How to read an organic label

Look for three things on an organic label: the word "organic" with a percentage, a mark with the name or code of the body that certified the product, and the ingredient list. Under the Thai standard TAS 9000, a food may be called organic only if at least 95 percent of its ingredients are organic. "Made with organic ingredients" needs at least 70 percent. Water and salt are not counted in either figure.

The percentage rules in Thailand

TAS 9000 sets the rules for processed organic food in clause 11. For solid foods the percentage is by weight, and for liquids it is by volume.

"Organic" and the certification mark: at least 95 percent organic ingredients. The remaining part must not be genetically modified or irradiated, and any processing aids must be on the standard's list.
"Made with organic ingredients": at least 70 percent organic ingredients.
Less than 70 percent: the product may not be called organic or claim organic certification. The word "organic" may still describe individual ingredients in the ingredient list.

The same ingredient may not be present in both organic and non-organic form in one product. The ingredient list must show every ingredient, organic or not, with approximate percentages by weight, from largest to smallest. Herbs and spices below 2 percent of the product may be listed as just "herbs" or "spices".

Other countries use similar numbers. The United States sets 95 percent for "organic" and 70 percent for "made with organic (specified ingredients)", also not counting water and salt. The European Commission says its organic logo needs at least 95 percent organic ingredients.

Who stands behind the claim

TAS 9000 says an organic product must be certified by a certification body, and the label must show that body's name or code. Look for it near the mark.

The Q mark, a Thai certification mark for farm products, includes a code under the mark. A Thai agriculture office page that explains it says the code shows the name of the certifying body, the code of the standard, and the name of the certificate holder. The United States asks for a line such as "Certified organic by" followed by the certifier's name. The European Union asks for the control body's code number and where the farm ingredients came from.

A mark with no name or code gives you little to check.

Fresh food that has not been processed and is packed in a container where it can be seen is among the foods the Thai FDA packaged food labelling notification (No. 367, 2014) exempts from its labelling rules. Such packs may carry little printed text, so a mark and its code may be the main thing to check.

Words that are not certified claims

TAS 9000 sets conditions for the words "organic", "เกษตรอินทรีย์" and "ออร์แกนิก". Other words are not part of that standard.

The Thai FDA notification asks only that label text, pictures and marks are not false or misleading in a significant way. It does not define "natural" as a claim. In that notification the word appears only for added colours and flavours. Words such as "natural" or "chemical-free" therefore do not tell you about inspection or certification.

TAS 9000 also covers farms in conversion. A product that a certification body has checked can carry wording saying it is in conversion to organic. It may not carry a certification mark that suggests it is already certified organic.

In short

In Thailand, "organic" needs at least 95 percent organic ingredients, and "made with organic ingredients" at least 70 percent, not counting water and salt.
Below 70 percent, a product cannot be called organic. The word may appear only for individual ingredients in the list.
Look for the certifier's name or code, such as the code under a Q mark.
"Natural" and "chemical-free" are not defined by the organic standard or by the Thai FDA labelling notification.