Requisitos para norma natrue

NaTrue Label: requirements to be met by natural and organic cosmetics Version 1.2 – 28 November 2008
Updated text passages (in comparison to Version 1.1) are highlighted in yellow.

Preface Man has conquered a variety of environments without being able to adapt his body. Architecture, clothing and cosmetics - all cultural achievements of civilization – are the substitute for adaptation by thehuman body. Beyond their purely technical functions, architecture and clothing also have an aesthetic function. The same is true for (decorative) cosmetics. Animals, by contrast, are perfectly adapted to their restricted environment. Scales, furs, carapaces or feathers cover and protect their bodies from the environment. Recent developments, particularly in the food sector but also in otherindustries, have highlighted the growing importance of “naturalness” for consumers. Consumers have changed their habits and are paying increasing attention to “natural” aspects when buying cosmetics, too. This trend is very likely going to continue. However, the assessment of the “naturalness” of food on the one hand and cosmetics on the other hand is not directly comparable. The most important aspects of“naturalness” in food include its occurrence in nature, forms of cultivation and traceability of production, as reflected in the multitude of “natural” and “organic” labels. Natural cosmetics, by contrast, are usually complex compositions of natural, mostly processed raw materials. Hence, they have to be evaluated differently. A number of definitions and corresponding labels for natural cosmeticshave been around for some time now on both the national and the international level. This raises the question: do we really need another definition? The biggest challenge facing the production of natural cosmetics – along with the selection of adequate raw materials – is to be able to offer consumers effective, safe and sensorily appealing high-quality products. However, products of this kind cannotalways be manufactured exclusively from pure natural ingredients. If we look at clothing for example, appealing products – contrary to food – cannot be solely produced from pure, non-modified natural substances. The example of textiles made from fibres springs to mind. For cosmetics, too, the question arises as to which natural ingredients can be used without being modified, where(physico-)chemical modifications seem to be necessary in a clearly defined framework, and how substances which are “close to natural substances” are to be evaluated. Compromises of this kind are necessary to a certain extent. However, care must be taken to ensure that they are transparent and comprehensible for the consumer and that the consumer is sufficiently informed. Nevertheless, these compromises should belimited to the absolutely necessary. The definition of “natural cosmetics” must not be rendered implausible by a multitude of seemingly arbitrary exceptions. The proposed criteria for the NaTrue Label are to go further than any definition of “natural cosmetics” so far established in Germany and Europe in terms of consistency and complete transparency. Only natural, some nature-identical andnearly natural raw materials may be used in line with the requirements listed below. The complete background information concerning the NaTrue Label is freely available on the Internet for all interested parties – consumers as well as manufacturers. At www.natrue-label.eu, criteria, lists of approved substances, a list of certified products and FAQs are readily accessible. Furthermore, questions can beasked and comments posted on this website. Independently of the formulation of a natural cosmetic product, all products must comply first and foremost with the basic requirements of Directive 76/768/EEC (Cosmetics Directive of the European Union), particularly with regard to their composition, safety, efficacy and labelling.

Version 1.2 – 28 November 2008

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