European bio certification. Organic certifications overview The certificate has three levels

On January 1, 2016, GOST R 56508-2015 “Organic production products” came into force in the Russian Federation. Rules for production, storage, transportation”, developed by the State Duma Committee of the Russian Federation on Agrarian Issues with the participation of specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The main task of GOST is to establish rules and regulations for the production and circulation of organic products on the territory of the Russian Federation. GOST contains general principles of organic production, requirements for the processes of collection, packaging, labeling, transportation and storage of organic products.

GOST largely replicates international organic standards, primarily the EU, and entails state regulation of the bio-industry in the Russian Federation, which is welcomed by its representatives.

The pre-audit of the processing production of OJSC "RUZSKOE MILK" for compliance with Russian and European eco-standards of ecological (organic) agriculture has been completed. Now, after bringing management into full compliance with them and passing bio-certification, Russian consumers will be able to purchase a whole list of high-quality ecological (bio, organic) products “from the fertile Ruza.” The pre-audit was carried out by the Eco-Control Company within the framework of the state registered System of Voluntary Certification of Ecological and Biodynamic Management “BIO” (registration number ROSS RU.3238.04BH00).

Reference. Since 2011, the Russian Milk Agroholding has chosen the production of high-quality ecological (bio, organic) products as the strategic vector of its development. The agricultural holding is one of the largest in the Moscow region and Russia and unites 8 agricultural enterprises (dairy farms and feed cultivation) in the Ruzsky district, vegetable production LLC Ruzskiye Vegetables, the Bogorodskoye feed mill, the Ruzskoe Milk dairy plant and a trading house "Ruzskoe Moloko"; the total land area is more than 35 thousand hectares owned and used.

In March 2007, the Ruzskoe Moloko dairy plant received an international certificate of compliance of the quality management system with the ISO 9001:2008 standard, which was an important step towards the implementation of the plant’s plans for the development of a quality system at the enterprise. In March 2013, the plant confirmed compliance with the international certificate of compliance of the quality management system with the ISO 9001:2000 standard and received an international certificate of compliance of the quality management system with the ISO 22000:2005 standard (dairy product safety).
In 2012-2013 15 products in the range have passed the state registration procedure and are transferred to the category of baby food for preschool and school-age children from 3 years old.
The products of Ruzskoye Moloko OJSC are regularly awarded medals at the largest exhibitions of agricultural products in Russia: “Golden Autumn”, “Gourmet”, “Russian Food Products”, “Dairy and Meat Industry”, “Prodexpo”, “Agrorus”, “Green Week” and other. In July 2006, the activities of the agricultural holding were awarded an Honorary Diploma from the Moscow Fund for the Protection of Consumer Rights. The highest quality of the agricultural holding's dairy products and its contribution to the development of the civilized consumer market in Russia have been recognized by professional experts - the company has more than 25 gold medals for quality.
In 2014, for achieving significant results in the field of quality of products and services and the introduction of highly effective quality management methods, Ruzskoye Moloko OJSC was awarded the 2013 Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of quality.

Since the beginning of 2007, Eco-Control has expanded the capabilities of the Pre-Audit program for enterprises.

Now enterprises can undergo Pre-audit not only to confirm the “fallow status” of land(in order to reduce the period of conversion to ecological management and save costs for annual inspection and certification), but also those enterprises that are embarking on environmental management or are planning to do so, but would like to be more confident in their Conversion Program, which also takes into account such requirements of Eco-standards that may turn out to be “critical” (= a serious obstacle) to the transition to environmental management and, accordingly, the production of environmental products.

Pre-audit costs 2-3 times less than the cost of certification and allows businesses Thus, not only can you best prepare for eco-certification, better navigate Eco-standards and the Bio-industry in general, but also, in case of serious non-compliances, significantly reduce your costs for environmental certification.

“I saw a new organic food section at the supermarket,” my friend happily tells me, noting that she cares about my vegan choice. I happily rush to the store, but all I find is meat labeled “organic” or organic cookies with milk. For most people who follow a traditional diet, all those who eat differently fall into one big, thick category code-named “I don’t understand and don’t want to understand,” with no attempt to distinguish between a healthy lifestyle follower and a farmers’ market fan. vegan - from pescatarian.

I have been an ethical vegan for eight years and have fond memories of actively researching certification in the early days. All this was new to me. Over the years, however, Europe has become "bio" sick.

Who are you?

I want to say right away that most of the food products that I regularly buy do not have any certificate at all; I just, at the beginning of my then vegetarian journey, studied the market and observed what I wanted to eat and what I didn’t. Since then, having already become a vegan, I only periodically check back to see what’s new or whether the composition of my favorite chocolate has changed. Unfortunately, this also happens: a vegan product may no longer be vegan after changing the recipe. So I lost my favorite British cookies...

How to distinguish vegetarian and vegan products from all others if they do not have certificates? Very simple! Buy only those products whose ingredients you can actually read. If among the words you are familiar with there is no milk, eggs, honey and other obvious non-vegan delights, then this product is quite suitable for you. If it shows the entire periodic table, then, most likely, you simply do not need such food in your body. For example, the famous Skittles chewy candies are vegan, but contain eight unreadable ingredients that come from the chemical industry. I don’t think that this kind of vegan diet is any different from the most incorrect and unhealthy one.

I have lived in the Czech Republic for many years. In the European Union, the famous American “Organic” certificate is nicknamed “bio” for the reason that in most languages ​​of the Union we are talking about biological farming.

Manufacturers do not have the right to simply write the word “bio” on the packaging. Obtaining a certificate is preceded by a series of European inspections. Depending on which body the control was carried out, that certificate will appear somewhere near the name of the product. In total, in Europe there are about 30 institutions that have the right to issue certificates indicating that the product meets certain standards: the absence of pesticide particles in the product, the method of its packaging, the absence of synthetic and unsafe components in the product, etc. American products also reach Europe and carry one of the top five organic labels. In fact, almost every country in the world has its own unique certification badge; In addition, the European Union also has a single unique sign. Therefore, if you come across an icon that you have never seen, it is better to check on the Internet whether it is genuine.

