'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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") ([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.
")) **Tops 5000 Facilities in 2017**** **Number of GOTS certified facilities increase 8,2% to 5,024 in 2017 +++ More than 1.74 million [workers](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/worker "Any individual engaged in work who is not a senior manager or owner.
") reported +++** **Felicia Shi** **++86 13811138531** [](mailto:felicia@global-standard.org) **For Immediate Release Tianjin China (8th March 2018)**[ ](mailto:felicia@global-standard.org) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [Countries or regions with the largest increase in GOTS certification in 2017 are (in rank order): Bangladesh (+40%), North America (+39%), Portugal (+39%), Europe (+29%). The top ten countries in terms of total number of certified facilities are: India (1658), Bangladesh (534), Germany (480), Turkey (445), Italy (307), China (292), Pakistan (194), Portugal (180), USA (99) and South Korea (69).](mailto:felicia@global-standard.org) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [ *GOTS in Greater China Area*](mailto:felicia@global-standard.org) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [](mailto:felicia@global-standard.org) [**ABOUT GOTS:** GOTS is the stringent voluntary global standard for the entire post-harvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and home textiles made with organic fibre (such as organic cotton and organic wool), and includes both environmental and social criteria. Key provisions include a ban on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), highly hazardous chemicals (such as azo dyes and formaldehyde), and child labour, while requiring strong social compliance management systems and strict waste water treatment practices.](mailto:felicia@global-standard.org) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.[www.global-standard.org](http://www.global-standard.org/?idU=1&acm=_154). ### **GOTS Global Organic Textile [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
")** [www.global-standard.org](https://gots.vorschau.website/)  [ Share this page ](#fs-toggle=share)