European organic and natural standard unveiled
Five months after its original June due date, the long awaited first draft of the European natural and organic standard has finally been unveiled. Developed by ICEA (Italy), BDIH (Germany), Bioforum (Belgium), Cosmebio and Ecocert (France), and the Soil Association (UK), the new Cosmos-standard is designed to address “the excesses and failures of current developments”.
Five months after its original June due date, the long awaited first draft of the European natural and organic standard has finally been unveiled. Developed by ICEA (Italy), BDIH (Germany), Bioforum (Belgium), Cosmebio and Ecocert (France), and the Soil Association (UK), the new Cosmos-standard is designed to address “the excesses and failures of current developments”.
The standard promotes the use of products from organic agriculture, the responsible use of natural resources, the use of clean processing and manufacturing, and particularly the integration and development of green chemistry instead of petrochemicals. While the agreement sets out minimum standards for natural and organic cosmetics, individual natural and organic agencies will still be able to develop separate standards so long as the Cosmos criteria are met.
The final Cosmos draft will be drawn in January and product certification will begin in April 2009. Points still under consultation include the minimum percentage of organic ingredients necessary for the term organic to be included in a products name, and whether sulphation (which would allow sodium lauryl sulphate) should be included in the list of accepted chemical processes.
To better educate cosmetics and ingredients companies in the light of this new standard, Organic Monitor will be holding a Natural Cosmetics Masterclass in London’s Regent’s College on 4 December.