Biological food products are checked much more often than conventional ones. For a company that has wrongfully applied a certificate to its product, the very first inspection will mean closure and fines.
Organic food is the safest in the world. It is believed that it is as close as possible to what it was before the start of industrial scale. The same as our great-grandfathers ate when they grew it themselves.

In the modern world, complying with the requirements put forward by certification firms is not at all easy. Often the same companies grow both “bio” and “non-bio” food side by side, which allows prohibited substances to get into organic products and leads to huge fines.

Due to the difficulty of obtaining a certificate, biological products are many times more expensive than conventional ones. So, for example, in Prague bananas cost 1.5 euros per kg in winter, and the same product in organic quality costs about 4 euros/kg, regular flour costs 0.5 dollars per kg, but “bio” on our counters you will find a minimum of 1 euro per kg.

Not vegan

One very important aspect of learning about organic certifications is that organic food does not mean it is vegan. Meat, eggs and any other food products are also produced in bio-quality. Organic products can be either vegan or vegetarian, but they can also be completely unethical. For example, the label “bio-pork” just means that the animal was not fed antibiotics when it was sick and it lived before its death in slightly better conditions than ordinary pigs live on an intensive livestock farm, for example, it was let out for a walk.

Fair trade - an incredibly popular certificate in the world, literally meaning “Fair Trade”, guarantees its customers the fulfillment of environmental, trade and international fairness criteria. For example, slave labor cannot be used to produce goods marked with such a certificate, and when disposing of waste, they can only be destroyed environmentally.

This certificate includes a huge number of aspects that can be studied further. The same product can have both an “organic” and a Fair trade certificate.

Fair trade products do not have the same stringent environmental requirements as organic products, and of course they are neither vegetarian nor vegan by default, but the combination of different certifications signifies the highest quality that can be achieved through industrial food production in the United States. modern world. If the product you bought has three certificates: “Bio” (Organic), “Fair trade” and “Vegan”, then we are talking about a product of the best quality, made with the highest ethics in relation to people, nature and animals.

Without certificate

Certificates for food producers are not issued just like that. You have to pay for checks aimed at assigning a certificate, and for the badge itself, which makes the product increase in price. Some famous and respected companies that produce the highest quality products have been known to bypass certification and promise safety and ethics regarding the production of their products on their websites. For example, the famous Belgian manufacturer of plant-based milk alternatives Alpro has not had a “bio” certificate for many years, while promising that they use only organic ingredients. For many years they did not have a “Vegan” certificate, until the British Vegan Association finally gave it to them, like many others. The Italian vegan pet food “Ami” does not have either vegan or organic certification, although they are known throughout the world for their standards.

In the Czech Republic, a small movement “without a certificate” has also begun. We only have two local vegan companies; they produce very inexpensive and incredibly tasty products, on which they simply write “Vegan”, and sometimes not at all.
Marks&Spencer products, which are extremely popular in Europe, belong to the Premium category. One sandwich costs about 3.5 euros. The company guarantees that their products provide bio-quality, but you will not find a corresponding certificate on their product. But they actively work with the Fair trade sign. In addition, they have a lot of vegan food in their arsenal, but all you will find on it is the inscription: “Suitable for vegetarians.”

The most popular certificates in Europe:
Fair Trade is a single worldwide certification that guarantees fair trade principles, where prices in the market are not reduced to the extent that small producers go into debt, and where all workers are paid for their work.

VEGAN ACTION is an American certificate indicating the absence of animal components in the product.

Vegetarian Society Approved and Vegetarian Society Approved vegan are certificates from the British Vegetarian Association for vegetarian and vegan products, respectively. Certificates exclude the use of GMOs.

The Vegan Society logo is the famous certificate issued by the British Vegan Association, the world's most famous and oldest vegan charity. Currently, they give out their certificates after checking the product for its ingredients.

Leaf of Evropian union - a leaf on a green background, consisting of stars, is a single bio-certificate of the European Union.
AB L "agriculture biologique - the French certificate of biological farming is one of the most famous in the world.

Bio-label is a bio-certificate from Germany, one of the three European leaders in the production of bio-products. In Germany, 810 thousand hectares are planted with bio-products, in Italy - more than a million, and in Spain - 808,000 hectares.

USDA organic is the most famous organic certification in the world. The largest number of bio-products are produced with it on packaging. It is issued in the USA.

Funny and scandalous incidents in the life of certificates:
in 2013, the Austrian Consumer Union ruled that water cannot be certified “bio” because no water in the world can ever meet the conditions for obtaining a certificate;
in 2016 in the Czech Republic, when monitoring the quality of food products, it was revealed that the most expensive bio-flour contained two prohibited substances at once, while the most common and cheap flour did not contain any;
In 2011, in Italy it was revealed that 3.8% of all organic products sold in the country are not organic. Manufacturers stuck certificates on products themselves, without ever actually receiving them. The police then arrested seven groups of people who were involved in this. Among them were two heads of the largest food companies in Italy;
In 2012, it became known that the Institute, which issues bio-certification for food in Canada, receives a percentage of the sale of these products. This has caused concern in society that the certificate is being issued to everyone. Canada rechecked all its products for a whole year, during which it was revealed that a number of products did not even have a hint of receiving a certificate.

Advantages of eating organic products:
In 2012, the British Journal of Nutrition conducted a large-scale study, during which it found that eating bio-fruits and vegetables virtually eliminates the occurrence of cancer, since these products do not contain carcinogens;
In 2016, leading British nutrition experts published a report in which they proved that organic products contain 50% more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional ones;
Bio-products do not contain antibiotics and synthetic hormones, which most often act as a source of disease;
The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published a study showing that organic products contain 20% more antioxidants. Research on the experimental onion was conducted at Harvard;
Growing organic food is much kinder to nature, as it does not use many hazardous substances and takes a more sensible approach to water and soil.

