The “BDIH Directive” states in its preamble its concern to make the concept of natural cosmetics transparent, by giving fair value to consumers’ legitimate expectations for safe and ecological products. It describes the standards they must meet, both in the exploitation and production of raw materials and in their processing.

It is based on a few main principles:
• The exploitation of raw materials must disturb nature as little as possible and their transformation must undergo few chemical processes
• The protection of animals and species must be ensured
• Packaging must be economical, recyclable and environmentally friendly
• Controlled Natural Cosmetics must only use substances with low allergenic potential

It recommends the use of vegetable raw materials from controlled organic farming or wild harvesting as well as fair trade, as far as possible. It explicitly prohibits the use of synthetic organic colourants, synthetic aromatic substances, ethoxylated raw materials, silicones, paraffin and other petroleum products.

To ensure the products’ microbiological safety, it encourages natural preservation systems, but also allows benzoic, salicylic and sorbic acids and benzyl alcohol if they are “in their natural state”.

For the processing aspects, it allows only a few processes such as hydrolysis, hydrogenation, esterification, transesterification or other fissions and condensation of natural substances on a limited positive list. It prohibits the use of radioactive radiation and GMOs.

Finally, no animal testing is allowed, either on raw materials or during the development, manufacture or control of final products.

For further information
• See the BDIH’s website