Are there requirements for products with "green" labels such as biodegradable, organic, recycled, low emitting, etc.?

"Certain independent organizations provide testing and auditing services related to environmental standards and other environmental claims such as recycled content and emissions data." http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/carpets2.htm

However, "National guidelines issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with the cooperation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are available to help companies make sure their green claims don't run afoul of the law. The FTC Act prohibits deceptive acts or practices, including deceptive representations in advertising, labeling, product inserts, catalogs, and sales presentations." Visit EPA's Environmental Marketing Claims Web site for more information: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/pubs/claims.htm

Consumer labeling and green purchasing

Consumer Labeling Initiative for cleaners, pesticides, antimicrobials, and disinfectants:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/labels/consumer-labeling.htm

Environmental Labeling Issues, Policies, and Practices Worldwide (About PDF):
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/pubs/wwlabel3.pdf

Green Purchasing Guides: http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/greenguides.htm

Green marketing Regulations from the US Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov/content/green-marketing-regulations

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Environmental Marketing Claims:
http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus19-environmental-marketing-claims

"The FTC's Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims explain how the FTC Act is enforced when it comes to environmental claims. The Guides provide a framework for the use of environmental advertising and labeling claims in the marketplace: they reduce consumer confusion, help establish a level playing field for competition, and reduce the legal risk for marketers."

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm

United States Department of Agriculture: Food Safety and Inspection Service: Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Meat_&_Poultry_Labeling_Terms/index.asp

Organic Label

The following information is from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) - National Organic Program (NOP) home page: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

“Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.”

"The NOP developed national organic standards and established an organic certification program based on recommendations of the 15-member National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB is appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and is comprised of representatives from the following categories: farmer/grower; handler/processor; retailer; consumer/public interest; environmentalist; scientist; and certifying agent."

"The OFPA and the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations require that agricultural products labeled as organic originate from farms or handling operations certified by a State or private entity that has been accredited by USDA." For further information, the NOP Factsheet may be found here:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004443&acct=nopgeninfo

The contact information for the National Organic Program is:
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 2646‐South, Stop 0268
Washington, D.C. 20250
Telephone: (202) 720-3252
Fax: (202) 205-7808
Complete Contact information may be found here: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5086703

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Are there requirements for products with "green" labels such as biodegradable, organic, recycled, low emitting, etc.?

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