From the Sacramento Bee:
At the national level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working on a definition of “natural products” to be used in future standards, said USDA National Organic Program spokesman Billy Cox. It does not certify natural products.
The department’s National Organic Program certifies organically produced cosmetics and body care products but on a voluntary basis.
The Food and Drug Administration can take action against cosmetic companies that make false or misleading claims on product labels, but it does not define or regulate “organic” or “natural” cosmetics, nor does it test any cosmetics before they go to market.
In the private sector, the nonprofit Natural Products Association launched a certification program May 1. The voluntary program will certify products as natural if they contain at least 95 percent ingredients from renewable resources found in nature, with no petroleum compounds.
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