Transparency. We believe in a way of farming that honors all living creatures-from the trillions of microbes teeming in the earth's crust right beneath our feet to the hard working humans who toil in the soil and the beasts who…
Winter on the ranch is a busy time. The new year has only just begun, but we've made tremendous progress in these first two weeks and are planning for the very busy months ahead. We are learning every day of the…
Rodale Institute has pioneered regenerative organic agriculture since our founder, J.I. Rodale, wrote "Healthy Soil=Healthy Food=Healthy People" on a chalkboard back in 1942.
There’s a new organic label in town, and it’s definitely one you’ll want to pay attention to.
Looking back on the USDA meeting in Jacksonville, I am left with anger, grief and a sense of urgency that we keep moving forward.
As humans, we’ve sent people to the moon and cracked the human genome, but we are just beginning to understand the complexities of soil.
Working closely with Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s and other key allies, we created Regenerative Organic Certification to establish a new, high bar for regenerative organic agriculture.
All use of the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks by certified operations, brands, or finished goods
manufacturers (including the Organization) are required to undergo review and approval prior to printing
packaging or promoting, offering, or selling the certified products to consumers or the trade. The Organization
must submit labels and any other marketing material to the ROA, addressed to the email address
label@regenorganic.org, for review and approval no less than thirty (30 days) prior to printing packaging or
promoting, offering, or selling products bearing the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks. The Organization
may not print, produce, promote, offer, or sell products, labeling, packaging, or other marketing material bearing
the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks without explicit written approval from the ROA. Organizations should
take into consideration that certification levels may change from year to year and packaging should be ordered
and printed with this in mind. Organizations are responsible for ensuring the proper review of all organic claims by
an Accredited Certifying Agency to ensure compliance with all organic regulations.
Any use of the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks or the ROA’s name or identity, without the express consent
of the ROA, is strictly prohibited and constitutes an infringement of the ROA’s rights. The ROA shall be entitled to
its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in bringing any civil action, arbitration, or mediation to enforce its
rights to its names or marks.
The following guidelines regarding use of the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal are reiterated here for your
convenience. The complete guidelines are set out in the Regenerative Organic Certified® Labeling Guidelines &
Terms of Use, which can be found on our website at https://regenorganic.org/resources/. The Organization should
review the current Labeling Guidelines before any use of the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks.
The Regenerative Organic Certified® seal can be used in Bronze, Silver, or Gold (to indicate the certification level)
or in Black or White (and indicate the certification level in writing) on a transparent background. No other color
variations are allowed, and the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal may not be modified in any way.
The Organization agrees to use the Regenerative Organic Certified® name and seal(s) only in accordance with
Regenerative Organic Certified® Labeling Guidelines & Terms of Use. For example, the Regenerative Organic
Certified® seal may not be used in a misleading or deceptive fashion to mischaracterize one’s products. Further,
the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal may not be used as a primary brand or indicator of source or origin for
any goods, but only as a certification mark. The Regenerative Organic Certified® seal shall not be used in any
manner that is likely to reduce, diminish, jeopardize, or damage the goodwill, value, or reputation associated with
ROA or the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal or in any manner that violates the rights of any third parties.
Organizations must request the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal files from the ROA. Any marketing and/or
communications use of the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal must be explicitly approved by the ROA and the
Regenerative Organic Certified® seal graphic files must be directly obtained from the ROA.
All Organizations must have clear and distinct labeling that distinguishes between products that are: Regenerative
Organic Certified®, organic, certified transitional, and nonorganic product. The clear and distinct labeling
requirement does not apply in situations where regenerative organic product is being marketed as conventional.
The Regenerative Organic Certified® seal may not be used on products from acreage, animals, or operations in
“Certification Pending” status. As set out in Term E.1 above, the Organization must submit all labels and marketing
materials to label@regenorganic.org for review by the ROA.
