Buying certified organic alcohol in bulk comes down to four decisions: which organic standard your market requires, which product and strength you need, which documents must accompany the shipment, and how it will be packed and delivered.
Buying certified organic alcohol in bulk comes down to four decisions: which organic standard your market requires, which product and strength you need, which documents must accompany the shipment, and how it will be packed and delivered.
Buying certified organic alcohol in bulk comes down to four decisions: which organic standard your market requires, which product and strength you need, which documents must accompany the shipment, and how it will be packed and delivered.
This guide covers each one, so your first inquiry to a supplier contains what they need to quote accurately.
Sasma supplies certified organic ethanol, neutral alcohol and organic spirits in bulk to distillers, private label brands, cosmetic and personal care manufacturers, and food and beverage producers.
Our range is listed on our organic alcohol page.
What makes bulk alcohol "certified organic"?
Alcohol is certified organic when the agricultural raw material was grown and processed under an organic standard, and every operator in the chain, from producer to trader, is certified and audited by an accredited control body.
Three points matter for buyers:
The certificate belongs to the operator and the product
A certificate lists the products and activities it covers. A supplier being “organic certified” does not mean every product they sell is covered.
Traders need certification too
If a company buys and sells organic product, it must be certified for that activity. Sasma is certified for organic trading under the EU Organic standard through Skal, the Dutch control body, and under USDA NOP through Control Union.
Certification is verified per shipment, not per supplier
The organic status of a lot is shown on its transaction documentation, so check that the paperwork matches the product you ordered.
How we verify a lot before it is sold as organic
We only release product for sale as organic after the paperwork and the physical goods both check out. Before any lot is invoiced as organic, we confirm:
- The supplier’s organic certificate is valid and covers the product
- For imports into the EU, the electronic Certificate of Inspection (COI) in the EU’s TRACES system is complete, including the control body, Skal and first consignee endorsements
- Customs has released the goods
- The goods have been physically received, with seals, packaging and documents matching
- Our quality manager has signed off the release
If any step is incomplete, the lot is held and cannot be sold as organic.
EU Organic or USDA NOP: which do you need?
The standard you need is set by where the finished product will be sold, not where the alcohol is made. Most buyers selling in the EU need EU Organic. Buyers selling finished goods labelled organic in the United States need USDA NOP.
EU Organic
- Applies to products sold as organic in the EU
- Typical buyers: EU brand owners, EU cosmetic and food manufacturers
- Certified by an accredited EU control body
- What to check: the product is on the certificate scope
USDA NOP
- Applies to products sold as organic in the US
- Typical buyers: brands and importers supplying the US market
- Certified by a USDA-accredited certifier
- What to check: the product is on the certificate scope
The EU and the US recognise each other’s organic standards under an equivalence arrangement, which means most buyers do not need two separate certifications. Conditions apply, so confirm with your own certifier before you rely on it.
Sasma holds both: EU Organic through Skal, and USDA NOP through Control Union. Which one applies to your order depends on the product and the destination market. Tell us the destination market in your first inquiry, because it decides which certificate and documents we provide. For US-market sales under the USDA NOP claim, we can issue a NOP-compliant certificate or Certificate of Analysis that references our NOP certificate number.
Certification scope differs by product. Some products in our range are certified under Skal only, some under both, and some under USDA NOP only. We confirm the scope for your specific product in the quote.
What documents should come with a certified organic alcohol shipment?
At minimum, expect a product specification, a batch Certificate of Analysis and evidence of organic certification for the product and the supplier. Many buyers also need transaction-level traceability documentation and a safety data sheet.
A complete organic shipment file typically includes:
- Product specification sheet
- Certificate of Analysis for the specific batch
- Organic certificate of the supplier, showing the product in scope
- Transaction or traceability certificate linking the lot to the sale
- Safety Data Sheet
- Transport and customs documents for the destination
All of this documentation is available for every organic order. If your customer or auditor requires specific documents, list them in your inquiry. It avoids delays at the border and at your own intake.
Which organic alcohols are available?
Organic alcohol is available as ethanol and neutral alcohol in different strengths, and as organic spirits. The raw material shapes the character of the spirit and the claims you can make on the finished product.
Our organic range includes:
Organic Ethanol & Neutral Alcohol
Organic Sugarcane Alcohol by Strength
See the full list, with specifications and order details, on our organic alcohol page and the individual product pages.
How do you choose between 96-99% and 99.9%?
Choose the strength by what the alcohol must do in your process. 96% is the standard hydrous grade; 99.9% is anhydrous, with water removed.
96-99%
- Contains water
- Typical use: organic spirits, fragrance and flavour carrier, cosmetic and food preservative, vinegar
99.9% (anhydrous)
- Water removed
- Typical use: cosmetic and personal care formulations (solvent, extraction carrier, preservative)
Our organic sugarcane alcohol at 96-99% is a certified organic base for rum, cachaça, vodka and other organic spirits, and a carrier and solvent for fragrance and flavour formulations. Our 99.9% grade is a high-purity anhydrous base for organic cosmetic and personal care formulations.
If you are unsure which strength your process needs, ask your formulator or send us your application and we will point you to the right product.