We can only hope that despite the fact that it is impossible to feed the world’s population of more than 7.5 billion using the old fashioned methods, modern scientists will find a way to do it with dignity – both in terms of usefulness, availability and ethics of these goods. The main thing is that manufacturers do not deceive us. However, we order the ball because we pay for their work, which means we have the right to check their work and contact the relevant authorities to confirm their certificates.

Olga Krupenkova

Forewarned is forearmed!

Some people believe that any “Bio” inscription on a product is a guarantee of quality, others say that organic natural products do not exist at all, others simply purchase in Finland with confidence in the safety of foreign goods. Many argue that BIO products are just a marketing ploy. And some people don’t care at all about what and how it gets into the body. There are many opinions, and there will be even more.

But, despite all the wrongful or skeptical views, we can safely say that Bio products are not a myth, not a luxury, not an idiot, but an existing fact and proof that not all of society is ready to give a damn about their health and image life, moral state.

Currently, there are two main directions related to confirming the environmental friendliness and naturalness of goods.

1) ORGANIC (ECO, BIO)

ECO, BIO or Organic products are all different terms that denote a single phenomenon: food products grown, harvested, processed, packaged in accordance with Eco-standards adopted in Europe. Different countries use different words. For example, the English-speaking population uses the word organic, Germans and Scandinavians prefer Bio, and French-speaking countries use the word Eco. The terms may be different, but their meaning is the same: such products are naturally safe and incredibly nutritious.

About 40 years ago, a movement for an “organic” lifestyle was born, rejecting urbanization and industrialization. Part of this ideology was organic farming, and vegetables and fruits grown in the communes were sold in special local “health food” shops. Now in Europe, for example, there are more than 120 thousand farms engaged in organic farming and livestock farming. In Denmark, organic accounts for a quarter of milk sales.

Organic standards are a set of basic standards for growing, producing, processing and packaging food. They serve as the basis for the development of national standards that take into account the individual characteristics of different countries.
Certification of bioproducts is carried out depending on its sales market.

So, over the entire history of organic agriculture in the world, three international standards systems have emerged:

• EU Regulation 2092/91 (EC 834/2007)
• Codex Alimentarius Guidelines for Organically Produced Food 1999/2001
• IFOAM Basic Standards (IBS)

On their basis, state norms and rules for the organic production of natural food products are being created, which makes it possible to take into account the physical, geographical, social and economic characteristics of various states.

So, sensible farmers and farms voluntarily certify every stage and every element of the production of bioproducts. Testing is carried out by a certification commission independent of food manufacturers, and the Biofarm, having once received a certificate, constantly undergoes various checks.

Thus, a strict commission annually checks the condition of the soil, the use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, the conditions of grazing and keeping animals, the quality and compliance with the standards of seed, control and accounting of all raw materials used, materials for production and packaging. Already grown plants are taken for analysis and the physical condition of birds and animals is checked.

Experts personally visit all farms. Samples of finished natural products are tested on 250-400 points, starting with tests for the absence of pesticides and heavy metals and ending with assessing the appearance and taste of the product.

Certification and strict, regular documentation obligations are also verified by special environmental control bodies officially appointed by the state.
The production process is precisely documented and logged. Violations of norms entail monetary fines and penalties in the form of imprisonment

We would like to add that international organic standards are aimed mainly at small and medium-sized producers of agricultural products. It is almost impossible for large producers and processors to meet the high standards of Eco products. Therefore, let’s together support farmers, albeit mostly foreign ones for now, because in the end, we will have Biofarms focused not only on increasing profits, but also on preserving nature and maintaining human health and harmony.

2. ECOLOGICAL LABELING

To indicate the second direction, an environmental labeling system has been developed. Abroad, this group often includes only non-food products. But the range of goods that can be certified in this way is extremely wide - from mattresses and computers to railways and hotels. Criteria for assessing environmental safety for each product group are developed on the basis of national and international standards, taking into account not only the safety and high quality of the product itself, but also all stages of its life cycle in terms of minimizing the negative impact on the environment in accordance with the international ISO standard :14024. There are certain requirements for the process of extracting raw materials, production itself, transportation of goods, disposal of packaging and production waste.

Today, various companies around the world are involved in ECO certification; they impose strict requirements on the manufacturer at all stages: from seed selection to packaging. Each of the centers has its own requirements and therefore, having seen this or that emblem on the packaging, we can get complete information about what requirements the product meets and how natural or even organic it is.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main environmental food certificates and, accordingly, with the world's leading certification centers.

Product certificates

Agriculture Biologique – National French logo for organic products since 1985. Organic products bearing the logo must contain more than 95% organic ingredients and must be produced or processed within the EU and certified by one of the inspection bodies accredited in accordance with EN 45011

AB emblem

Maybe
to be used only on products of plant origin containing at least 95%
organic components. This logo allows the consumer to quickly identify organic
product and be confident about its quality. The AB emblem is an accredited emblem that
controlled by the EU Ministry of Agriculture. This guarantees compliance with European
standards, therefore, the consumer can be confident regarding the origin of natural
product. IN
in accordance with the AB emblem, the manufacturer provides the following guarantees:

Organic product of 100% natural quality;
Protection and respect
environment;
Excellent quality products;
Confident traceability of everything
production cycle. Consumers,
Those purchasing products bearing this logo can be assured that: By
at least 95% of the product's ingredients have been produced organically;
the product is made with
compliance with all norms and rules adopted in bioproduction;
the product arrived directly
from the manufacturer or who carries out the preparatory work in a sealed package; Product
must have the name of the manufacturer or seller, and also have the name of the inspection
AUTHORITY.Official website: http://www.agencebio.org/

Biogarantie is a Belgian label that allows consumers of organic products to identify natural food products at a glance. For Biogarantie, it is important not only to produce food entirely organically, but also to ensure sustainable production, paying attention to the environmental, economic and social impacts of production and operations. Biogarantie means "organic" and "sustainable"

Demeter is one of the largest international certifications for biodynamic agriculture.

