COSMOS organic and natural cosmetic standard finalised
The European Cosmetics Standards Working Group has published the final version of COSMOS standard. The group – which comprised BDIH (Germany), Cosmebio and Ecocert (France), the Soil Association (UK) , ICEA (Italy) and Bioforum (Belgium) – says the objective of this new standard is ambitious and goes beyond the harmonisation of minimum requirements for organic and natural cosmetics. It is also clear that the group hopes this be a move towards setting an internationally accepted standard for organic and natural cosmetics
The European Cosmetics Standards Working Group has published the final version of COSMOS standard. The group – which comprised BDIH (Germany), Cosmebio and Ecocert (France), the Soil Association (UK) , ICEA (Italy) and Bioforum (Belgium) – says the objective of this new standard is ambitious and goes beyond the harmonisation of minimum requirements for organic and natural cosmetics. It is also clear that the group hopes this be a move towards setting an internationally accepted standard for organic and natural cosmetics
Recognising the challenges of maintaining the natural balance of the planet and the responsibility of the 1,000 certified companies they account for, the European group clearly shows its ambition to go further with the setting of an internationally accepted standard for organic and natural cosmetics.
The market for organic and natural cosmetics is certainly expanding and the group says the introduction of this standard is crucial for the benefit of all, from suppliers of raw materials, formulators to consumers to implement rules that enhance innovation. “This is why COSMOS standard sets as well requirements for processing and manufacturing that must be clean and respectful of human health and environment by integrating for the first time in a standard the principles of green chemistry," says Betty Santonnat of Cosmebio.
“The European group will now be working on harmonising the key points of the subsequent control plan and we expect to be able to start certifying according COSMOS standard in September 2009,” adds Ecocert’s Valérie Lemaire. Other certification/inspection bodies that are not members of the group can also apply to use standard and the Soil Associations’ Francis Blake says the procedure for application and authorisation will be opened from 30 September 2009.
“With such an important development, we consider it vital to involve all key players of the field and for this reason we will open the COSMOS standard up to new members via organisations of raw material suppliers, cosmetic laboratories and manufacturers as well as certifications bodies,” says Harald Dittmar of BDIH.
This final version of the COSMOS standard is the result of six years work and a three-month international public consultation period. The final version is available at www.cosmos-standard.org
