Textile Exchange announces the release of the Organic Content Standard (OCS) 3.
0 after the conclusion of a regular revision process involving an International Working Group and following Textile Exchange’s Standard Setting Procedures.
Originally released in 2013, the goal of the Organic Content Standard (OCS) is to increase organic agriculture production. The OCS aims to deliver this goal through three key objectives:
One is to provide the industry with a tool to verify the organically grown content of the products they purchase, second is to provide companies with a trusted tool to communicate organically grown content claims to the industry. Also provide organic farmers with broad access to the global organic market for their products
“The Organic Content Standard was our first standard and the basis of establishing our Chain of Custody, which is the backbone for all of our standards. I am proud of the evolution of the OCS through the revision process.
It remains a key tool for supporting and stabilizing organic fibers,” said La Rhea Pepper, Managing Director at Textile Exchange.
The updates to the standard include
– The former OCS Implementation Manual is now divided into two documents. The OCS User Manual provides interpretation and guidance for users of the standard while the OCS Certification Procedures details requirements certification bodies must follow.
– More robust traceability between the farm and first processor
– GMO testing for organic cotton must occur in accordance with Textile Exchange’s OCS103 GMO Screening of Organic Cotton
– Organic wool inputs must be non-mulesed (according to the non-mulesed definition of the Responsible Wool Standard) or from a farm with ceased-mulesing status
– Certified organizations must now maintain technical specifications for all OCS materials.
