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A logo developed by the European Commission, to be used on organic packaged products produced in the EU early next year, has been dropped due to it being too similar to the logo used by German retailer Aldi.

The EU Farm Commissioner had been aware of the logo's resemblance to Aldi's range of organics logo for some time which is why the Commission had not officially unveiled the design. The matter was discussed with Aldi, and although in practice the new logo had already been theoretically agreed upon by member states, EU was forced to drop the design.

Many organic ingredient producers and certifiers have been reluctant about using yet another logo on their packaging.

Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) Chief Executive Richard Jacobs, said: "Processors and retailers who have been rushing to re-design labels and packaging now have to put that on hold again, even though they've already gone to the expense of starting the process. This is no way to run a single business, let alone a union of nation states!"

Apparently the Commission is now planning to run a competition in the summer for any citizen of the EU to submit designs for a new organic logo. It will be asking the Council to delay the introduction of the new symbol until 2010.