Consumer center (VZ) Berlin-Brandenburg has cautioned four online retailers who were offering organic foodstuffs without organic certification. All four have signed the respective cease and desist notifications. Two would have their organic products from their assortment, the other two have gotten their certifications.
120 online retailers with organic products examined
These retailers were however not isolated cases. All in all, in the spring of 2018 the consumer advocates have examined 120 retailers selling organic products. Of these, "41 had no code number referral on their website," the VZ wrote. That means it is not clear whether these online retailers have fulfilled their certification obligations. Moreover, the absence of a number code is a violation of the labeling requirements.
One third of all online retailers with organic certification
In other words, one third of all organic online retailers are violating the law, exempting themselves of the required certification, which costs several hundred euros a year. But what is really shocking about this, is the inaction of state authorities, responsible for market control in the organic sector. For it is their job to check on violations of certification requirements - not that of the Consumer Center.