Where is organic alcohol used?
The main buyers of certified organic alcohol are spirits brands, cosmetic and personal care manufacturers, and food and beverage producers.
Spirits and beverages
Organic vodka, gin, rum and whisky brands need an organic base that carries through to the label claim.
Cosmetics and personal care
Organic ethanol is used as a solvent, extraction carrier and preservative in cosmetic and personal care formulations, and as a carrier in fragrances.
Food and flavourings
Carrier and solvent for organic flavour formulations, food preservative, and organic vinegar manufacturing.
What about COSMOS?
Sasma’s organic alcohol is not COSMOS certified. Several of our customers formulate COSMOS-labelled products, and they confirm with their own COSMOS certification body that our EU Organic certified alcohol is acceptable as an ingredient. If you formulate to COSMOS, tell us in your inquiry and we will supply the certificates your certifier asks for.
How is certified organic alcohol packed and shipped?
Organic alcohol ships in bulk: 1,000 L IBCs, HDPE drums and ISO containers, from 1,000 L up to full tanker loads.
Packaging choice depends on volume, destination and your handling equipment. IBCs and drums suit smaller and mixed orders; ISO containers and tanker loads suit repeat volume. Minimum quantities and packaging options are listed on each product page.
How organic integrity is protected
Organic product is kept separate from conventional product at every step: storage, handling, packaging and labelling.
- Organic product is stored in identified, physically separate areas
- Hoses, pumps and IBCs used for organic product are dedicated and never shared with conventional product
- Containers are sealed, and each organic IBC is labelled with product, batch number, volume, certificate number and date of repacking
- Storage tanks follow a cleaning schedule before organic product is filled
- Every movement is recorded against the batch number assigned at receipt, so a lot can be traced from receipt to dispatch
Our Halsteren warehouse is in the process of organic certification with Skal. These requirements, including sealing, labelling, segregation and the tank cleaning schedule, are implemented there, and repacking from bulk into IBCs at Halsteren will be covered by that certification once granted.
What to look for when sourcing certified organic alcohol
Before you commit to a supplier, check these things:
- The supplier is certified for the activity they perform (trading, handling, repacking), not only for producing
- The product you want is named on the supplier’s current certificate
- The certificate is valid and issued by an accredited control body
- The supplier can show batch-level analysis and traceability
- The supplier’s quality system is independently certified. Sasma holds FSSC 22000. See our certifications and compliance and quality management pages.
- Packaging and logistics match your volumes and destination
- Documents are available in the format your customer or auditor needs
What should you include when you request a quote?
The more specific your inquiry, the faster and more accurate our quote. Include:
- Product and strength (for example, organic sugarcane alcohol 96% or 99.9%)
- Intended use and grade (spirits, cosmetic, food)
- Required certification (EU Organic, USDA NOP, other) and destination market
- Volume, and whether it is a one-off or recurring requirement
- Packaging preference (IBC, drums, ISO container, tanker)
- Delivery location and incoterms
- Timeline
- Documents your customer or auditor requires
Send us your product, strength, certification requirement, volume and destination, and we will come back with availability and pricing. Contact us at sales@sasmabv.com or use the inquiry form on our organic alcohol page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What organic alcohol does Sasma supply in bulk?
Sasma supplies certified organic ethanol and neutral alcohol, including organic sugarcane alcohol at 96-99% and 99.9%, and organic spirits, in IBCs, drums and ISO containers.
Is your organic alcohol EU Organic or USDA NOP certified?
asma is certified for EU Organic through Skal and for USDA NOP through Control Union. Which applies to your order depends on the product and where the finished product will be sold. Tell us the destination market and we will confirm the certificate and scope for your product.
What documents come with a certified organic alcohol order?
All documentation is available for every organic order: the specification sheet, the batch-specific Certificate of Analysis and our organic certificates. Tell us in advance if your customer or auditor requires anything specific.
What is the difference between 96-99% and 99.9% organic alcohol?
96-99% contains water and is the grade used as a base for organic spirits and as a carrier and solvent in fragrance and flavour formulations. 99.9% is anhydrous, with the water removed, and is used in organic cosmetic and personal care formulations.
Can I use your organic alcohol in cosmetics and food?
Yes. Organic alcohol is used in cosmetics, personal care, flavour and food products. Check that the grade and certification meet your own standard and your market’s requirements, and send us your application so we can advise.
Is your organic alcohol COSMOS certified?
No. Our organic alcohol is certified under EU Organic and/or USDA NOP, not COSMOS. Customers formulating COSMOS-labelled products confirm with their own COSMOS certification body that our certified organic alcohol is acceptable as an ingredient, and we supply the certificates they ask for.
What are your minimum order quantities and packaging options?
We supply from 1,000 L (one IBC) up to full tanker loads, in IBCs, HDPE drums and ISO containers. Minimum quantities are listed on each product page.
What should I include in a quote request?
Product and strength, intended use, required certification, volume, packaging, delivery location and timeline.
Ready to order? Request a quote.
Send us your product, strength, certification requirement, volume and destination, and we will come back with availability and pricing. Contact us at info.sasmabv.com or use the inquiry form on our organic alcohol page.
