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USDA Organic logo
USDA Organic
United States · Tier 1 Gold
Fairtrade International logo
Fairtrade International
Global · Tier 3 Specialty
China Organic (COFCC) logo
China Organic (COFCC)
China · Tier 1 Gold
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.Certifies fair prices and conditions for producers in developing countries — not organic, not environmental. Common on coffee, cocoa, sugar, bananas, tea.China's national organic certification under the Certification and Accreditation Administration. Mandatory on any product sold as '有机' (organic) in mainland China.
ScopeFoodFoodFood
Established200219972005
InspectionAnnual on-site by USDA-accredited certifierAnnual on-site by FLOCERT (independent of Fairtrade International)Annual on-site by CNCA-accredited certifier
Residue testingRequired on ≥5% of operations annuallyNot for organic — Fairtrade alone doesn't test residuesRequired
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.
  • Minimum price floors for producer cooperatives.
  • Fairtrade Premium paid into community-development funds.
  • Bans on the worst forms of child and forced labour.
  • Producer organisations must be small-farmer cooperatives or hired-labour plantations meeting standards.
  • ≥95% organic ingredients.
  • No synthetic pesticides, no GMOs.
  • Annual third-party certification.
  • Each certified product carries a unique 17-digit traceability code.
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.
  • Doesn't mean organic — many Fairtrade products are conventionally grown. A separate Fairtrade-Organic dual certification exists.
  • Imported organic foods must be re-certified under the Chinese standard — overseas certifications alone are not accepted for the 有机 label.

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