NSF, NATRUE  Seek to Define Natural

ANN ARBOR, Mich., and BRUSSELSNSF International and NATRUE partnered to define natural" when it comes to personal care products. By developing an American national standard for natural personal care products, the organizations seek to help eliminate consumer confusion.

NATRUEs natural personal care criteria (NATRUE Standard Level 1) will be used as a foundation for the development of an American version, which will help establish a globally recognized definition of natural" in personal care products, including cosmetics, oral care and personal hygiene products.

In the absence of a standard definition, consumers often question the term natural on personal care products as to what it actually means," said NSF International standards director Jane Wilson. By collaborating with NATRUE, consumer groups, industry experts and regulators, the American national standard for natural personal care products will define, in line with NATRUEs Label approach, the use of the term natural helping to protect and promote authentic and quality natural personal care products worldwide."

NSF International will develop the new natural personal care standard using a consensus-based process that allows for participation from key stakeholder groups, including regulators, personal care manufacturers, trade associations, product retailers and other stakeholders from the natural personal care products community.

This is the second U.S. national standard that NSF International plans to develop for the personal care industry, according to Wilson. A year ago, the NSF/ANSI 305 standard was introduced for manufacturers seeking to have their personal care products certified as containing organic ingredients. Developing a standard for natural personal care products will help delineate the two sectors for consumers and bring meaning to the term natural," explained Wilson.

NSF International and NATRUE have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at harmonizing NSF/ANSI 305 and NATRUE Level 2 (for which an equivalency agreement was signed last year), and are working together to help define natural."

NSF International encourages all industry and regulatory experts to participate in the standards development process. The first stakeholder meeting to discuss the development of the new standard for natural personal care products will be held Thursday, March 10 at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, CA. Parties interested in helping to develop the standard can contact NSF Standards manager Lorna Badman at [email protected] or (734) 827-6806 for more information.

NSF International, an independent organization, certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide and operates in more than 120 countries. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), NSF has developed more than 70 American national standards using this consensus-based process, including NSF/ANSI Standard 305: Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients.

NATRUE is the International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association based in Brussels and promotes authentic natural and organic cosmetics worldwide. More than 1,300 products have already been certified under the NATRUE label, ranging from skin care to make-up and the certification of raw materials was also recently launched.