The International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) has removed two organic cotton certifications till they satisfy and remove flaws that demonstrate that they are fully compliant with the requirements of standards bodies.
The first body suspended in this regard is from India. The Cotton Union India was found lacking in testing and sampling organic textile products and issuing certifications despite irregularities. The suspension was challenged by the CU but its appeal was rejected and the suspension applies to all scopes under GOTs, all scopes of Textile Exchange, and all scopes of ISO/IEC 17065.
The IOAS has asked the Indian body to take corrective action after which the suspension would be lifted. It has also been stopped from accepting new applications during the period of suspension. Moreover, no certificates would be issued to new applicants. All those depending on Cotton Union certification have been asked to take note.
Textile Exchange has also withdrawn accreditation status from Extensive Standard Technical Services (ESTS) after the IOAS in its annual review found flaws in its ability to perform certification services.
These methods adopted by ETS were not corrected within the required timeframes. The certifications issued by them were below the standards fixed by Textile Exchange standards according to a statement by Textile Exchange.
Meanwhile, IOAS has withdrawn ESTS’s accreditation for all Textile Exchange standards. It has allowed ESTS clients until 17th May to transfer their certification services to any other accredited certification body. The IOAS clarified that all ESTS certificates will be invalid from that date. It was further stated that transaction certificates issued earlier will be valid.
IOAS suspends accreditations of two organic cotton certification bodies
