AbstractVarious expressions for nonlocal gauge invariant meson, baryon and gluonium operators are considered which differ from one another not only by the colour representations of the phase factors used but also with respect to the underlying contours. Renormalization and short distance properties of these operators turn out to be unique as long as the contours chosen are smooth ones. Anomalous dimensions of mesons and baryons can be expressed in terms of a gauge independent anomalous dimension of the quark field. Furthermore, composite operators distinguished by the absence of renormalization are discussed.