This brand has long become international and is represented on all continents, in many countries - from Argentina to Hungary. This is the most reliable and largest organization in the world, which unites biofarmers, biomanufacturers of natural products, cosmetics, clothing, and detergents. The brand name comes from the Greek goddess of fertility Demeter.

EU Organic Bio is the single mark of the European Union used to identify the packaging of organic food products grown without chemical fertilizers. Thanks to broad market harmonization, even non-EU countries are harmonizing their food production regulations with European Organic Certification food legislation.

Bio-Siegel is the German mark for food products that meet all the requirements of European Community legislation for organic agriculture (external communication regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 and secondary legislation). This sign was introduced in September 2011. Agricultural products must consist of at least 95% organically grown ingredients. The other 5% of ingredients may be of plant origin,
but a prerequisite for these ingredients is that they must be listed in
Annex IX in Veordnung (EC) No. 889/2008.

Organic Food Federation was established in 1986 and is now one of the UK's leading certification bodies covering all areas of organics. Consumers can trust that the products meet organic standards and have been produced or processed in accordance with all international organic production requirements.

The Soil Association is an English organization founded in 1946 that certifies organic products. This is a very influential structure in Europe, which first introduced the name “organic cosmetics” into use. Today, not only cosmetic products, but also natural food products, catering establishments, and shops are certified by the Soil Association.

EC Control System – Organic Farming– In 1991, the European regulatory system for organic agriculture, EU Regulation 2092/91, came into force.

The accreditation body for organic farming products is part of the organic farming association Bioland. Has offices in Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic

In 2007 Russian eco-labeling system “Leaf of Life” Also
became a member of GEN. This means that developed by specialists of the St. Petersburg Ecological Union
eco-labeling is recognized by the international community as complying with the principles of the ISO 14024 standard and the world
practice of voluntary environmental certification. SPbEC became the first and only body for environmental
certification of products (works and services) in Russia, entitled to issue an environmental certificate
international level.

Russia's entry into the Global Eco-Labelling Network means for producers of natural products, works and services that have undergone voluntary certification and received eco-labels, expanded opportunities for international partnerships and trade at the global level. And the consumer receives confidence that products marked with the eco-label are not only safe for health, but also meet strict international standards.

Ecological certificates: we recognize natural cosmetics at first sight

There are certain
emblems indicating that The cosmetic product has been certified and complies with international environmental standards.
Today, various companies around the world are engaged in ECO certification; they have strict requirements for
to the manufacturer at all stages: from seed selection to packaging. Each center has its own requirements for
cosmetic products, and therefore, seeing this or that emblem on the packaging of a cosmetic product, we can
get full information about what requirements it meets and how natural or even
it is organic.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main
environmental certificates and, accordingly, with the world's leading certification centers.

Cosmetic certificates

BDIH (Bundutscher Industrie und Handelsunternehmen/Federal Association of Industrial and Commercial Companies/Federal Association of Industrial and Commercial Companies). Today, the company's main office is located in Mannheim, and the Federation includes over 300 manufacturers.

BDIH is one of the most popular
certificates. It is assigned to the products of such cosmetic brands as Avalon, Dr. Hauschka, Dr. Scheller,
EXTRACTA, Lavera, Lavere, Living Nature, Weleda, and many others.

What requirements should
comply with cosmetic products to obtain the BDIH certificate?

Certification Requirements
BDIH for natural cosmetic products:

The use of synthetic products is prohibited
fragrances and dyes

The use of the substance is prohibited
animal origin

Prohibited use
Genetically modified foods

Prohibited use of products
petroleum refining and paraffinic oils

Only natural ones are allowed for use
or permitted, nature-identical preservatives

All plant raw materials are controlled according to
origin (collected on ecologically clean plantations and wild areas)

It is not allowed to conduct experiments on
animals neither during product development, nor during testing of raw materials, nor during testing
final products

Absolute refusal to use organic
and synthetic dyes, synthetic flavors and preservatives

Informing consumers about the composition

Genetic use is prohibited
modified plant and animal raw materials

Non-polluting production
Wednesday

Optimal decomposition of raw materials and final products
products

Economical, environmentally friendly and
recyclable packaging

Also in order to get
BDIH certificate, manufacturers of cosmetic products must ensure the cultivation and collection of botanicals
raw materials in controlled biological farms or in places where plants grow naturally. All
the processes that raw materials undergo before appropriate processing must take place under strict biological control
control.

Experiments on animals on any
stage of cosmetics production, as well as the use of raw materials from dead vertebrate animals –
taboo. For the production of cosmetics that comply with the BDIH certificate, it is allowed to use
emulsifiers and surfactants obtained from fats, oils, waxes, lecithin, lanolin, mono, oligo and polysaccharides,
proteins and lipoproteins. However, to obtain surfactants and emulsifiers, the above
substances must be processed by esterification, transesterification, hydrogenation or hydrolysis.

N and synthetic preservatives should be replaced either natural preservatives, or identical to natural ones, including salicylic acid and its salts, sorbic acid and its salts, benzoic acid and its salts, ethyl ether, benzyl alcohol.

Cosmetic products,
BDIH certified also meets the following requirements:

– it is not sterilized by radioactive
irradiation;

– during its production it is not polluted
environment;

– its packaging is environmentally friendly
harmless and should be recyclable.

Official site:
http://www.kontrollierte-naturkosmetik.de

Eco Control is an independent German institute (Osterode, Germany) for certification of products, including organic cosmetics. Experts EcoControl is a body that inspects and certifies ecological/organic products and quality assurance systems in the non-food sector.

