OTA is actively engaged in many projects to protect and promote the organic fiber and textile sector. From enforcing the use of organic claims on processed fiber and textiles to securing an alternatives to non-organic materials, learn more about our current and on-going policy advocacy projects of interest to the sector.
Quick Links:
- Global Organic Textiles Standard
- National Organic Program Policy Memo 11-14
- Enforcing the use of organic claims on processed fiber and textiles
- Flame-retardant chemicals in mattresses
Global Organic Textiles Standard
IWG: The International Working Group (IWG) on the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is comprised of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) (North America), The Soil Association (UK), International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) (Germany), and the Japan Organic Cotton Association. Each of these associations introduced their own textile standard previous to the development of GOTS, and tapped their knowledge and experiences to work together on the joint project. IWG is the decisive committee for all relevant organizational, structural and political issues.
Technical Committee: The Technical Committee is in charge of generating revisions of the standard and issue interpretation documents, developing the quality assurance system, and supervising its implementation. Committee members are made up of one expert appointed by each party of the IWG and the GOTS Technical Director. Gwendolyn Wyard, OTA’s Regulatory Director of Organic Standards and Food Safety, serves as the GOTS Technical Committee Representative for North America.
Through its participation as an IWG member and work on the Technical Committee, OTA actively participates in the continued development and advocacy of GOTS, and ensures that any changes or other relevant actions are communicated to and supported by OTA members.
National Organic Program Policy Memo 11-14
On May 20, 2011, NOP announced a Policy Memorandum addressing the labeling of textile products containing organic ingredients (such as organic cotton, organic wool, and organic linen). This NOP Policy Memo 11-14, entitled “Labeling of Textiles that Contain Organic Ingredients,” clarifies that while NOP regulations do not include specific processing or manufacturing standards for textile products, a product can be labeled as “organic” and make reference to NOP certification if it is produced in full compliance with both the NOP production standards (crops and livestock for raw materials) and the NOP handling standards (processing for the finished product). However, as most of these methods and ingredients are not applicable to textile processing, NOP labeling is likely unachievable for most garments and textile products that use a variety of dyestuffs and auxiliary agents.
As a practical alternative, the policy memo explicitly confirms that textile products produced in accordance with GOTS, such as apparel, mattresses, or socks, may be sold as “organic” in the United States, although they may not refer to NOP certification or carry the USDA Organic seal.
OTA is working to ensure that NOP’s Policy is visible to the entire fiber and textiles industry, understood, and followed. To this end, OTA is working with NOP on carrying out minor revisions to improve its clarity. OTA has also requested that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) formally recognize NOP’s Policy Memo and, in doing so, update its “Green Guides” to communicate the policy to marketers of fiber and textiles. For more information, see “Enforcing the Use of Organic Claims on Processed Fiber and Textiles.”
Enforcing the use of organic claims on processed fiber and textiles
On May 27, 2014 OTA filed comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding its notice and request for comment on its proposed plans to conduct research to explore consumer perception of environmental marketing claims such as “organic” and “pre-consumer recycled content.” The study is intended to enhance FTC’s understanding of how consumers interpret such claims in order to decide whether to recommend revisions to the “Green Guides.” It could ultimately provide FTC with increased understanding on when and how to act on the fraudulent use of the term “organic” on non-food products such as mattresses, t-shirts, and other similar products that fall outside of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) scope of enforcement authority.
OTA's comments to FTC focused on "organic" product claims and the need for FTC enforcement action on the inaccurate, misleading, or fraudulent use of the term “organic” when used on products that fall outside of NOP’s jurisdiction. Many consumers have come to trust and understand that organic products are certified to strict standards, and that those claims are regulated and enforced by the federal government. However, USDA NOP does not regulate or enforce organic claims made on certain types of products, such as processed fiber and textiles. This leaves a major gap in the system. Consumers need to trust products that are labeled as “organic” whether they are sold in the food aisle or the personal care aisle of a retail outlet. Failure to enforce the use of the term “organic” on all products creates consumer confusion, can be misleading, and can lead to consumers mistrusting the integrity of the word “organic.”
OTA urged FTC to confer with NOP and develop an enforcement policy on the use of "organic" claims, and exercise its consumer protection authority to act on misleading and/or fraudulent use of the term “organic” when used on products outside NOP’s jurisdiction. OTA expressly requested that FTC acknowledge GOTS, defer to NOP’s Policy Memorandum on Textiles, and monitor and enforce the use of the term “organic” on textiles not certified either under NOP or GOTS. For products that are making organic content claims only, OTA requested that FTC include reference to the Textile Exchange Organic Content Standard[1].
[1] The Organic Exchange “organic content” standards are chain-of-custody standards that give third-party verification to a final product containing a given amount of organically grown cotton. The OE 100 and OE Blended are voluntary standards that do not address the use of chemicals or any other aspects of production beyond the integrity of the organic fiber used.
View the Organic Trade Association’s Best Labeling Practices for Textiles adopted by its Board of Directors in February 2019.
Flame-retardant chemicals in mattresses
OTA together with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Advisory Council submitted comments in support of regulations that do not require natural or organic cotton fabrics used in mattresses to be treated with toxic flame retardant chemicals in June 4, 2015. The comments were submitted to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in response to an open comment period asking whether the current standard for the flammability of mattress sets should be modified to minimize impact on small businesses. OTA’s comments explain that treatment of organic fiber with flame-retardant chemicals conflicts with the requirements of GOTS, and accordingly, negatively impacts the organic fiber marketplace. Furthermore, the standards create an unnecessary burden on organic fiber businesses because natural and organic fibers do not burn well and largely meet flame testing without the need for toxic chemicals. To learn more, read OTA’s complete comments.
OTA News Flash, Fiber Forum, The Organic Report, & Task Forces
OTA delivers weekly, monthly and quarterly news about organic agriculture, food, and fiber through its exclusive member publications, such as the News Flash and The Organic Report. OTA also communicates information through its Member Forums, which offer a convenient means of exchanging ideas and information via e-mail list serves. OTA created a “Fiber Forum” to specifically address the needs of OTA members engaged in the production and marketing of organic fiber and textiles. In order to recommend a course of action or accomplish a specific objective that furthers organic food and fiber, OTA uses a task force system that supports the Knowledge-Based Governance model now used by the OTA Board. Task Forces are time-bound and outcome-focused groups convened to support OTA’s mission, strategic objectives or program activities. A task force, for example, could be convened to review proposed changes to GOTS, or to help shape comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on organic fiber and textile related matters.
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