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Demeter International logo
Demeter International
Global · Tier 2 Trusted
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'Natural' (NOT a certification)
Worldwide · Tier 4 Marketing
BioGro New Zealand logo
BioGro New Zealand
New Zealand · Tier 1 Gold
What it meansThe certification mark for biodynamic agriculture. Stricter than any government organic standard: it covers the entire farm as a closed ecosystem, follows a planting calendar tied to lunar/solar cycles, and bans many practices the baseline organic rules permit.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.New Zealand's largest organic certifier. Recognised by the EU, US, and Japan under their respective import-equivalence regimes.
ScopeSeveral categoriesSeveral categoriesSeveral categories
Established1928—1983
InspectionAnnual on-site by Demeter-accredited inspectorsNoneAnnual on-site, IFOAM-accredited
Residue testingRisk-based on top of organicNoneRisk-based
Guarantees
  • All organic standards PLUS biodynamic preparations and whole-farm planning.
  • Whole-farm certification (not single fields/products).
  • Annual on-site inspection by Demeter-accredited inspectors.
  • Animal welfare standards stricter than baseline organic.
  • Nothing. It is not a certification and there is no body verifying anything.
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs.
  • Annual on-site inspection.
  • Covers food, textiles, and personal care under separate standards.
Does NOT
  • Biodynamic philosophy includes esoteric elements (lunar planting, herbal preparations) that many scientists view as non-evidence-based — the agronomic outcomes are still good, the underlying claims about cosmic forces are not testable.
  • 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.
  • New Zealand has no single legally-mandated 'organic' definition — voluntary certification is the norm.

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