IT BIO 006 Certification: What It Really Means and Why You Should Read It

On our packaging you will find the words Control body authorised by MiPAAF — Controlled operator No. D58G — IT BIO 006. For many, it is an incomprehensible code. For those who know how to read it, it is the strongest guarantee a food product can offer in Europe.

What IT BIO 006 means

IT indicates the product is certified in Italy. BIO means it is organic under EU Regulation 2018/848. 006 is the code of the control body — in our case ICEA (Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification), one of the most rigorous in Europe.

The operator code D58G is our organic identity document: unique, traceable and verifiable by anyone on the Ministry's database.

What the organic standard requires

To obtain and maintain organic certification, our supply chain undergoes annual checks including:

• On-site inspections — ICEA technicians visit production sites and suppliers without prior notice
• Multi-residue analysis — samples of raw materials and finished products are analysed in the laboratory to verify the absence of synthetic pesticides
• Documentary traceability — every batch must be traceable to the field of origin, with documents covering the entire chain
• Separation from conventional production — organic raw materials cannot be processed with the same equipment used for conventional products without certified cleaning procedures

What scientific research says

A study published in 2023 by the British Journal of Nutrition confirmed that organic products contain on average 20–40% more antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. Another study by Newcastle University found significantly lower concentrations of heavy metals such as cadmium in organic cereals.

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has also documented that pesticide residues in organic products are present in less than 5% of samples analysed, compared with 40–50% of conventional products.

Organic and flavour: is there a difference?

Many of our customers — especially those in Germany and France — tell us they perceive a flavour difference. It is not suggestion: organic cultivation, particularly for Sicilian nuts and citrus, grows in soils richer in micronutrients and without the forcing of chemical fertilisers. The result is a more concentrated fruit with a more complex aromatic profile.

Our zagara honey, for example, comes from apiaries surrounded by certified organic citrus groves at the foot of Mount Etna. The absence of chemical treatments on the trees means the bees collect pure, uncontaminated nectar. The result is a more fragrant, more delicate, more authentic honey.

How to verify an organic certification

Do not trust generic claims like “natural” or “green” — these are unregulated and mean nothing. Certified organic must display:

• The EU organic logo (the green leaf with stars)
• The control body code (e.g. IT BIO 006)
• The operator code
• The origin of raw materials (EU / non-EU Agriculture)

If even one of these elements is missing, the product is not certified organic — regardless of what the marketing says.