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'Natural' (NOT a certification)
Worldwide · Tier 4 Marketing
JAS Organic logo
JAS Organic
Japan · Tier 1 Gold
EU Ecolabel (Flower) logo
EU Ecolabel (Flower)
European Union · Tier 3 Specialty
What it meansThe 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.Japan's national organic standard under the Japanese Agricultural Standard system. The mark must appear on any food sold as 'organic' (有機 or オーガニック) in Japan.The European Commission's voluntary environmental label. Covers cleaning products, paper, textiles, electronics, accommodation services. NOT an organic mark.
ScopeSeveral categoriesFoodSeveral categories
Established—20011992
InspectionNoneAnnual on-site by MAFF-registered certifierAnnual audit by national Ecolabel competent body
Residue testingNoneRequired for high-risk operationsPer-category limits
Guarantees
  • Nothing. It is not a certification and there is no body verifying anything.
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no GMOs.
  • Annual inspection by a MAFF-registered certifier.
  • Lifecycle-based environmental criteria per product category.
  • Restrictions on hazardous chemicals.
  • Annual licence renewal with audit.
Does NOT
  • 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.
  • Mutual recognition with the US, EU, and Canada applies to specific product categories — check each agreement before importing.
  • Doesn't apply to food. Doesn't mean organic.

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