The Advisory Council is the decisive committee for relevant organisational, structural and operational issues of the Global Standard gGmbH, the operating body of the Global Organic Textile Standard. It is set up by way of organisational statutes by the founding Organisations of GOTS.
") is the decisive committee for relevant organisational, structural and operational issues of the [Global Standard gGmbH](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/global-standard "The legal entity operating the Global Organic Textile Standard programme; it conducts all activities of the licensing system and is proprietor of the registered trademarks (GOTS Signs). Its founders are: International Association Natural Textile Industry, Japan Organic Cotton Association, Organic Trade Association, Soil Association.
"), the operating body of the Global [Organic](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/organic "'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.
standard glossary text
"). It is set up by way of organisational statutes by the founding Organisations of [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.
"). | | [ Accessories](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/accessories) | Items that are added to supplement [GOTS Goods](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/gots-goods "Textile goods (finished or intermediate) produced in compliance with GOTS (and properly labelled, as applicable) by a Certified Entity and certified by an Approved Certifier.
") for required functional or for fashionable reasons. Most commonly used [Accessories](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/accessories "Items that are added to supplement GOTS Goods for required functional or for fashionable reasons. Most commonly used Accessories are listed in Section 3.3. Accessories also include trims, and in certain cases the two terms are used interchangeably depending on the specific component. The processing of those Accessories is not under the direct scope of the GOTS on-site certification system. GOTS criteria that applies to Accessories are listed in Sections 3.3 and 5.2.8.
") are listed in Section 3.3. Accessories also include trims, and in certain cases the two terms are used interchangeably depending on the specific component. The processing of those Accessories is not under the direct scope of the GOTS on-[site](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/site "An individual establishment where chemical Inputs are formulated (see Formulator) and produced. It is included in a Letter of Approval and audited by a Scope 4 Approved Certifier.
") certification system. GOTS criteria that applies to Accessories are listed in Sections 3.3 and 5.2.8. | | [ Accompanying Labelling Information ](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/accompanying-labelling-information) | Consists of three elements in the specified order: label grade, reference to the [Approved Certification Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/approved-certification-body "An Approved Certification Body or Approved Certifier is a certification body that has been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body. By signing a con tract with Global Standard gGmbH, they are permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard within a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard. An updated list of Approved Certifiers and their scopes is available on the GOTS Website.
"), and the license number of the [Certified Entity](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/certified-entity "Processor, manufacturer, trader or retailer of GOTS Goods certified by an Approved Certifier.
"). | | [ Accreditation Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/accreditation-body) | An authoritative body or organisation which evaluates and confirms that a conformity assessment body, e.g., a [Certification Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/certification-body "A Certification Body, having been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body and by way of signing a contract with Global Standard gGmbH has been permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard over a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard.
"), is deemed capable of carrying out certain assessment tasks, e.g., certification, inspection, or testing, regarding a particular formally defined [standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
"). This attestation relies primarily on a formal demonstration of its task-specific competence by the conformity assessment body, evaluated via professional and objective [audits](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/audit "A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the Standard's requirements (including environmental and social criteria) are fulfilled by a Certified Entity or applicant for the status of Certified Entity. Audits are conducted by Approved Certification Bodies (see 'Approved Certification Body').
") by the [Accreditation Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/accreditation-body "An authoritative body or organisation which evaluates and confirms that a conformity assessment body, e.g., a Certification Body, is deemed capable of carrying out certain assessment tasks, e.g., certification, inspection, or testing, regarding a particular formally defined standard. This attestation relies primarily on a formal demonstration of its task-specific competence by the conformity assessment body, evaluated via professional and objective audits by the Accreditation Body, typically by way of ISO/IEC 17065 : 'Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services'.
"), typically by way of ISO/IEC 17065 : 'Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services'. | | [ Advisory Council](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/advisory-council) | The Advisory Council is the decisive committee for relevant organisational, structural and operational issues of the Global Standard gGmbH, the operating body of the Global Organic Textile Standard. It is set up by way of organisational statutes by the founding Organisations of GOTS. | | [ Approved Certification Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/approved-certification-body) | An Approved Certification Body or [Approved Certifier](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/approved-certifier "An Approved Certification Body or Approved Certifier is a certification body that has been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body. By signing a con tract with Global Standard gGmbH, they are permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard within a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard. An updated list of Approved Certifiers and their scopes is available on the GOTS Website.
") is a certification body that has been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body. By signing a con tract with Global Standard gGmbH, they are permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard within a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard. An updated list of Approved Certifiers and their scopes is available on the GOTS Website. | | [ Approved Certifier](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/approved-certifier) | An Approved Certification Body or Approved Certifier is a certification body that has been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body. By signing a con tract with Global Standard gGmbH, they are permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard within a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard. An updated list of Approved Certifiers and their scopes is available on the GOTS Website. | | [ Audit](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/audit) | A systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the Standard's requirements (including environmental and social criteria) are fulfilled by a Certified Entity or applicant for the status of Certified Entity. Audits are conducted by Approved Certification Bodies (see 'Approved Certification Body'). | | [ Brand](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/brand) | A registered or unregistered trademark or other sign other than the [GOTS Signs](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/gots-signs "The Logo and the Word Sign registered as a certification mark.
"). The term, in context, can also refer to an organisation that controls the design, development, and purchase of final products for sale under their own name. In that context, [brands](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/brand "A registered or unregistered trademark or other sign other than the GOTS Signs.
The term, in context, can also refer to an organisation that controls the design, development, and purchase of final products for sale under their own name. In that context, brands may sell to wholesalers, retailers, or directly to consumers. This does not include organisations who sell a branded intermediate product for use in further processing steps.
A business entity or an online marketplace selling directly and exclusively to an end consumer (DTC operator).
"), or directly to consumers. This does not include organisations who sell a branded intermediate product for use in further processing steps. | | [ Brand Owner](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/brand-owner) | Owner of a Brand. | | [ Carbon Footprint of a Product](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/carbon-footprint-of-a-product) | Sum of GHG emissions and GHG removals in a product system, expressed as CO2 equivalents and based on a life cycle assessment using the single impact category of climate change. | | [ Certification Body](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/certification-body) | A Certification Body, having been duly accredited by an Accreditation Body and by way of signing a contract with Global Standard gGmbH has been permitted to implement the Global Organic Textile Standard over a designated geographical area and for specific scopes of the Standard. | | [ Certified Entity](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/certified-entity) | [Processor](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/processor "An entity in the processing chain (post-harvest handling up to finishing) of GOTS Goods.
"), [manufacturer](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/manufacturer "An entity in the manufacturing chain (sewing industry or so-called CMT (cut, make, trim) industry up to labelling and final packing) of GOTS Goods.
"), [trader](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/trader "Entity trading with (=buying and selling) GOTS Goods in the supply chain between the producer of the fibre and the retail merchant of the final product regardless of whether the goods are physically received or not (e.g. an import, export or wholesale trading entity).
Agents who do not become proprietors of the goods and retailers only selling to the end consumer are not considered Traders.