The Nature & Progrès association has just released an up-dated version of its specifications for the bio-ecological cosmetics it approves. Validated on 13 April 2013, it is an amended version of the 2009 issue, modified on several points. The main improvement is the ban of palm oil and of all its derivatives. Members shall comply with the new provisions of the reference frame by 2015.
The first reference frame for organic products on the French market of natural products (its first version dates back to 1998), the Nature & Progrès specifications have been cleaned up beginning 2013.
No major revolution; the principles are still the same. However, some adjustments, before, as Geoffroy Raout, from the Nature & Progrès Federation says,
"a work for an overall revision, to make this reference frame closer to the basics of the organic philosophy."
A reminder of the principles
In the very first lines dealing with the products’ composition, some of the most stringent Nature & Progrès basic requirements are exposed.
For instance, the raw materials from farming or vegetable origin shall be from organic farming, as soon as such a source is available. Transformed substances from natural origin are tolerated only if no organic ingredient is available and can replace the function.
In the same way, nano-particles, nano-technologies and liposomes are banned for all the ingredients, as well as the techniques that rely upon genetic modifications, and all the synthetic ingredients, except for very few ingredients (mainly, for three preservatives). Sulphation, sulfonation and ethoxylation are still in the list of the prohibited manufacturing processes.
Consistency of the requirements
The …
