USDA Organic, EU Organic, COR: not the same paper
Three different schemes sit behind the green leaf logos on an ingredient spec sheet. This guide is written for the person who has to sign off an organic claim before it goes on a label.
Start with the certificate, not the logo
A logo on a pouch tells you little. The certificate tells you who certified, against which standard, for which products, until when. Our own line carries two independent certificates, both issued by ECOCERT — and the two cover different scopes:
Two certificates, one company, one certifier. The EU one names 16 products on its scope — our certifications page lists every one. The USDA one carries the full line.
Three schemes, one chart
| USDA Organic | EU Organic | Canada COR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | 7 CFR Part 205 (NOP) | Reg. (EU) 2018/848 | Safe Food for Canadians Regs |
| Who certifies | USDA-accredited certifier (e.g. ECOCERT) | Member-state body / authorised control authority | COR-accredited certifier |
| Third-country imports | NOP equivalent/import programs | Cert. (EU) 2021/1378 for third-country operators | Equivalence agreements |
| What's on the document | Certificate of organic operation + product scope | Certificate naming products & category | Certificate + scope list |
| % rule | ≥ 95% organic content for 'USDA Organic' label | ≥ 95% for 'EU Organic' | ≥ 95% for 'Canada Organic' |
| Inputs watch | National List of allowed/prohibited | Annexes (permitted inputs) | Permitted substances list |
Chart is a practical simplification for sourcing decisions, not legal advice. The three are not interchangeable — check which one your target market's label actually needs.
The trap most buyers hit
A supplier says "organic certified" and shows a USDA certificate. Fine for the US label. Useless for the EU shelf. USDA Organic and EU Organic are separate legal systems — a USDA NOP certificate does not automatically make a product EU-compliant, and vice versa. For EU-bound product you want the third-country operator certificate naming your ingredient, issued under Cert. (EU) 2021/1378.
Same logic runs the other way. An EU certificate won't satisfy the NOP reviewer. That's why we carry both — and why the product chips on our site say which one each product sits on.
- Certificate names your exact product (not just the company)
- Certifier is accredited in the country where the product is sold
- Validity date covers your production window
- For EU: it's a third-country import certificate, not a domestic one
- Request the COA — organic claim and spec are two different documents
Short answers
Can a product be 'organic certified' but not carry the label?
Yes. Certification is the chain of custody; using the logo on-pack is a separate labeling decision governed by the destination country's rules.
What does 'EU equivalence' mean on older certificates?
Pre-2022 paperwork used equivalence under Reg. (EC) 834/2007. Since 2022 the EU organic regime is Reg. (EU) 2018/848; import certificates now cite Cert. (EU) 2021/1378.
Which of your products are on the EU certificate?
12 of our 13 listed here — the exception is custom sweetener blends, which we verify against the certificate per finished formula before shipping to the EU.
Can you send the actual certificate before we buy?
Yes. Certificates and COAs go out with every inquiry and every order. Ask via the contact form and you'll have them the same business day.