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USDA Organic logo
USDA Organic
United States · Tier 1 Gold
Kilimohai Organic Mark (East Africa) logo
Kilimohai Organic Mark (East Africa)
East Africa · Tier 2 Trusted
OTC
OEKO-TEX Organic Cotton
Global · Tier 2 Trusted
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.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).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.
ScopeFoodFoodTextiles
Established200220072023
InspectionAnnual on-site by USDA-accredited certifierPGS peer-review (annual)Annual on-site by OEKO-TEX-accredited institute (Hohenstein et al.)
Residue testingRequired on ≥5% of operations annuallyRisk-basedRequired (Standard 100 panel + GMO/pesticide screening)
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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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.
  • 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 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).

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