EcoControl certifies:

1. Natural and organic cosmetics according to BDIH / IONC, COSMOS
&NaTrue standards;

2. Raw materials produced from organically grown and
certified agricultural products not related to the food sector;

3. Treated planting material;

4. Quality management systems;

5. Company standards.

Products certified by EcoControl are subject to:
the following requirements:

do not use raw materials of animal origin in production

Artificially created allergic reactions are not used
reactions to stimulate natural aromas

Open Declaration of Environmental Protection

No preservatives are used
including in the production of perfume compositions

Confirmed
dermatological compatibility and the effectiveness of cosmetics is scientifically substantiated, using
volunteers to test finished products

Consistency at
use of raw materials

In the production cycle
energy saving technologies are used

In addition, in the production of cosmetic products that meet
requirements of ECO CONTROL, energy-saving technologies must be used, as well as other
measures to protect the natural environment. Dermatological compatibility and effectiveness
cosmetics must be confirmed with the help of volunteers, and regarding raw materials for production must
be provided.

Very often in references to organic cosmetics you can see the designation “COSMEBIO / ECOCERT”. These are not two different certification centers, and not two environmental certificates. Cosmebio is a seal that means that the product meets the requirements of a certification company from France called Ecocert.

After we have dealt with the terminology, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with
requirements that a cosmetic product must meet in order to obtain
the coveted Cosmebio seal. However, a few more words about terminology.

Cosmebio seals come in two types. Cosmebio Eco –
a seal meaning that the product meets all the requirements of the Ecocert company, and Cosmebio B io is a seal that is affixed to
labels of products whose production was subject to even more stringent conditions.

Ecocert has several lists of product requirements,
submitted for certification. When purchasing cosmetics with the Cosmebio seal, you can be sure that
the following requirements were not violated in the production of such cosmetics.

Environmental protection:

• chlorine is not used when processing equipment;
• production processes, as well as processes occurring in warehouses,
  comply with environmental standards;
• processes related to emissions and waste are strictly regulated;
• transport, energy and sanitation issues are strictly controlled;

Product composition:

• 95% or more of all components are of natural origin;
• 95% or more of all plant ingredients are processed products from plants grown
  in ecologically clean areas using special technologies;
• 10% or more of all ingredients are products of processing of plants grown in
  ecologically clean areas;
• seeds for growing plant materials are obtained from genetically
  unmodified plants growing in ecologically clean areas;
• the periods for sowing fields with new crops are strictly regulated;
• strict requirements for the control of weeds, plant diseases and pests;
• A limited list of mineral fertilizers is used. All other fertilizers
  – organic.

The packaging of cosmetic products certified by Ecocert, in addition to the BIO mark, must contain the percentage of ingredients, as well as the Ecocert address. In addition, all bio-ingredients included in cosmetic products are marked with an asterisk.

WITH The Natural Products Association (NPA), founded in the USA, also deals with environmental certification of cosmetics. At the same time, the NPA has developed its own classification system for natural cosmetics, which includes 3 categories.

In order to obtain a certificate, the manufacturer must provide
compliance of the cosmetic product with all the requirements for natural
cosmetics. However, if such cosmetics contain more than 70% natural ingredients,
growing on controlled plantations, it is classified in the second, more prestigious category. A
the content of 95% or more organic components in cosmetics is the basis for assigning it
NPA system of the highest category. Such cosmetics are rightly called biocosmetics.

More This American standard is one of the most progressive, as it constantly increases the requirements for certified products. We are talking about the OASIS standard ( Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards). Unlike the previous standard, OASIS provides for the division of all certified products into fully organic and partially organic. Thus, companies whose cosmetic products consist of 70% natural ingredients can receive an OASIS certificate as producers of partially organic cosmetics.

To obtain the status of a manufacturer of completely organic cosmetics before 2010, it was necessary to ensure that cosmetic products contained more than 85% organic ingredients. Since 2010, the conditions for selecting completely organic cosmetics have become more stringent, and now, in order to meet this status, cosmetic products must contain more than 90% organic ingredients. But that's not all. From 2012, it is planned to further tighten the conditions that completely organic cosmetics must meet according to the OASIS system. It is expected that only those cosmetics containing at least 95% organic ingredients will receive this status.

With standard The ICEA certifies natural cosmetics as an Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification. It is valid today in all European countries. Initially, this certificate was created for food industry products, but then it was extended to other products that claim the name “organic” - “Natural”.

The Italian Institute ICEA has its own list of requirements that cosmetics receiving a certificate must meet. So, if you see that a cosmetic product has an ICEA certificate, you can be sure that such a product contains only certified animal and plant ingredients. In addition, such a natural product is not tested on animals and does not contain genetically modified components, prohibited and radioactive substances, alcohol, petroleum products, as well as synthetic dyes, fragrances and prohibited preservatives.

All over the world, food products are labeled environmental safety signs that are associated with organic farming. It implies maintaining healthy soil, ecosystems and caring for human health. According to the concept of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM, The core principles are health, sustainability, care and fairness.

Organic Agriculture Standards The use of pesticides, herbicides, and seed treatment is prohibited. In livestock farming, it is important to avoid keeping animals in stalls all year round, grazing is necessary, growth regulators and antibiotics are prohibited, etc. In addition, the use of genetically modified organisms is impossible.

There are several main certification marks in the world. If you see products with one of these labels abroad or in Russia, you can safely buy them.

"Eurolist"

"Euro-leaf" - new sign of the European Organic Certification System, which was changed in 2010. The system itself was approved in March 2000 by the European Commission. Sign mandatory for all organic products, sold in the European Union. In our stores you can see it on imported bioproducts and goods from some Russian manufacturers that have passed voluntary certification.

Except for the sign itself The product label must contain information about the place of production. There are three designations: EU Agriculture (in the territory of the EU), non-EU Agriculture (in the territory of third countries, but in accordance with the rules defined for EU countries) and EU/non-EU Agriculture (both the EU and third countries, in accordance with with the standards defined for EU countries). If more than 98% of the materials composing the product were grown in the EU, then the country of origin will be indicated on the packaging.

