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	COSMOS-Organic / Natural European Union · Tier 2 Trusted	Non-GMO Project Verified United States · Tier 3 Specialty	Bio Suisse 'Knospe' (Bud) Switzerland · Tier 2 Trusted	Canada Organic Biologique Canada · Tier 1 Gold
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).	North America's leading 'no genetically modified organisms' certification. Tests for the presence of GMOs in finished products. NOT organic.	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 federal Canadian organic standard, mandatory on any agricultural product sold across provincial borders or imported as 'organic'.
Scope	Cosmetics	Food	Food	Food
Established	2010	2010	1981	2009
Inspection	Annual on-site by COSMOS-accredited certifier	Annual third-party audit + lab testing	Annual on-site, bio.inspecta accredited	Annual on-site by CFIA-accredited certifier
Residue testing	Risk-based	GMO testing only (not pesticide)	Required	Risk-based, conducted by accredited certifiers
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.	Verified absence of GMO ingredients (with action thresholds, not zero tolerance). Annual third-party verification. Tracing and segregation across the supply chain.	Whole-farm conversion. Lower nitrogen inputs than the Swiss federal organic baseline. Strong animal welfare requirements. Annual on-site inspection.	≥95% organic ingredients (single-ingredient products: 100%). No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs, no irradiation. Annual third-party certification under the Canada Organic Regime.
Does NOT	Doesn't certify clinical effectiveness or skin tolerance.	Doesn't mean organic — Non-GMO products can use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers freely.	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.	Provincial sales-only operations are not legally required to carry it (though many do voluntarily).

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