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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 104Pt. 5Ch. 5Art. 7§ 110838 Organic Cosmetic Product Requirements

§ 110838 Organic Cosmetic Product Requirements

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 110838 Organic Cosmetic Product Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •If a product says it's 'organic' or 'made with organic ingredients,' at least 70% of its ingredients must be organic.
  • •To find the organic percentage, you divide the weight or volume of organic ingredients (not counting water or salt) by the total weight or volume of the product (also not counting water or salt).
  • •The organic percentage must be rounded down to the nearest whole number (e.g., 76.9% becomes 76%).
  • •The person or company putting the label on the product must calculate and check the organic percentage.

Example

You buy a bottle of shampoo labeled 'made with organic ingredients.'

The shampoo must have at least 70% organic ingredients. If it doesn’t, the label is breaking the law.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 110838 Organic Cosmetic Product Requirements

(a)  Cosmetic products sold, labeled, or represented as organic or made with organic ingredients shall contain, at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients. (b)  The percentage of all organically produced ingredients in an agricultural product sold, labeled, or represented as “organic” or “100 percent organic,” or sold, labeled, or represented as being made with organic ingredients or food groups, or as inclusive of organic ingredients, shall be calculated as follows: (1)  For products containing organically produced ingredients in solid form, by dividing the total net weight of combined organic ingredients at formulation, excluding water and salt, by the total weight of the finished product, excluding water and salt. (2)  For products containing organically produced ingredients in liquid form, by dividing the fluid volume of all organic ingredients, excluding water and salt, by the fluid volume of the finished product, excluding water and salt. If the liquid product is identified on the principal display panel or information panel as being reconstituted from concentrates, the calculation should be made on the basis of single-strength concentrations of the ingredients and finished product. (3)  For products containing organically produced ingredients in both solid and liquid form, by dividing the combined weight of the solid ingredients and the weight of the liquid ingredients, excluding water and salt, by the total weight of the finished product, excluding water and salt. (c)  The percentage of all organically produced ingredients in an agricultural product must be rounded down to the nearest whole number. (d)  The percentage of all organically produced ingredients in an agricultural product must be determined by the handler who affixes the label to the consumer package and verified by the handler’s certifying agent. The handler may use information provided by the certified operation in determining the percentage. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 50. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

organicorganically produced ingredientshandlercertifying agent

Related Statutes

  • § 110839 Organic Cosmetic Labeling Rules
  • § 110890 Organic Product Sales Violations
  • § 110820 Organic Product Composition Rules
  • § 110827 Organic Labeling Prohibition
  • § 110830 Organic Product Labeling

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 110838.
View Official Source