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China Organic (COFCC) logo
China Organic (COFCC)
China · Tier 1 Gold
USDA Organic logo
USDA Organic
United States · Tier 1 Gold
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'Natural' (NOT a certification)
Worldwide · Tier 4 Marketing
What it meansChina's national organic certification under the Certification and Accreditation Administration. Mandatory on any product sold as '有机' (organic) in mainland China.The US Department of Agriculture's national organic standard. The green-and-white seal is the legal mark for any food sold as 'organic' in the United States.The word 'natural' on packaging is a marketing term, not a certification. In most jurisdictions there's no legal definition, no standard, and no inspection. A product labelled 'natural' can contain synthetic ingredients, pesticides, GMOs, and artificial flavours.
ScopeFoodFoodSeveral categories
Established20052002—
InspectionAnnual on-site by CNCA-accredited certifierAnnual on-site by USDA-accredited certifierNone
Residue testingRequiredRequired on ≥5% of operations annuallyNone
Guarantees
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs.
  • Annual third-party certification.
  • Each certified product carries a unique 17-digit traceability code.
  • At least 95% of ingredients are certified organic (the '100% Organic' variant requires every ingredient).
  • No synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no GMOs, no sewage sludge, no irradiation.
  • Annual on-site inspection by a USDA-accredited certifier.
  • Residue testing on at least 5% of certified operations each year.
  • Nothing. It is not a certification and there is no body verifying anything.
Does NOT
  • Imported organic foods must be re-certified under the Chinese standard — overseas certifications alone are not accepted for the 有机 label.
  • Doesn't certify nutrition, taste, or animal welfare specifically (separate marks like AWA cover welfare).
  • Doesn't guarantee local production — a 'USDA Organic' product can be grown anywhere with an accredited inspector.
  • Doesn't mean organic. Doesn't mean pesticide-free. Doesn't mean GMO-free. Doesn't mean ethically produced.
  • Some markets (e.g. the US FDA on food, EU on cosmetics) place very limited restrictions on the word, but enforcement is weak.

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