Revision Procedure to GOTS v 6.0

Última actualización: Jueves, 19 Marzo 2020 08:15

The formal revision process for GOTS 6.0 has commenced in March 2019.  The revision process and schedule is briefly enumerated here.

Formal Revision Process for GOTS 6.0

GOTS Version 5.0 was due for revision in the year 2019 and this process commenced in March 2019.  The revision process involves a transparent process where multiple stakeholders are encouraged to participate.  

The approach is, once again, to set strict and binding requirements for ecological and social parameters while acknowledging the need for practicability in industrial production of a wide range of products. To achieve this goal, stakeholders which operate internationally with expertise in the field of organic production, textile processing, textile chemistry and social criteria and representing the industry, NGOs and consumer interests in our program were invited to contribute to the revision procedure.

A Brief on the Procedure and Timetable that was followed 

Febuary 2019 : Revision Process Information                                        COMPLETE

The revision process to prepare GOTS Version 6.0 and the corresponding Manual for Implementation as well as the list of international stakeholder organsations to be invited to participate will be introduced and discussed at the meetings of the Certifiers Council, the Standards Committee and the Advisory Council.

February - March 2019 : Work on 1st revision draft                               COMPLETE

The GOTS Standards Committee will work on a first revision draft for both the Standard and Implementation Manual based on various suggestions and comments collected since the release of GOTS Version 5.0

March - April 2019 : Stakeholder invitations                                          COMPLETE

Selected international stakeholder organisations (see list below) will be invited to participate in the revision process; the procedure and planned timetable will be introduced to them and also published on the GOTS website. Other parties interested in contributing will be requested to channel their comments through one of the participating stakeholders (Advisory Council members, Certifiers or invited stakeholders).

April 2019 : Release of 1st Revision Draft                                        COMPLETE

The GOTS Standards Committee will release the first revision draft of GOTS 6.0 and the corresponding Implementation Manual to stakeholders through the installed revision blog.

April to June 2019 : 1st Stakeholder Input Period                          COMPLETE

Stakeholders will be able to submit inputs/contributions/comments on the first revision drafts by posting them to the blog using a specific form available for the purpose. Stakeholders also have the possibility to comment on the contributions provided by the others.

The input period will be open for 60 days from 1 April and end on 31 May 2019.  A further 30 days period will be available for providing comments on received contributions.  This period will end on 30 June 2019.

July - September 2019 : Deliberation & Consultation by Standards Committee       COMPLETE

The Standards Committee will collate, assess and deliberate on all received contributions.  Further consultations with experts may be undertaken during this period.  Based on these deliberations, a second revision draft of the GOTS v 6.0 and corresponding Implementation Manual will be finalised.  

September 2019 : Release of 2nd Revision Draft                                        COMPLETE

The 2nd revision draft of GOTS 6.0 and the corresponding Implementation Manual will be released to stakeholders through the revision blog.  An overview file with all contributions, SC observations and reasoning towards inclusion in the 2nd revision draft will also be provided. 

October 2019 : 2nd Stakeholder Input period                                        COMPLETE

The revision blog will be opened for a period 30 days in which stakeholders will be able to provide final comments to the observations provided by the Standards Committee and/or to the changes made from the 1st to the 2nd draft. Strictly no new topics will be addressed at this stage of the revision process.

January 2020 : Final Revision Draft for approval of the Advisory Council         COMPLETE

After deliberating and assessing the contributions recieved, the Standards Committee will prepare a 3rd and final revision draft of GOTS Version 6.0 and the corresponding Implementation Manual to the GOTS Advisory Committee.  A revision file so as to record changes and inclusions from Version 5.0 will also be prepared.

The final draft of GOTS Version 6.0 and the Implementation Manual will be sent to the Advisory Council for formal approval.

February 2020 : Approval by the Advisory Council         COMPLETE

Formal approval of the Standard version 6.0 and the corresponding Implementation Manual will be obtained during the annual meeting of the Advisory Council and permission sought to release the same in the following month.

March 2020 : Release of GOTS Version 6.0                      RELEASED 19 MARCH 2020

GOTS Version 6.0 and the corresponding Implementation Manual will be released on the GOTS website around 19 March 2020.  As is customary, transition period for users of GOTS to fully comply with the new Version of GOTS will be one year.

List of Stakeholders invited to participate in the GOTS Revision Process to develop Version 6.0

The approach is to invite stakeholders who operate internationally with expertise in the field of organic production, textile processing, textile chemistry and social criteria and representing the industry, NGOs and consumer interests in our programme.

Specifically, beside the Advisory Council members, Standards Committee and the Approved Certifiers, the following provisional list of organisations has been invited to participate in the GOTS revision process.

• Clean Clothes Campaign
• Consumers International
• Cradle to Cradle (C2C)
• Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments
• EURATEX
• Fair Labor Association
• Fair World Project
• Fairtrade International
• Fairwear Foundation
• Fairwild Foundation
• Greenpeace International
• IndustriAll
• International Apparel Federation
• International Cotton Association
• International Council of Chemical Associations
• International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements
• International Labour Organisation
• International Textile Manufacturers Association
• International Wool Textile Organisation
• TEGEWA
• Textil-und Bekleidungsverband Nordwest
• Textile Exchange
• The Nordic Swan Ecolabel
• Transparency International
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Social Accountabilty International
• Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production
  
  

If you wish to be a Stakeholder / Contributor to further GOTS revisions

GOTS encourages organisations who are international and representative of any GOTS related aspect to contribute to the process of revision of the Standard.  GOTS is unable to entertain requests from individuals or national organisations for the same.  We would however suggest that these prospective contributors send in their contributions through any of the mentioned organisations.

Prospective stakeholders may please send an email expressing their interest with a brief on their background to the GOTS Managing Director at