Regenerative Organic Certified® product intended for processing must maintain and demonstrate current
certification to USDA/NOP Organic (or an approved international equivalent) and further, must appear as a unique
and distinct product on a current NOP organic certificate. Regenerative Organic Certified® product includes both
single-ingredients and multi-ingredient product, in raw or processed form, that has maintained appropriate chain
of custody throughout the supply chain subject to inspection/verification.
Certified product must maintain appropriate separation from non-certified product throughout the supply chain
and must comply with USDA/NOP Organic chain of custody requirements and policies.
Certified product from a single origin must be maintained separate from other product throughout transport and
storage. Certified product must not be physically mixed with non-certified product or with certified product from
another source (i.e., organic coconut oil must be separated from Regenerative Organic Certified® coconut oil) until
it reaches its final processing facility. This ensures that product carrying a Regenerative Organic Certified® claim is
sourced from Regenerative Organic Certified® farms. Product of different certification levels (i.e., Regenerative
Organic Certified® Bronze, Silver, and Gold) should also be segregated in order to maintain claimed status.
However, if Regenerative Organic Certified® product is mixed with product of a different level, claims are only
allowed at the lower certification level (i.e., mixed Regenerative Organic Certified® Gold and Regenerative
Organic Certified® Bronze product would result in all Regenerative Organic Certified® Bronze product).
The ROA will assess annual license fees based on the Cost & Fee Structure . The Organization is required to provide financial information necessary to assess
ROA fees at time of initial licensing and upon annual renewal of license agreement. The fees will be invoiced upon
licensing approval by the ROA.
The ROA will invoice the Organization for fees on an annual basis at the rate set forth in the Regenerative Organic
Certified® Cost & Fee Structure. Invoices must be paid within thirty (30) days.
Payments not received within sixty (60) days from the date of invoice may be charged a late fee of 3.0% per month
until the payment is received. Failure to deliver payment in a timely manner shall also be grounds for suspension
or termination set forth in Section C. 4 (Termination & Suspension).
All payments or fees paid to the ROA must be paid by the Organization in U.S. Dollars.
The Organization is responsible for any cost associated with remitting payment to the ROA. The ROA will not
accept any deductions in fees or invoices to cover the cost of bank charges.
1.1 The Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks are the Regenerative Organic Certified® mark and seals and all
other trademarks, certification seals, logos, or any other proprietary designations owned by the Regenerative
Organic Alliance and used to indicate that a product is certified per ROA’s guidelines found in the Regenerative
Organic Certified® Framework. Any use by the Organization of the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks must
comply with the terms of this Agreement and the Labeling Guidelines & Terms of Use, provided to the
Organization by ROA and available in the ROA online Resource Directory.
1.2 The Organization is permitted to use the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks on labeling and marketing
material solely for certified products subject to the terms of this Agreement and the documents incorporated into
this Agreement by reference.
1.3 The Organization is responsible for ensuring that all packaging and claims comply with the labeling
requirements of the USDA National Organic Program (or a recognized international equivalent). The Organization
is responsible for ensuring compliance with any other government regulations that may be applicable to product
labeling wherever product is being produced and/or sold and follow any other relevant regulatory agencies in the
product’s country of sale. The ROA is not liable for the Organization’s failure to comply with all applicable
regulations.
1.4 To the extent that the Organization provides product(s) certified per ROA’s guidelines to a retailer under a
“private label” or comparable agreement or arrangement, the Organization agrees to use its best efforts to ensure
that its retail partner (a) informs ROA of its role in the commercialization of the certified product; and (b) engages
with the ROA to execute a Private Label Retailer Agreement, either by providing the retail partner contact name
and email address or directing them to the ROA at label@regenorganic.org.
2.1 The Governing Documents define the Regenerative Organic Certified® program. These Governing Documents
cover the various elements of working with the ROA, including registration, licensing, audits and certification,
traceability, as well as labeling and selling or representing product as Regenerative Organic Certified®.
