NSF Organic
The Official Standard
Products must contain a minimum of 70 percent certified organic ingredients.
Production, storage, processing, and handling of the product must comply with all applicable sections of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations.
Any organic claim on packaging must be consistent with the product's certified organic content.
What This Really Means
**NSF/ANSI 305** is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard specifically designed for personal care products that contain organic ingredients. It bridges the gap between the strict USDA Organic food standard and the reality of complex cosmetic formulations.
The USDA Organic seal, designed for food, requires 95% organic content—a threshold that is difficult to achieve in many cosmetic formulations due to necessary preservatives, emulsifiers, and other technical ingredients. NSF/ANSI 305 was developed in collaboration with industry and organic certifiers to create a rigorous but achievable organic standard for personal care products.
To be NSF 305 certified, a product must contain at least **70% certified organic ingredients** (by weight, excluding water and salt). The remaining ingredients must also come from an approved list. No synthetic fragrances or colors are permitted, and the overall formulation must comply with the spirit and letter of the USDA National Organic Program.
The label includes a claim statement indicating the percentage of organic content (e.g., "Contains 80% organic ingredients"). This transparency allows consumers to make meaningful comparisons between products. Certification is granted by an NSF-accredited certification body after documentation review and periodic facility audits.
Checklist for Verification
- ✓ At least 70% organic content (by weight, excluding water and salt).
- ✓ No synthetic fragrances or colors.
- ✓ No prohibited processing methods (irradiation, sewage sludge).
- ✓ Annual facility audits and ingredient verification.