Many Australian beauty brands that have successfully entered the US market or those looking to gain access to the world’s largest beauty market are naturally-based or boast organic credentials.

Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released final details of its Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rules.

Interestingly, the USDA does not define the term organic in cosmetics, body care or personal care products. But many big box retailers, including Wholefoods and Ulta Beauty, stock personal care and beauty products which are certified under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), meaning they contain 95 per cent organically cultivated ingredients.

The Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule is the biggest update to the organic regulations since the original act in 1990, said Jenny Lester Moffitt, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the USDA.

“It provides a significant increase in oversight and enforcement authority to reinforce the trust of consumers, farmers and those transitioning to organic production. This success is another demonstration that USDA fully stands behind the organic brand.”

Key updates include –

  • Requiring National Organic Program (NOP) for all organic imports
  • Increasing authority for more rigorous on-site inspections of certified operations
  • Requiring standardised certificates of organic operation and additional and more frequent reporting of data on certified operations
  • Creating authority for more robust record-keeping, traceability practices and fraud prevention procedures
  • Specifying certification requirements for producer groups

Organic cosmetic products meeting NOP standards can apply for the USDA Organic Seal of Approval. For more information, go www.aco.net.au – the website of ACO Certification Ltd, Australia’s largest certifier of organic and biodynamic produce and products.

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