The new Italian Organic Logo, officially known as the Marchio del biologico italiano, establishes eligibility requirements, application procedures and rules for displaying the logo on packaging and commercial materials. It could also support marketing and communication in international markets by giving producers, distributors and importers an additional tool to highlight the Italian origin of eligible products.
The logo moves closer to full implementation
The Italian Organic Logo is moving closer to becoming fully operational. A decree dated May 26, 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on July 13 sets out the eligibility conditions and procedures for displaying the new national logo on packaging alongside the European Union organic logo.
FederBio, the leading trade association representing Italy's organic sector, welcomed the measure. The organization views the logo as a useful tool for increasing the visibility of Italian organic products and strengthening their competitiveness in domestic and international markets. According to FederBio, it could also make it easier to communicate the origin of ingredients, traceability and the connection to Italian agricultural supply chains.
The logo is not a new organic certification
Use of the Italian Organic Logo will be voluntary, and it may only appear together with the Euro-leaf, the EU organic logo. It will not replace certification under Regulation (EU) 2018/848 or create a separate category of organic products.
To qualify for the logo, a product must already comply with EU organic regulations and carry the indication "Agriculture Italy" or, for aquaculture products, "Aquaculture Italy". The operator must also have its registered office and production site in an EU Member State.
The key eligibility requirement concerns origin. The logo is reserved for products made with organic raw materials grown or raised in Italy. Processing or packaging a product in Italy will not, by itself, be sufficient.
Food companies will therefore need to verify the origin of all agricultural raw materials used in each product. A processed food containing organic ingredients from more than one country cannot carry the new logo as an Italian organic product, even if the final processing stage takes place in Italy.
How companies will apply
Interested operators will be required to submit a notification to the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF) through a free online application provided by the Organic Information System, which is integrated into the National Agricultural Information System.
The notification must include the operator's identification details, a list of the products on which the logo will be displayed and a declaration confirming compliance with the eligibility requirements. The company must also agree to follow the rules governing use of the logo and promptly report any changes.
The system will automatically verify that the applicant is included in the national register of organic operators and holds a valid certificate. Unless the application is rejected, it will be deemed accepted 30 days after submission. Improper use of the logo will remain subject to the controls and penalties established under Italian organic legislation.
The decree does not, however, make the logo available for immediate use. Notifications will take effect on the day after MASAF publishes a formal notice confirming that the online application is operational. The Ministry has stated that detailed instructions will be published at a later stage.
Companies can therefore begin identifying potentially eligible products and preparing the required documentation, but they must wait for the procedure to officially open before displaying the logo.
How the logo must appear on packaging
The Italian logo must appear in the same field of vision as the Euro-leaf and may not be larger than the European organic logo. It cannot replace, cover or reduce the visibility of the EU logo.
The logo's design, colors and proportions may not be altered. Text, graphic effects and transparent elements may not be added within the logo.
The technical annex sets a standard minimum size of 8.5 millimeters in height and 18.022 millimeters in width. A smaller version may be used on particularly small packages, with a minimum height of 5.5 millimeters and only the pictogram displayed. A black-and-white version will be permitted when using the full-color logo is not technically feasible.
Producers and packers will therefore need to coordinate the addition of the logo with artwork revisions, label approval schedules and the use of existing stocks of preprinted packaging.
Italy's organic market is worth 6.9 billion euros
The logo is being introduced during a period of growth for Italy's organic sector. In 2025, domestic sales of organic products reached approximately 6.9 billion euros. At-home consumption accounted for 5.5 billion euros, up 6.2%, while out-of-home consumption reached approximately 1.35 billion euros (source: FederBio data).
Modern grocery retail is now the leading channel for household purchases of organic products. In 2025, it generated approximately 3.5 billion euros in sales, representing 64% of the at-home market and an increase of 6.1%.
The new logo could support the development of assortments in which organic certification and Italian origin are presented as complementary attributes. For retailers, large grocery chains and private label operators, it may provide a useful way to distinguish products sourced entirely from Italian agricultural supply chains from organic products made with raw materials from several countries.
Opportunities in international markets
Exports of Italian organic food and agricultural products have also reached significant levels. According to data from the SANA-ICE Observatory compiled by Nomisma, international sales totaled approximately 3.9 billion euros in 2024, up 7% from the previous year. Germany, France, the Scandinavian countries and the United States are among the leading destinations reported by Italian exporters.
For international distributors, the new logo may provide a clear way to identify eligible products within a portfolio. The Euro-leaf will continue to confirm compliance with EU organic production rules, while the national logo will identify products made from Italian agricultural raw materials.
This combination may be particularly useful in markets where Italian origin already influences purchasing decisions and organic food is a well-established category. In Germany, for example, ICE data show that the organic food market reached 18.23 billion euros in 2025, up 6.7%.
The logo may also be used on products intended for non-EU markets, alongside the European organic logo, whose use outside the European Union is optional. However, it will not replace the certifications, import procedures or labeling requirements imposed by the destination country.
What producers and distributors can do now
While awaiting the launch of the ministerial procedure, companies can conduct an initial review of products that already carry the indications "Agriculture Italy" or "Aquaculture Italy", verify the origin of their ingredients and assess which products are likely to qualify for the logo.
Companies can also begin planning updates to packaging, technical data sheets, commercial catalogs, e-commerce pages and materials prepared for buyers and distributors.
For international operators, the logo may become an additional criterion for product selection and assortment planning.
The initiative's actual impact will depend on the level of adoption among companies and the supply chain's ability to communicate and promote the new logo. When used correctly, the Italian Organic Logo could make the connection with Italy easier to recognize, improve transparency for buyers and consumers, and strengthen the position of Italian organic products in retail and foodservice channels.
