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	COSMOS-Organic / Natural European Union · Tier 2 Trusted	Bio Suisse 'Knospe' (Bud) Switzerland · Tier 2 Trusted	Kilimohai Organic Mark (East Africa) East Africa · Tier 2 Trusted	Bioland Germany · Tier 2 Trusted
What it means	The leading certification for organic cosmetics in Europe. Two grades: COSMOS Organic (≥95% organic agricultural ingredients) and COSMOS Natural (no organic minimum, but the same restricted-ingredient list).	The Swiss organic farmers' federation mark. The Knospe (Bud) is the dominant organic mark in Swiss supermarkets and operates to standards stricter than the Swiss federal organic ordinance.	The East African regional organic mark, under the East Africa Organic Products Standard (EAOPS). Used across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Administered through Participatory Guarantee Systems coordinated by KOAN (Kenya Organic Agriculture Network).	Germany's largest organic farmers' association. Bioland-certified farms operate to a stricter private standard than the EU baseline.
Scope	Cosmetics	Food	Food	Food
Established	2010	1981	2007	1971
Inspection	Annual on-site by COSMOS-accredited certifier	Annual on-site, bio.inspecta accredited	PGS peer-review (annual)	Annual on-site by Bioland-accredited inspectors
Residue testing	Risk-based	Required	Risk-based	Required
Guarantees	COSMOS Organic: ≥95% organic agricultural ingredients. COSMOS Natural: minimum natural-origin ingredients with banned synthetic restrictions. No GMOs, no parabens, no PEGs, no synthetic fragrances, no SLS/SLES. Biodegradability requirements. Annual on-site audit.	Whole-farm conversion. Lower nitrogen inputs than the Swiss federal organic baseline. Strong animal welfare requirements. Annual on-site inspection.	Compliance with the East Africa Organic Products Standard (EAOPS). Peer-review inspection via Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). Regional cross-recognition across the five East African Community member states.	Whole-farm conversion (no parallel conventional production). Lower permitted nitrogen inputs than EU baseline. Animal welfare standards stricter than EU baseline. Annual on-site inspection.
Does NOT	Doesn't certify clinical effectiveness or skin tolerance.	Switzerland is outside the EU — the Knospe is recognised by the EU under the Switzerland-EU equivalence agreement, but not by USDA without further certification.	PGS-based — the inspection model is community peer-review rather than third-party. Strong for domestic markets, less recognised by the EU/USA than third-party schemes.	Like Naturland, membership-based — only Bioland-association farms can use the mark.

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