than 70% organic and may contain more than 30% inorganic ingredients. The product must list the organic ingredients on the ingredient deck only if the percentage is listed in the ingredient statement, but cannot include the processors "certified organic" statement or seal, or the USDA seal.
The product also cannot make any other claims of "organic" on the front display label.
So if the product claims to have 50% organic ingredients, the ingredient deck must list the organic ingredients with the word "organic". No percentage on the front, no need to list the organic ingredients on the back. This is where you would have to ask the company how much of their product is organic.
