'Organic' is a regulated term used to distinguish systems of managed production and products derived therefrom that adhere to principles of health, ecology, fairness and care, and which are certified compliant to an organic standard's regulations by an Approved Certification Body.
GOTS defines organic textiles as being made with fibres from organic agriculture systems that are certified to one of the IFOAM Family of Standards, and that are processed in socially and ecologically responsible ways, in alignment with organic principles.
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") are not watered down; ∗ Co-existence of GM crops with organic farming; ∗ Better control systems and trade arrangements for organic products; ∗ Impact of labelling rules. Organic textiles are not currently included in the EU organic regulation, which cover organic food and farming in Europe. This means that the use of the term ‘organic’ is not controlled in the European market, so there are inappropriate and inaccurate claims made resulting in consumer confusion and the risk of greenwash. DG Agri has concluded that the legal basis of the organic regulation should not be extended to cover products such as textiles and cosmetics, stating that “organic farming should remain focused on agriculture since it is a crucial instrument to deliver environmental services and boost development, innovation and employment in rural areas.” This leaves a significant gap in the organic legal framework. Organic textiles are an important part of the overall organic market. They provide an opportunity to improve [sustainability](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/sustainability "In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
") with a global reach. Making sure that the organic label is based on robust [standards](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") and verification will help provide confidence to consumers and build the organic textiles market. The EU Commission’s DG Enterprise and Industry are responsible for textile labelling, and a recent report on the need and options to harmonise labelling has looked at the scope for recognizing [GOTS](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/gots "The worldwide leading voluntary sustainability standard for the post-harvest textile value chain for certified organic fibres, covering environmental criteria, human rights, social criteria and business conduct.
") as a basis for regulating organic textile labelling (as is the case in the USA). GOTS has been invited to participate the EU Expert Group on Textile Names and Labelling. [ Share this page ](#fs-toggle=share)