According to NSF, the significance of the news is that its NSF/ANSI 305 standard is now the only consensus-based standard for personal care products made with organic ingredients.
Stakeholder participation
The certification body claims that NSF/ANSI 305 being adopted as an American National Standard means that it was developed with balanced participation from key stakeholders such as manufacturers, regulators, trade associations and consumers.
“This ‘made with organic’ ingredients standard reflects the dedicated efforts of stakeholders and provides the foundation for consistent national voluntary requirements for ‘made with organic’ personal care products,” said NSF Standards Director Jane Wilson.
The standard itself is suitable for rinse-off and leave-on personal care and cosmetic products, as well as oral care and personal hygiene products.
Requirements of standard
Companies must comply with certain criteria in order to use the ‘made with organic’ standard for their products. One of the main demands is that organic content must be 70 percent or more.
NSF International originally announced plans for the standard in June last year.
At the time David Bronner, the President of Dr Bronner Soaps, said it is hoped that the creation of the NSF 'made with' standard will put pressure on other certification bodies in the US to eventually adopt the criteria for its own standard.
“Big US manufactures have been waiting for the NSF standard, which has branding power that European certification bodies don't have,” added Bronner, who was involved in the development of the NSF standards.