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Nordic Swan Ecolabel logo
Nordic Swan Ecolabel
Nordic Countries · Tier 3 Specialty
EU Organic (Euro-Leaf) logo
EU Organic (Euro-Leaf)
European Union · Tier 1 Gold
Rainforest Alliance logo
Rainforest Alliance
Global · Tier 3 Specialty
What it meansThe official environmental label of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland). Covers ~60 product categories from cleaning products to hotels — NOT specifically an organic standard.The mandatory mark for any pre-packaged organic food sold in the EU. The 'Euro-Leaf' is a stylised leaf made of twelve white stars on a green background.Sustainable-agriculture certification (post-2020 merged standard with UTZ). Covers environmental, social, and economic criteria. NOT an organic mark.
ScopeSeveral categoriesFoodFood
Established198920101987
InspectionOn-site + product review by national Ecolabel officeAnnual on-site by accredited control body in producer countryAnnual third-party audit (RA-accredited)
Residue testingRisk-based per categoryRisk-based; mandatory at higher-risk operationsRisk-based
Guarantees
  • Lifecycle-based environmental criteria for the product category.
  • Restrictions on hazardous chemicals.
  • Recyclability and packaging requirements.
  • Audited every 3-5 years against an updated standard.
  • At least 95% of agricultural ingredients are organic (regulation EU 2018/848).
  • No synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no GMOs.
  • Animal welfare standards (outdoor access, lower stocking density, no routine antibiotics).
  • Annual inspection by an accredited control body in the producing member state.
  • Mandatory display of the certifier's code and origin (e.g. 'EU Agriculture' / 'Non-EU Agriculture').
  • Reduced (not eliminated) synthetic pesticide use, with bans on the most hazardous classes.
  • Forest conservation requirements (no deforestation after the cut-off date).
  • Worker welfare and community development requirements.
  • Annual third-party audit.
Does NOT
  • Doesn't certify food as organic — Nordic Swan on a food package means lower-environmental-impact, not 'no synthetic pesticides'.
  • Doesn't ban the natural pesticides allowed under the regulation (copper sulphate, spinosad).
  • Doesn't certify processed-food additives beyond the EU's permitted list.
  • Allows synthetic pesticides — does NOT meet any organic standard. Often confused with organic but it's a different programme.

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