From July 1, 2012, “Eurolist” was supposed to replace all national logos of EU countries, but many of them still exist in parallel.

In February 2011, the IFOAM federation proposed its own system of organic guarantees and introduced a new world quality mark Global Organic Mark. According to the organization, too many organic labels lead to consumer confusion, so IFOAM proposed the use of a single label and standards throughout the world.

National organic certification systems

German national sign "BIO Seal" (Bio-Siegel) in use since September 2001. Only producers who comply with the requirements of the EU Organic Farming Regulation and mandatory inspections are allowed to have the right to sell their products as organic, natural and ecological products and, accordingly, mark them with a special Bio-Siegel sign. For German buyers the presence of such a mark is more important than the EU mark, Therefore, the quality requirements for organic products in Germany are higher than in the EU. But if both signs are present on the packaging, then this is obviously even better.

The Swedish KRAV mark was adopted in 1985 for labeling agricultural products. Controlled by the Swedish Agricultural Administration and the National Food Department. About 3 thousand farmers and 450 companies have the right to use KRAV certified products.

Swiss The BIO Suisse Bud and The BIO-Bud are used to label organic products sold in the country. In Switzerland more than 760 companies received the right to use The BIO Suisse Bud. Each product is marked with a certificate number and the name of the certifying authority.

French AB sign (short for Agence Bio- French Agency for the Development and Promotion of Organic Agriculture). Agence Bio is a public interest group responsible for the development and promotion of organic agriculture. Products bearing this mark are guarantee the content of more than 95% organic components. They must also be grown in the EU (exotic products are an exception).

English Standard Soil Association was developed in Great Britain by the Soil Association back in 1946. The Soil Association certificate is very authoritative in Europe - not only food products are certified, but also cosmetics, catering establishments, and shops.

American USDA organic is the National Organic Standard, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture. It was adopted as part of a national program for the transition of American citizens to the consumption of healthy and natural organic products, so its uniqueness is that it is fixed at the state level.

Only specialists from the US Department of Agriculture have the right to certify it. The standard was originally created for food products, but now it is also used to certify cosmetics and confirm the environmental compliance of exported or imported products, therefore It operates not only in the United States.

Organic certification in Russia

In Russia, the law on certification of organic agricultural products is currently any manufacturer can call their agricultural products the words “organic”, “ecological”, “bio”, regardless of whether he uses pesticides, GMOs in crop production or growth hormones to feed livestock.

To confirm the environmentally friendly origin of products, some Russian farms practicing organic farming undergo voluntary certification through representative offices of European certifiers - and in this case their products are recognized by EU countries as organic.

Products from the Konovalovo eco-farm, the first in the Moscow region European auditors from the Ecoglob company.

ICEA standard is an Italian certification standard awarded by the Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification (Istituto per la Certificazione Etica ed Ambientale/Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification).

ICEA is the main certification body for natural cosmetics (organic cosmetics, biocosmetics, ecocosmetics) in Italy. Cosmetics that meet all the strict requirements of this Institute receive organic status, and the corresponding mark is applied to the packaging.

Cosmetic products that have been tested in the laboratory and received an ICEA certificate meet the following requirements:

1. Contains certified natural plant and animal ingredients,
2. Does not contain prohibited harmful substances,
3. Do not contain genetically modified products,
4. Products are not tested on animals,
5. Do not contain radioactive substances,
6. Does not contain alcohol,
7. The composition does not contain petroleum products,
8. The composition does not contain synthetic fragrances, dyes or prohibited preservatives.

The ICEA mark is a quality mark recognized throughout the world.

The Italian Association of Organic Agriculture (AIAB) and the Institute of Ethical Certification (ICEA), together with a group of producers, have developed guidelines for natural and organic cosmetics.
Cosmetics that meet all the strict requirements of the certification body receive the “organic” status, and the corresponding designations are indicated on the packaging:

What does ICEA control?

All stages of the production of organic products undergo a strict certification system annually. A whole range of other requirements for organic products are inspected:

Lack of chemical additives and genetic engineering technologies in production;
Everything related to emissions, waste, energy sources, transport, sanitary and hygienic standards is strictly regulated;
production and storage are carried out in accordance with strict environmental regulations;
inspections (audits) by ICEA are carried out several times a year, with visits to production;
a special procedure for maintaining documentation is controlled, allowing you to trace the entire chain from the manufacturer of raw materials to the final consumer; All documentation recording the receipt of raw materials, their processing, as well as the shipment of finished products is subject to mandatory inspection.

ECOCERT- the strictest and most prestigious standard among manufacturers of biocosmetics and bioraw materials in the world. ECOCERT is an organization that deals with organic certification. Founded in 1991 in France, it conducts inspections in more than 80 countries, making it one of the largest organic certification organizations in the world.

The ECOCERT certificate is the strictest and most prestigious standard among manufacturers of natural and organic cosmetics. It guarantees purity and quality unique to products in the natural cosmetics sector. First of all, requirements are established for the formulations of manufactured products - the content of natural ingredients and the quality of plant raw materials:

• at least 95% of all components of the formulation are of natural origin
• at least 10% of all formulation components are organic

The use of components of animal origin, as well as testing on animals, is excluded. Organic ingredients used in cosmetics must comply with ECOCERT requirements:

• Plant seeds are not subject to genetic modification;
• No chemical fertilizers are used on the plantations;
• No pesticides are used, and pest control is carried out using their natural enemies or non-toxic products approved by ECOCERT;
• Prohibited: petrochemical products, parabens, artificial colors, genetically modified products and products of animal origin.
• The following types of product processing are prohibited: chemical synthesis processes, for example, bleaching - deodorization (using substances of animal origin), irradiation, ionization, sulfonation, technologies using genetic manipulation, mercury, ethylene oxide (debacterization), ethoxylation (polyethylene glycol), removal of terpenes ( excluding technologies using water vapor).

