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	Global Organic Textile Standard Global · Tier 2 Trusted	OTC OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton Global · Tier 2 Trusted	Kilimohai Organic Mark (East Africa) East Africa · Tier 2 Trusted	USDA Organic United States · Tier 1 Gold
What it means	The strictest, most widely-recognised standard for organic textiles. Covers the full supply chain from organic fibre to finished garment, with environmental AND social criteria.	Launched April 2023 by the OEKO-TEX Association. A separate certificate from Standard 100 that combines the Standard 100 chemical-residue test with verified organic-cotton supply chain — addressing the long-standing confusion that Standard 100 alone is NOT an organic mark.	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).	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.
Scope	Textiles	Textiles	Food	Food
Established	2002	2023	2007	2002
Inspection	Annual on-site, IOAS-accredited	Annual on-site by OEKO-TEX-accredited institute (Hohenstein et al.)	PGS peer-review (annual)	Annual on-site by USDA-accredited certifier
Residue testing	Required for finished products	Required (Standard 100 panel + GMO/pesticide screening)	Risk-based	Required on ≥5% of operations annually
Guarantees	≥70% certified-organic natural fibre (the 'organic' grade requires ≥95%). Restricted dyes, no chlorine bleach, no formaldehyde, no banned heavy metals. Wastewater treatment requirements. Social standards based on ILO core conventions (no child labour, no forced labour, fair wages, safe workplace). Annual on-site inspection by IOAS-accredited certifier.	Two grades: 'Organic Cotton' (100% certified-organic cotton) and 'Organic Cotton Blended' (≥70% certified-organic cotton). Full Standard 100 chemical residue test on the finished product. Additional GMO test + pesticide residue test specific to organic farming. Verified chain of custody from farm to finished product. Annual re-certification with independent OEKO-TEX institute audits.	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.	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.
Does NOT	Doesn't cover non-textile components (zips, buttons, prints) beyond the chemical-restriction list.	Doesn't certify the social/labour conditions across the supply chain in the way GOTS does (use OEKO-TEX STeP for that, or pair with GOTS). Cotton-only — doesn't apply to other organic fibres (wool, hemp, linen).	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.	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.

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