synthetic chemical additives, including fertilizers, pesticides, and antibiotics, as well as genetically
modified organisms and sewage sludge. The farmland must be free from chemicals for more than
three years, depending on the country, and all the production stages must be transparent, open for
audit and frequent inspections.
Today, only the United States, the European Union, and Japan have clear and well-defined organic
standards that are formulated and over-understanding seen by governments, so the term “organic” may
be used only by certified producers. In the United States, you can confidently buy organic produce
when you see the round, green-and-white “USDA Organic” label issued by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. In France, organic certificates are issued by ECOCERT, and in the United Kingdom
organic standards are maintained by the Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers. In
countries that have no established organic laws, certification is handled by nonprofit organizations
and private companies.
No wonder we are confused by all these shades of organic and green. Both manufacturers and
consumers have been confused. The chemical industry defines “organic” as any compound containing
carbon. Apologists of synthetic skin care say that this makes methylparaben perfectly organic, since it
is derived from crude oil, which is formed by dead foliage and animal carcasses rotting underground
over millions of years. By saying this, they try to nullify the meaning of organic and turn the organic
movement into another fad.
Current U.S. legislation allows products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients to use
the phrase “made with organic ingredients” and to list up to three of the organic ingredients on the
label. Processed products that contain less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot use the term
“organic” other than to identify specific ingredients that are organically produced in the ingredients
statement. For example, a moisturizer made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients and only
organic vegetables may be labeled as either “made with organic aloe vera juice,” or “made with
organic plant extracts.”
Since February 2008, strict natural and organic certification standards are available for cosmetics,
too. The USDA’s National Organic Program has been certifying personal care products for more than
four years, but the new IOS Cosmetics Standard was created specifically for North America
according to existing European, United States, and Canadian regulations and legislations. “With this
standard we aim to bring clarity to natural and organic cosmetics producers and create trust among
consumers,” says Brian Lane, president of Certech, the first NorthAmerican organization to verify that
the claims made by certified cosmetics are proven and supported by facts through a rigorous,
unbiased process.
In order to be certified as natural under the IOS Cosmetics Standard, a minimum of 95 percent of
the product must be of natural origin. In addition, certified organic beauty products must also use
certified organic ingredients that have been grown, cultivated, and stored without the use of chemical
fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fumigants, or other toxins. The standard also addresses the
manufacturing process, which must not use or produce toxins and other harmful substances, and the
packaging of the product must be recyclable. The products themselves, as well as their individual
ingredients, must not be tested on animals, must be virtually free of synthetic ingredients, and may not
contain pesticides, harmful preservatives, artificial colors, or fragrances.
Recently, another organic standard emerged. The OASIS Standard, created by cosmetic industry
giants such as Estée Lauder and Hain, is less rigorous than USDA’s National Organic Program
certification. According to organic produce manufacturers and legislators, OASIS (Organic and