2.2 The Organization agrees to comply with the Governing Documents that are applicable to the Organization’s
role including the Program Manual, Supply Chain Guidelines, ROA Terms and Definitions, Labeling Guidelines &
Terms of Use and Cost & Fee Structure. The Organization understands that its license and/or right to use the
Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks may be suspended, terminated, or cancelled in accordance with this
Agreement and/or these Governing Documents. Upon cancellation or termination of the Organization’s license or
rights to use the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks, the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement shall
automatically apply.
2.3 The Organization is subject to meeting Section 12 Buyer’s Criteria of the Regenerative Organic Certified®
Framework.
2.4 The Governing Documents, including the Labeling Guidelines & Terms of Use, are subject to change. The
ROA will provide 180 days’ notice of such changes to the Organization. Minor changes to the Governing
Documents to correct grammatic errors or to clarify languages shall be effective upon publication or as otherwise
provided for in the notice. The Organization must adhere to the Governing Documents published at the time of its
[or the operation(s) it sources from] audit.
The ROA will provide public updates regarding the certification status of operations via an online directory hosted
at RegenOrganic.org. The Organization is responsible for verifying valid Regenerative Organic Certified® status
and level of Regenerative Organic Certified® (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) of the crops/products, with the Regenerative
Organic Certified® operation(s), at the time of purchase.
4.1 This Agreement may be terminated by the ROA with or without cause.
4.2 Termination Process: Upon termination, the Organization’s participation in the Regenerative Organic
Certified® Online Directory and use of the Regenerative Organic Certified® marks if the Organization will be
suspended. Within ten (10) business days, the Organization will submit for approval by the ROA, a detailed plan
for the cessation, phase out and/or destruction of all claims of Regenerative Organic Certified® and the
Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks associated with the Organization, including uses of Regenerative Organic
Certified® Marks on all labeling, and uses of the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks or references to ROA in
marketing material. As part of the detailed plan, Organization must state the number of units of labeled product or
existing packaging it has in its inventory showing the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks. The Organization
must destroy or cover over the Regenerative Organic Certified® Marks on any labeling or packaging that has not
been applied to product as of the date of its submission of the detailed plan. Organization shall be under no
obligation to sticker, remove, pull, or otherwise redirect or modify product bearing the Regenerative Organic
Certified® marks that may already be in distribution and remain on the shelf after the termination.
4.3 In the event that the Organization terminates this Agreement by withdrawing from the ROA’s certification
program, the Termination Process set out above will apply.
5.1 The Organization authorizes the ROA to list public summary business information via the Regenerative Organic
Certified® Online Directory. In addition, the Organization authorizes the listing of products, certified crops, and
services in the Regenerative Organic Certified® Online Directory.
5.2 The Organization agrees to allow authorized representatives of the ROA, an accreditation authority,
government entity with jurisdiction, or other governing body access to records related to products that carry the
Regenerative Organic Certified® marks. This access will be allowed under normal business hours to review and
copy records solely to determine compliance with the applicable standards, regulations, or governing law.
5.3 The Organization authorizes information from this document to be made available to relevant ROA-Approved
Certifying Bodies and auditors as needed.
5.4 The Organization authorizes the ROA or its partners to use data collected or provided by or about the
Organization to prepare and publish analyses, reports, and performance or risk metrics. All data collected shall be
published in the aggregate and anonymized in a way that the Organization shall not be identified, with the
exception of data such as brand name, product name, product package size, UPC, product claims, and other
information related to product identification and claims.
5.5 Other than as set forth in the above section, neither party to this Agreement shall disclose or publish any
information identified as confidential by the party furnishing it without the furnishing party’s express written
consent. These obligations shall survive for a period of three (3) years following the termination of this Agreement.
Do you take ownership of Regenerative Organic Certified® ingredient(s) and sell it to more than one entity?
Great – you are all set and no further action is needed from your organization.
Join our mailing list to be updated with Regenerative Organic Certified® news!
Will you have Regenerative Certified Organic® product private labeled for your retail brand?
You’re all set! You don’t need to follow any further steps to get licensed.
Do you take ownership of Regenerative Organic Certified® ingredient(s) and sell it to more than one entity?
Great – work with the brand owner to complete a disclosure form (they will need this for their licensee application)
