Dried-oregano trade begins with botanical identity, style and grade—not a generic herb label. Codex CXS 342-2021 covers Origanum species other than Origanum majorana and separately recognizes Mexican oregano from Lippia species; it also distinguishes whole, crushed or rubbed, and ground or powdered styles. A usable offer identifies the botanical species or declared blend, general name, whole, crushed or ground style, class or grade where applicable, particle size, characteristic colour, odour and flavour, extraneous and foreign matter, powder fraction, visible mould, insect damage, dead and live insects, excreta, moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and volatile oil, microbiological and pesticide-residue evidence, treatment and processing, country and region of origin and harvest, harvest and packing dates, lot, package and net weight, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and information vintage.
The figures below are current requirements from the FAO/WHO Codex Standard for Dried Oregano CXS 342-2021, amended in 2025 and corrected in 2026. The standard defines quality and compliance boundaries; it does not establish current lot availability, a physical offer or a live delivered oregano price.
CXS 342-2021 covers dried leaves and flowering tops of Origanum species except Origanum majorana and separately names Mexican oregano from Lippia species. A common-name match is not enough to collapse those botanical groups. Atlas retains the scientific identity or declared blend, origin and processing history before comparing quality, crop, price or trade records.
Codex recognizes whole, crushed or rubbed, and ground or powdered styles. Whole and crushed oregano may be Extra, Class or Grade I, or Class or Grade II; ungraded whole or crushed oregano defaults to Grade II minimum requirements. Ground oregano has separate chemical limits, while particle size is agreed between buyer and seller. Atlas keeps style, grade and particle basis attached to each analytical or inspection result.
Extra whole or crushed oregano uses a 9 percent total-ash maximum, 1.2 percent acid-insoluble-ash maximum and 2.5 millilitres per 100 grams minimum volatile oil on a dry basis. Grade I and II material use different limits, and ground oregano uses a 12 percent total-ash maximum, 2.5 percent acid-insoluble-ash maximum and 1.3 millilitre volatile-oil minimum. Physical evidence separately records extraneous and foreign matter, powder fraction, dead insects, visible mould or insect damage, live insects and excreta. N/A in the Codex table means not evaluated, not zero.
Codex requirements establish identity and quality boundaries, not current availability or price. A delivered oregano price still requires a defined botanical identity, style and grade, current permitted physical observations, origin and harvest, particle and analytical results, lot quantity, package, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, freight and information vintage. Atlas keeps any physical-price output unsupported when those fields or usage rights are missing.
No. Codex separately identifies Origanum species and Mexican oregano from Lippia species. The botanical identity or declared blend must remain explicit.
For whole or crushed oregano, CXS 342-2021 applies the Class or Grade II physical and chemical requirements as the minimum when the product is unclassified or ungraded.
CXS 342-2021 sets a 12 percent maximum for whole, crushed or rubbed, and ground or powdered oregano. The style, sample and test method remain attached to the result.
Botanical species or blend, general name, whole, crushed or ground style, grade, particle size, sensory condition, extraneous and foreign matter, mould, insects and excreta, moisture, ash and volatile-oil basis, microbiology and residues, treatment, origin and harvest, lot, package, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.
Figures retain their source, period and review date. Corroboration is not promoted to primary evidence.