Recently, the most commonly used certification is vegan among various cosmetic certifications.
Although there is a cosmetic certification for Cruelty-Free, many countries legally prohibit animal testing, and in Europe, although the certification mark can be used, there is a tendency to prohibit the use of statements that animal testing is legally banned in marketing, making it somewhat unsatisfactory.
So, what other cosmetic certifications are there?
There are ECOCERT, COSMOS, Halal, and FDA. Unlike vegan certifications, these certifications can only be awarded to products produced by manufacturers who have received the certification. In other words, these certifications cannot be obtained by products alone.
1. ECOCERT
1) Meaning: A leading French certification body for organic and eco-friendly products, applicable to cosmetics, food, and raw materials.
2) Types: The certification marks are divided into “ECOCERT Natural” (natural cosmetics) and “ECOCERT Organic” (organic cosmetics). Regardless of the type, to obtain ECOCERT certification, more than 95% of the product’s ingredients must be natural, and synthetic ingredients, parabens, silicones, etc., are not allowed. Especially for ECOCERT Organic, at least 10% of the ingredients must be organic.
3) Certification Method: Apply on the official ECOCERT website, then undergo an evaluation of product ingredients and production processes. Certification is granted after on-site inspections and document reviews. Therefore, not only the product but also the manufacturer must be certified.
2. COSMOS
1) Meaning: COSMOS is an international certification standard created by the cooperation of five major organic certification bodies in Europe (ECOCERT, BDIH, ICEA, Soil Association, Cosmebio).
2) Types: Like ECOCERT, COSMOS is divided into COSMOS Natural and COSMOS Organic. Both require more than 95% of the total ingredients to be natural, and for Organic certification, at least 20% must be organic (10% for cleansing products).
3) Certification Method: Apply to one of the institutions providing COSMOS certification (ECOCERT, BDIH, etc.), and obtain certification through ingredient review, process inspection, and on-site inspection.
3. HALAL
1) Meaning: Halal certification is granted to products manufactured according to Islamic law, which for cosmetics means that ingredients derived from pigs, alcohol, and other prohibited ingredients are not included.
2) Certification Method: The manufacturer must also be Halal certified, and separate facilities for producing Halal products must be in place to avoid cross-contamination with facilities used for prohibited ingredients. Apply to a Halal certification body (e.g., Malaysia JAKIM, Indonesia MUI, UAE ESMA), and obtain approval through ingredient and production process inspection, with some institutions requiring mandatory on-site inspection.
4. FDA
1) Meaning: Cosmetics sold in the United States must comply with the FDA’s FD&C Act (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) and FPLA Act (Fair Packaging and Labeling Act) to be certified. Functional products must be certified, while other products can be sold without separate approval.
2) Certification Method: Manufacturers must register as FDA OTC facilities, and products seeking FDA certification must be produced in these facilities. Apply for FDA registration, undergo process inspection, and proceed with product registration.
While there was once significant interest in organic products, resulting in many Korean products obtaining COSMOS certification, the preference has shifted away from the biased perception that organic is inherently good and chemical products are inherently bad.
Halal certification also gained interest when Southeast Asia emerged as an export market, but the trend has recently slowed.
On the other hand, FDA certification for entering the U.S. market is gaining renewed interest. WITH.C KOREA is keeping an eye on these trends and consulting our clients accordingly.
If you have concerns about certification while planning your brand, discuss it with WITH.C KOREA.