06.01.08
The Natural Products Association (NPA), Washington, D.C., has developed a new certification program to define “natural” personal care products and clear up confusion for consumers. According to NPA, a recent survey by Yankelovich showed that more than three quarters of U.S. women think natural personal care is currently regulated or don’t know if it is, while nearly all (97%) think it should be. NPA’s system will include an easily identifiable seal that consumers can expect to begin seeing within the next few months. In order to gain the natural seal, a product must contain at least 95% truly natural ingredients or ingredients derived from natural sources; it must not contain any ingredients with any potential human health risks; and processes must not use synthetic or harsh chemicals, among other criteria.