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USDA Organic logo
USDA Organic
United States · Tier 1 Gold
BioGro New Zealand logo
BioGro New Zealand
New Zealand · Tier 1 Gold
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'Natural' (NOT a certification)
Worldwide · Tier 4 Marketing
What it meansThe 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.New Zealand's largest organic certifier. Recognised by the EU, US, and Japan under their respective import-equivalence regimes.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.
ScopeFoodSeveral categoriesSeveral categories
Established20021983—
InspectionAnnual on-site by USDA-accredited certifierAnnual on-site, IFOAM-accreditedNone
Residue testingRequired on ≥5% of operations annuallyRisk-basedNone
Guarantees
  • 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.
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs.
  • Annual on-site inspection.
  • Covers food, textiles, and personal care under separate standards.
  • Nothing. It is not a certification and there is no body verifying anything.
Does NOT
  • 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.
  • New Zealand has no single legally-mandated 'organic' definition — voluntary certification is the norm.
  • 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.

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