Production and storage of products takes place in environmentally friendly premises. A special procedure for maintaining documentation allows you to track the path of cosmetics, starting from the quality of raw materials and packaging, ending with sales to end consumers.

The use of waste products of living organisms, for example, milk, pollen, is allowed. Plant growing technology is regulated:

• healthy seeds of genetically unmodified plants grown on environmentally friendly plantations are used
• a 2-3 year conversion period is established for plants
• soil enrichment is carried out using organic fertilizers
• the fight against plant diseases and weeds is limited to mechanical methods; their natural enemies and an organic list of non-toxic drugs are used to control pests.

ECOCERT inspects production lines twice a year to ensure that all requirements are actually met. Thus, ECOCERT regulates not only the composition of cosmetic products, but also the entire production process. Based on the successful results of monitoring by ECOCERT, cosmetic products are assigned the status "ORGANIC" - environmentally friendly cosmetics.

The organic nature of laundry detergents, dishwashing products and household cleaning products must be confirmed by a certificate Eco-guarantee- guarantee of safety for health and the environment:

1. do not contain: genetically modified organisms, petrochemical products, chemically synthesized ingredients
2. plants and animal products from organic farming are used (using only organic fertilizers)
3. mineral and plant raw materials undergo careful selection
4. not tested on animals
5. highly biodegradable
6. non-toxic to aquatic plants (to avoid degeneration of flora and fauna in water bodies) and animals; do not cause the accumulation of toxins in the human body
7. Intelligent production methods without irradiation of disinfection products, use of clean energy, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Vegan Society(UK) is an educational and charitable organization that promotes and supports a vegetarian lifestyle. Veganism is a way of life that strives to eliminate, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals for food, clothing and other purposes. The society was formed in 1944. The "Vegan" trademark has the status of a recognized international vegetarian standard. All products marked with the "Vegan" logo are guaranteed to meet the requirements of the Vegan Society.

During the development and production of a product it is not allowed:

• use of any components from animal products, by-products or derivatives
• carry out any testing on animals at the initiative of the manufacturer, on his behalf, or by other persons controlled by the manufacturer
• use of GMOs containing animal genes

Soil Association is an English organization founded in 1946 that certifies organic products. This is a very influential structure in Europe, which first introduced the name “organic cosmetics” into use. Today, not only cosmetic products, but also food products, catering establishments, and shops are certified by the Soil Association. The Soil Association is under the patronage of the royal family.

Primary requirements:
1. Manufacturers should preferentially use ingredients of plant origin.
2. Raw materials must be fresh and their processing must be carried out using mechanical, gentle methods without the use of harmful chemicals
3. The use of artificial colors, flavors, petroleum products, silicones, polymers, sulfate surfactants, GMOs and products obtained from dead vertebrate animals is prohibited. The exception is ingredients that are cruelty-free and certified organic.
4. All substances are tested for non-toxicity and biodegradability
5. Testing of products on animals is prohibited
6. The production process and packaging materials must comply with environmental standards
7. The manufacturer undertakes to do everything possible to protect the natural resources of the planet and prevent environmental pollution at all stages of production.

NaTrue, Belgium - certificate of quality for natural cosmetics, eco-cosmetics. The NaTrue international standard works closely with the European Commission and the Council of Europe. The non-profit organization is open to cooperation with manufacturers of cosmetic products. Its main goal is a real assessment of the quality of cosmetics, the development of a unified approach to certification and a common assessment system for all manufacturers from Europe.

Primary requirements:
1. the use of harmful or questionable chemicals, as well as petroleum products, fragrances, preservatives, dyes, flavors, silicones, polymers, sulfate surfactants is prohibited
2. the use of substances obtained from genetically modified organisms and radioactive substances is prohibited
3.not tested on animals
4.composition of certified natural plant ingredients
5.biodegradable packaging.

NaTrue "Real natural cosmetics" label

• The ingredients here must be natural, but may not be of organic origin.
• In the process of obtaining and processing raw materials, only gentle technologies are allowed to be used.
• The lower and upper limits for the content of specific components in the product are clearly regulated.

NaTrue label “Natural cosmetics with a little something extra” (“Natural cosmetics with the inclusion of an organic part”)

• In this category, the composition of cosmetics must include at least 70% natural ingredients grown (collected) in environmentally friendly areas.
• A minimum of 15% natural substances should not be subjected to chemical treatment.
• A maximum of 15% of the composition can be identical to natural.

MarkingNaTrue “The ultimate organic cosmetics” (“Organiccosmetics»)

• Maximum content of unmodified chemically natural substances.
• At least 95% of the natural ingredients available here must be organic, which means they must be grown in ecological areas.

COSMOS-STANDARD AISBL

COSMOS is a new cosmetics certification association established in 2010 by five leading European expert organizations in the field of organic certification: Soil Association (UK), Cosmebio & ECOCERT (France), BDIH (Germany) and ICEA (Italy).
COSMOS-Standard AISBL was developed specifically for the certification of cosmetics. COSMOS evaluates cosmetic products based on a number of parameters:

• origin of raw materials;
• processing of product components;
• composition of the final product;
• storage, production and packaging conditions;
• impact of the product on the environment.

The main objectives of COSMOS Standard AISBL are the formation of sustainable development and maintaining the natural balance on the planet. The implementation of these tasks is possible if the following rules are followed:

• supporting the use of organic agricultural products and respect for biodiversity
• responsible use of natural resources without harming the environment
• use of processing and production technologies that are safe for human health and the environment
• integration and development of the Green Chemistry concept.

The last point, new in the COSMOS standard, takes into account the features and limitations of the composition of cosmetic products (including in comparison with food products) and is key to the successful solution of the assigned tasks.

Certified products will have the logo of one of the five founding companies (depending on who certified the product) with the addition of the phrase “COSMOS ORGANIC” or “COSMOS NATURAL”. By 2014, COSMOS-STANDARD AISBL will replace the current certification systems used by the founding members.

