How to get products labelled

Certification Requirements

The GOTS quality assurance system requires that beyond the entire processing and manufacturing chain (from post-harvest handling up to sewing, packing and labelling) also B2B traders (= traders that sell to other businesses such as im- and exporters, wholesalers) must participate in the inspection and certification program before final products can be labelled as GOTS certified in order to provide a credible and consistent product assurance to the end consumer.
Although traders do not modify goods, they buy and sell organic textile products and represent a crucial link to achieve transparency and traceability in the value chain. The certification of traders is based on the verification of their product flow documentation. Certifiers trace the quantity of organic textile products through mass balance calculation of purchased and sold GOTS certified textiles to ensure that all products that are sold with GOTS certification claim are indeed correctly certified. Through the certification requirement for traders it can be assured that they become aware of the documentation required to verify the authenticity of GOTS certified products and so help to ensure the integrity of GOTS goods.

Brand holders and retailers selling GOTS certified final products that are received ready packed and labelled directly and exclusively to the end consumer are generally exempt from this certification obligation.
Further traders having an annual turnover with GOTS Goods less than 5.000€ are exempt from the certification obligation, provide they do not (re-)pack or (re-)label GOTS Goods. However such traders must register with an Approved Certifier and must inform the same immediately when their annual turnover exceeds 5.000€.

Application of the labelling

With the completion of GOTS certification by an Approved Certifier the Certified Entity acquires a sub-licence which entitles it to participate in the GOTS programme, including use of the standard and the GOTS logo on its respective GOTS Goods in accordance with the provisions of this labelling guide and as long as the certification remains valid.

Certified Entities, traders, brand holders and retailers who intend to get products labelled in accordance with GOTS and/or to sell labelled products (with the GOTS logo) need to contact their applicable GOTS certifier (to receive the applicable logo files and) for final approval of their labelling application.

Traders, brand holders and retailers that are exempt from the GOTS certification requirement can ask their certified supplier to apply the logo. In this case the labelling would be under survey of the GOTS certifier of the supplier and the supplier's reference (e.g. license number) would appear on the labelling.  Alternatively they may decide to apply for certification on a voluntary basis. Accordingly their own certification reference (license number) would be shown on their certified products.
=> In each case only a GOTS certified entity may apply GOTS labelling to a product.
Note: By entering the license number into the ‘free text field’ of our public data base the corresponding data set of the certified entity (that is entered by the applicable GOTS certifier) can be looked up.

These conditions also apply for identification of any GOTS Goods presented (for sale) in catalogues, on web pages or other publications (e.g. by mail order companies). Mail order companies and retailers that are not obliged to participate in the GOTS certification system can use the same GOTS labelling in catalogues and on web pages as it is used on on-product identification of the certified products they receive. This labelling must include the supplier's reference (e.g. license number) and a reference to the supplier's certifier. In any case the user of GOTS labelling must ensure that no confusion arises between certified and non-certified products in any marking, publications and advertising.

Important note: The GOTS labelling conditions do not offer to use the GOTS label or any reference to GOTS certification on the garment / final textile product if the GOTS certification is valid for intermediate stages (such as yarn or fabric stage) or for specific components of the product only. GOTS labelling or referencing is also not offered if the B2B traders in the supply chain do not participate in the certification system. Precondition for on-product label use is that the whole value chain and the final product is certified.

License Fees

In addition to the certification cost each certified entity must pay a license fee for each calendar year. The license fee is set at 120 Euro for each facility that is inspected for the certified entity. This fee also covers the right to use the GOTS logo on certified textile products in conjunction with the licensing and application criteria as detailed in the Licensing and Labelling Guide. License fees are collected by the Approved Certifier and transferred to the International Working Group.
Traders, brand holders and retailers that are exempt from the GOTS certification requirement do not need to pay any license fee for their labelling.

Reference Information

The complete licensing and labelling conditions including the provisions for product marking and the related design specifications are defined in the 'Licensing and Labelling Guide' that is introduced and available for download here. Answers to frequently asked questions about licensing and labelling can be looked up here.
Further information about the GOTS certification process are provided for in the section 'How to become certified'. The GOTS approved certifiers, their local contacts as well as the countries in which they already have certified GOTS clients are listed here.

A sheet that summarises ‘Important information for companies who sell or advertise GOTS Goods’ is available for download.