Understanding the COSMOS APPROVED Certification: A Mark of Quality for Our Raw Materials

At Perles de Gascogne, we are committed to ensuring the quality, traceability, and ethics of our vegetable oils. That’s why some of our raw materials are COSMOS APPROVED certified, a recognition that confirms their compliance with the strict requirements of organic and natural cosmetics. But what sets this certification apart from the other COSMOS certifications? And why can’t BIO-certified products also be COSMOS certified? Let’s break it down.

COSMOS: An International Standard for Cosmetics

The COSMOS standard (COSMetic Organic Standard) is an internationally recognized framework developed by five major European organizations: Ecocert, BDIH, Cosmebio, ICEA, and Soil Association. It includes several levels of certification for cosmetic products:

• COSMOS ORGANIC: for finished products that contain a high percentage of organic ingredients.

• COSMOS NATURAL: for finished products that are natural but do not meet the organic threshold.

• COSMOS APPROVED: aimed at cosmetic ingredients only—such as oils or extracts—used by brands to create COSMOS ORGANIC or NATURAL products.

• COSMOS CERTIFIED: available for physically and chemically processed agro-ingredients whose organic content complies with the COSMOS standard.

COSMOS APPROVED, for our products from conventional agriculture (but reasoned!)

Unlike the COSMOS ORGANIC or COSMOS NATURAL labels, which apply to finished products, COSMOS APPROVED applies exclusively to raw materials. It guarantees that the ingredient meets high standards in sustainability, traceability, and freedom from controversial substances, and that it’s suitable for formulating COSMOS-certified cosmetics.

However, an ingredient that is already EU BIO-certified (under the European organic regulation) cannot obtain a COSMOS APPROVED label. Double certification isn’t allowed: a raw material can be either BIO-certified (according to the European regulation) or COSMOS APPROVED (under the private COSMOS standard), but not both. This policy is designed to prevent overlapping standards and avoid confusion for manufacturers and consumers.

A Strategic and Transparent Choice

By choosing to certify some of our oils COSMOS APPROVED, we provide our professional clients with strong guarantees for their natural or organic cosmetic formulations. It’s an added commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, and transparency—core values at Perles de Gascogne.

Find our Cosmos Approved certificate on our pro web account.