The European Commission's directorate-general for agriculture and rural development is inviting art and design students across Europe to enter the EU-wide organic logo competition.
The winning logo will be introduced as the official logo for organic products throughout the EU in July 2010.
Mariann Fischer Boel, European commissioner for agriculture and rural development, said: "The new organic logo will bring identity to the organic sector in the EU. It will help in creating the single market, and that's good news for producers and consumers."
The new EU organic logo will be mandatory for all pre-packaged organic products that originate in the 27 member states and meet the labelling standards. Additionally, all non pre-packaged organic products that originate from the EU or that are imported from third countries can use the EU logo on a voluntary basis.
All EU citizens registered at an institution of higher education for art or design based in the EU are encouraged to enter the international design competition. Three winners will be selected, and the first prize winner will be awarded a cash prize of €6,000 (£5,300). The first and second runners-up will receive €3,500 and €2,500 respectively. Entries are open until June 25, 2009.
The EU Organic Logo Competition will be judged by a jury of experts from the field of organic farming and production, and internationally renowned design professionals. Prominent jury members include professor Erik Spiekermann from Germany, Riitta Brusila-Räsänen, professor of graphic design from the University of Lapland and Craig Sams, the chair of the Soil Association from the UK.
The competition jury will be chaired by Rob Vermeulen, former president of the Pan-European Brand Design Association.
After the entry deadline, the jury will select the best submissions, which will then be featured on the competition website as the official candidates for the new logo, with European citizens encouraged to vote for the winner.