BDIH(Bundesverband der Industrie- und Handelsunternehmen) – German Federation of manufacturers and distributors of medical products, dietary supplements, personal care and health products. Founded in 1951.

• Plants, parts of which are used to create organic products, should be grown without chemicals or collected in natural conditions and in an environmentally friendly area.
• Technical production methods are also strictly regulated: during the processing of raw materials and the creation of cosmetics, the use of a limited number of chemical processes is allowed. And raw materials must be processed using gentle mechanical methods.
• Absolute preference is given to renewable resources and biodegradable materials.
• Animal testing is strictly prohibited at any stage of cosmetic product development. Raw materials from animals are not used (for example, animal fats, collagen).
• In production, it is permissible to use surfactants or emulsifiers created by hydrolysis, hydrogenation or esterification from oils, fats, waxes, lanolin, saccharides, proteins and lecithin.
• The use of synthetic dyes, paraffin, fragrances, silicones, mineral oils or other petroleum products is absolutely prohibited.
• Natural or identical to natural preservatives for cosmetics (ethyl ether, salicylic, benzoic, sorbic acids, benzyl alcohol).

According to the standards of this association, the following criteria exist for controlled organic cosmetics:

• The mandatory minimum content of ingredients of natural and/or natural origin in cosmetics is 95%.
• At least 95% of all plant components must be extracted from crops grown using approved technology on environmentally friendly plots of land.
• At least 10% of the total ingredients are of agricultural origin.
• Enrichment of soil for growing plants is carried out using only organic fertilizers.

Originally created for food labeling, the USDA standard is now used to certify cosmetics. Nowadays, products marked with the USDA organic mark are guaranteed to contain at least 95% environmentally friendly and natural ingredients. Due to strict compliance, USDA coverage extends to the characterization of export and import items.

GOTS (TheGlobalOrganicTextileStandard) recognized as the world's leading standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level criteria throughout the organic textile supply chain and also requires compliance with social criteria. Only textile products that contain a minimum of 70% organic fibers can become GOTS certified. All chemical components such as dyes and auxiliaries used must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria. The choice of components is also limited in accordance with environmental aspects. A functional wastewater treatment plant is mandatory for any wet processing unit involved, and all processors must meet minimum social criteria.

Key criteria for fiber production can be identified as:

Organic fiber certification based on recognized international or national standards (e.g. EEC 834/2007, USDA NOP)

Certification of fibers from the conversion period is possible if the applicable agricultural standard allows such certification

composition - environmentally friendly raw materials (the indication “organic” means the use of at least 95% organic raw materials in clothing, the inscription “made with organic” means at least 70% certified organic raw materials)

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 system was developed in the early 1990s for the certification of textile raw materials and textile products. The Oeko-Tex® system allows you to identify and eliminate possible sources of problematic substances at each stage of textile processing. As soon as a textile product is reformulated or the chemical composition of its materials is changed, repeated checks are necessary. Certification may be subject to, for example: raw and dyed/processed threads, raw and dyed/processed fabrics and knitwear, finished garments (clothing of any kind, textiles for household use, bed linen, terry fabric products, textile toys and much more) .

Laboratory tests currently contain approximately 100 test parameters and are based on international standards as well as other recognized testing methods. These, for example, include simulated tests that take into account all possible routes of harmful substances entering the human body (oral, dermal, respiratory).

The cost of testing textiles at each processing stage depends on the chemicals used there that alter the quality of the textile. The scope of requirements relating to human ecology is focused on the use of textiles for their intended purpose. Basic principle: the more intense the contact between textiles and skin, the more stringent the limit values ​​that must be applied.

Criteria pChecks for harmful substances cover:

· legally prohibited substances

· regulated substances

· known to be hazardous to health (but not legally regulated chemicals),

· parameters for preventive medicine

Fair trade is an organized social movement that advocates for fair standards of international labor, environmental and social regulation, as well as public policy for labeled and unlabeled goods, from crafts to agricultural products. In particular, this movement pays special attention to the export of goods from developing to developed countries.

The Fair trade certification system is designed to help consumers identify products that meet Fair Trade standards. Under the supervision of a standards issuing body (FLO International) and a certification body (FLO-CERT), the system includes independent audits of manufacturers and trade organizations to ensure that all required standards are met.

In order for a product to receive the International Fairtrade Certification or Fair Trade Certified label, its manufacturer must be FLO-CERT certified. Crops must be grown and harvested to FLO International standards. The chain of delivery must also be supervised by FLO-CERT to ensure the integrity of the product.

Fair Trade certification guarantees not only fair prices, but also the preservation of the principles of ethical consumption. These principles include adherence to ILO agreements such as the prohibition of child and slave labor, guarantees of workplace safety, the right to form trade unions, commitment to human rights, fair price to cover the cost of production, community development, protection and conservation of nature. The Fair Trade Certification system also promotes long-term business relationships between seller and buyer, crop pre-financing, and greater supply chain transparency.

The Fair Trade Certification system covers an expanding range of products: bananas, honey, coffee, oranges, cocoa, cotton, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, nuts, rice, spices, sugar, tea, wine. Companies that comply with Fair Trade standards can display the Fair Trade label on their products.

Euro-leaf is a system of European organic product certification. The decision on uniform labeling of bioproducts was made by the European Commission in 2010, and from July 1, 2012, the placement of the logo on packaging became mandatory.

The certificate on the packaging confirms that the product was produced in full compliance with the conditions and rules for organic agriculture established by the European Union. For processed foods, this means that at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients are organic, grown without the use of pesticides and other agricultural pesticides, as well as chemical fertilizers and hormones.

Additionally, information about the place of production is indicated on the product label. There are three designations: "EU Agriculture"(within the EU), "non-EU Agriculture"(on the territory of third countries, but in accordance with the rules defined for EU countries) and "EU/non-EU Agriculture"(both the EU and third countries, in accordance with the rules defined for EU countries). The country of origin will be indicated on the packaging if more than 98% of the materials making up the product were grown in the European Union.