Guidance

Non-organic ingredients: get permission to use them

Apply to temporarily include a non-organic ingredient in organic food or drink you sell in the UK.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 29 April 2016
• Last updated: 3 August 2023 — See all updates

You must apply to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) if you want to temporarily include non-organic ingredients in an organic food product.

If Defra gives you permission, you can use the non-organic ingredient for up to:

• 12 months in Great Britain
• 6 months in Northern Ireland

When you can apply

You can apply if:

• an organic version of the ingredient is not available and a substitute is not suitable – if there is an organic version or substitute, you must use this regardless of cost
• the non-organic ingredient is a single ingredient, not made up of 2 or more different items
• your product only contains additives and processing aids approved for use in organic production

Check the list of:

• additives and processing aids approved in Great Britain
• additives and processing aids approved in Northern Ireland

You should contact your control body to confirm that the ingredient is not available on the UK market or for import from another country.

How to apply

Fill in an application form. Use a separate form for each non-organic ingredient you plan to use.

Email your completed form to:

• [email protected] if you’re based in Great Britain
• [email protected] if you’re based in Northern Ireland

Send forms to Defra at least 4 weeks before you plan to use the ingredient.

You must include the following supporting evidence:

• a statement that you have searched for an organic form of the ingredient and could not find one on the UK market or for import
• an explanation of why you need to use the particular ingredient in non-organic form and why you cannot use an organic substitute
• copies of letters or emails from at least 3 potential suppliers of the ingredient – they must confirm they cannot supply the ingredient in organic form or find it on the UK market

If you need to submit the form by post, email [email protected] in Great Britain or [email protected] in Northern Ireland.

Defra will review your application and get in touch if you need to supply any more information. They will send you a decision by email.

Renewing your permission

If you need to use a non-organic ingredient for longer than your permission lasts, you must reapply. Your application must include new supporting evidence.

You should submit your application at least one month before your permission expires. If your permission expires, you must stop using the non-organic ingredient or marketing your product as organic.

Non-organic ingredients you can use in organic food without applying for permission

You can use certain non-organic ingredients in your organic food without applying for permission.

The non-organic ingredient must:

• make up a maximum of 5% of your product
• not be the same as any organic ingredient in your food – for example, you must not use both organic and non-organic raspberries in the same product
• be a non-organic ingredient approved for use in organic production

Check the list of:

• non-organic ingredients approved in Great Britain
• non-organic ingredients approved in Northern Ireland

When calculating the percentages of ingredients in your product, do not include water, processing aids or any non-agricultural ingredients, such as salt. You must still list these ingredients in your application form.

Published 29 April 2016
Last updated 3 August 2023 + show all updates

1. 3 August 2023

   Made two corrections: 1. In Northern Ireland, permission will be granted for 6 months and applicants must submit forms to a different email address. 2. In all UK countries, applications can only be made if an organic version or substitute is also not available for import. Applicants should confirm this point with their control body before applying and include it in their supporting evidence.

2. 14 July 2023

   Made multiple updates: 1. Removed reference to the £38 charge per non-organic ingredient application. This no longer needs to be paid. 2. Clarified that permission will last for one year, if granted. 3. Added instructions on how to renew permission after a year. 4. Added links to additives, processing aids and non-organic ingredients approved in Northern Ireland.

3. 29 April 2016

   First published.