There is a lot of interest in anything organic – from cosmetics to food to products we use in the home. This interest has spawned a lot of products that claim to be organic. How do we know that they are really organic? We can be assured if there is organic certification. Certification assures quality and prevents fraud. If the brand of organic cosmetics that we use, for example, is certified, we can rest assure that it uses genuine organic ingredients and what the label says is what is contained in the tube.

For a product to be certified it has to undergo a process. The manufacturer should study all the organic standards required and comply with them. Some paperwork is required as documentation will be needed. A production plan should be submitted to the certifying body and an inspection process will have to be done, some scheduled, some surprise visits. The process is tedious and it will require some expense on the part of the producer. But when certification is granted, it will be an invaluable marketing advantage.