The Ecocert Group has opened its first US office for organic cosmetics certification.
Ecocert is an environmental certification body created in France in 1991 and is recognised in more than 80 countries.
As an international certification body, Ecocert has been accredited to ISO Guide 65 by internationally recognised government authorities.
The Ecocert Standards for Natural and Organic Cosmetics were released in 2002 following a two-year consultation process involving scientists, consumers, industry leaders and governmental representatives.
It is legally registered and its implementation is overseen by government authorities.
The main objectives of the Ecocert Standards are to define and promote a higher level of quality for cosmetics in general, to maximise the use of organic ingredients, and to ensure the optimal usage of true natural ingredients by setting minimum content requirements.
The standards cover key points that need to be fully evaluated and approved in order to achieve certification.
These include: ingredients, processing aids, formulations, manufacturing equipment and processes, packaging material and usage, labels and marketing material, quality assurance and control, storage and handling practices, sanitation chemicals and practices, environmental stewardship, and record keeping.
Manufacturers, distributors, brand owners and any operator wishing to use the Ecocert name on labels and marketing material must apply to and be duly inspected and certified by Ecocert.
Above all, Ecocert-certified cosmetic products give a guarantee to consumers, not only in the organic ingredients contents, but also in the strict choice of all the other ingredients according to environmental criteria, recyclable packing, an audited traceability, manufacturing and distribution processes.
The preparation of the Cosmetics European Standards (Cosmos) was based on these standards.
