Naturland Certification Explained
Germany · Established 1982
Audit Level: Third-Party Audit
An independent third party conducts an audit of the brand's facilities or documentation. More rigorous than self-declaration.
Supply-chain verified: Yes.
| Supply Chain | Verified |
| Cost for Brands | Annual membership-based certification fee. |
| Recognized In | GermanyEuropeselect global markets |
Editorial Analysis
A German organic association certifying food, agriculture, textiles, and cosmetics. Naturland has its own 'Fair' standard addressing social and economic sustainability in addition to organic requirements. In cosmetics, Naturland has developed a comprehensive standard broadly comparable to COSMOS Organic. Does not certify vegan status — animal-derived ingredients are permitted if organically produced.
In depth
What Naturland certifies and how it goes beyond EU organic
Naturland is a German organic farming association founded in 1982, and it has grown into one of the larger international organic farming associations, with member farms in Germany and in many countries worldwide. Its core business is organic agriculture, but the standard also extends into areas the EU organic regulation covers only partially or not at all, including organic aquaculture, sustainable wild-catch fisheries, forest management, textiles, and cosmetics.
In agriculture, Naturland positions its requirements above the legal EU organic baseline. A frequently cited difference is that Naturland generally requires the entire farm to be converted to organic management, whereas the EU regulation permits split operations under certain conditions. The association also sets additional restrictions in areas such as fertilization and livestock management.
For a vegan reader, the key point is that Naturland is an organic standard, not an animal-free one. It certifies livestock farming, dairy, eggs, and aquaculture alongside plant production, so the logo on its own says nothing about whether a product contains animal-derived ingredients.
How the audit and membership model works
Naturland operates as a membership association: farms join the association, commit to its standards, and pay membership and certification fees, while processors and traders commit to the standards through contractual arrangements. Compliance is verified through on-site inspections carried out by independent inspection bodies, which is why the scheme is classified as third-party audited. Certified operations are typically inspected annually, in line with common practice for organic certification in the EU.
Because Naturland-certified products sold as organic in the EU must also meet the EU organic regulation, member farms effectively undergo both the statutory organic control and the check against Naturland's additional requirements. Processing companies that handle certified raw materials are covered as well, which supports supply-chain verification from farm to finished product.
What the audit does not do is verify vegan claims. Inspectors check organic production rules, permitted inputs, and, where applicable, Naturland's social and fair-trade criteria. A product can pass every Naturland audit while containing organic milk, eggs, honey, or animal-derived processing aids.
The Naturland Fair standard and the cosmetics standard
Beyond its baseline organic standard, Naturland offers an additional 'Fair' certification that combines organic production with social and economic criteria such as fair trading relationships and social responsibility along the supply chain. Products meeting both sets of requirements can carry a combined Naturland Fair label. This makes Naturland one of the schemes that bundle organic and fair-trade claims under a single certifier, rather than requiring a separate fair-trade label.
In cosmetics, Naturland has developed its own standard for certified natural and organic personal-care products. It is broadly comparable in scope to COSMOS Organic: it restricts ingredients to those consistent with natural and organic cosmetics, sets rules for processing, and requires organic sourcing where feasible.
Neither the Fair standard nor the cosmetics standard adds a vegan requirement. Animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey, lanolin, or milk derivatives remain permissible in certified cosmetics if they meet the sourcing rules, so vegans should still read ingredient lists or look for a separate vegan mark.
How Naturland compares with adjacent labels
In the German-speaking market, Naturland is usually mentioned alongside Bioland and Demeter, the other major private organic associations. All three set requirements above the EU organic minimum, with Demeter adding biodynamic practices. Naturland is distinctive for its international reach and for covering aquaculture and wild fisheries, categories the others largely do not address. Products certified by any of these associations typically also carry the EU organic leaf, since the statutory regulation remains the legal baseline.
Compared with vegan-specific labels such as the Vegan Society trademark or V-Label, Naturland answers a different question entirely. Vegan labels verify the absence of animal-derived ingredients but say nothing about farming methods; Naturland verifies organic farming methods but permits animal-derived ingredients.
The two label types can appear together on the same package, and that combination is the clearest signal for someone who wants a product that is both organic and vegan. Where only the Naturland logo is present, the ingredient list remains the deciding factor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Naturland certification vegan?
No. Naturland is an organic standard, not a vegan one, and it certifies dairy, eggs, meat, and aquaculture alongside plant products. Animal-derived ingredients are permitted in certified products as long as they meet the organic sourcing rules, so the logo alone does not indicate a vegan product.
Is Naturland stricter than EU organic?
In several respects, yes. Naturland generally requires whole-farm conversion to organic management, while the EU regulation allows split operations under certain conditions, and the association sets additional requirements in areas such as fertilization and livestock management. Naturland-certified products sold as organic in the EU must also comply with the EU organic regulation itself.
What is Naturland Fair?
Naturland Fair is an add-on certification that combines Naturland's organic requirements with social and fair-trade criteria, such as fair trading relationships and social responsibility along the supply chain. Products meeting both standards can carry a combined Naturland Fair label. It does not add any vegan requirement.
How is Naturland different from Bioland and Demeter?
All three are private German organic associations with standards above the EU organic minimum. Demeter additionally requires biodynamic farming practices, while Naturland stands out for its international membership and for certifying categories like organic aquaculture and sustainable wild fisheries. For vegans the practical difference is small: none of the three verifies vegan status.
Does Naturland certify cosmetics?
Yes. Naturland has its own standard for natural and organic cosmetics that is broadly comparable to COSMOS Organic, covering ingredient restrictions and organic sourcing. It does not exclude animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey, or lanolin, so vegans should check the ingredient list or look for a separate vegan mark.
How can I tell if a Naturland product is vegan?
Check the ingredient list or look for an additional vegan label such as V-Label or the Vegan Society trademark, since Naturland itself does not verify vegan status. Plant-based staples like grains, produce, coffee, or plant oils with the Naturland logo are typically vegan by nature, but processed foods and cosmetics may contain organic animal-derived ingredients.
Summary
Type
Cruelty-Free
Established
1982
Origin
Germany
Scope
Organic food, textiles, cosmetics