For consumers who want to avoid potentially harmful chemicals, synthetic products and unnecessary additives, an organic label on beauty products suggests that they meet specific standards. But the definition of organic cosmetics and natural beauty products can be confusing. The United States, Canada and most of Europe have different standards for organic cosmetics, each endorsing and restricting certain products and production methods. Knowing what the U.S. standards are can help consumers of American-made products.
Myths
Many consumers believe that the Food and Drug Administration has tested and approved organic retail beauty products, but the FDA does not have that authority. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act give the FDA authority to regulate cosmetics. Because neither law contains a legal definition of organic, the FDA cannot enforce organic standards for cosmetics. It does, however, investigate consumer complaints when a beauty product causes harm to consumers.
USDA Oversight
The Department of Agriculture certifies organic food and cosmetics under the guidelines of the National Organic Program. Some cosmetics manufacturers use the USDA classification to tell consumers that their products conform to the USDA organic standards.
Organic Labeling Standards
Beauty products with the USDA label "100 percent organic" must have 100 percent organically produced food ingredients that contain no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or genetically modified organisms. The USDA label "organic" applies to products that have at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. A "made with organic ingredients" label means the food content is at least 70 percent organic, and the "organic ingredients" label means the product is less than 70 percent organic. Neither of the last two classifications can carry a USDA seal, but they can list the organic ingredients on their product labels.
International Certifications
Lack of uniform standards among Canada, Europe and the United States creates confusion for consumers and businesses that want to import or export organic cosmetics. The Daily Green consumers website notes that in 2008, Certech Registration Inc., an independent company, created the IOS Cosmetics Standards certification plan for North American organic cosmetics. The certification requirements combine elements from Canadian and U.S. laws on organics, packaging and product safety with an eye toward aligning this certification with European Union standards. The IOS Standards also include indicators and benchmarks for ecological processing. Like the USDA organic cosmetics program, participation is voluntary.
U.S. consumers can also look for organic cosmetics that have the BDIH certification. It comes from an independent German trade association. To receive this certification, manufacturers may not use synthetic raw materials to produce cosmetic products and must comply with environmentally responsible production guidelines.
Safety Issues
The FDA says that consumers should not assume that organic beauty products are safer or better. Cosmetics that contain natural plant products can still cause allergic reactions and may contain ingredients not originally intended or tested for use on human skin. The movement away from multisyllabic chemicals as preservatives can actually decrease the shelf life of organic cosmetics. Consumers should read all ingredient labels on natural and organic products before applying them and take note of the expiration dates and storage recommendations.
