Latest news with #GlobalOrganicTextileStandard
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Congress targets government over ‘organic cotton scam', demands probe
Alleging a 'scam' of over ₹2.1 lakh crore in the name of organic cotton in India, the Congress on Saturday (July 26, 2025) demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the supervision of a High Court judge. The party said that the scam has severely harmed the global credibility of India's organic products and caused significant damage to farmers. Speaking at a press conference at the All India Congress Committee headquarters, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, alleged that certain traders are falsely labeling non-organic cotton as 'organic' and earning six-fold profits, while genuine farmers struggle to get even the minimum support price. He added that the scam involved massive tax and GST evasion. The Congress leader said the government has been aware of irregularities in the certification process and the scam since 2017 but has not taken any strict action. Mr. Singh explained that in 2001, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which is implemented by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The goal is to certify and regulate organic exports. Under this programme, NPOP accredits certification bodies that verify Internal Control Systems (ICS). After ICS verification, a transaction certificate is issued, declaring the group as organic. These ICSs are clusters of 25 to 500 farmers growing organic cotton and presently there are about 6,046 ICS groups and 35 certification agencies. He added that these farmer groups receive ₹5,000 per hectare for three years to promote organic farming. Certification is crucial in this process, as it significantly increases the international market value of the produce. 'Most farmers shown as registered in these ICS groups neither grow organic cotton nor are aware of their inclusion in the system. These ICS groups have deliberately committed fraud by including farmers' names to obtain transaction certificates,' he said. 'Fake groups were also formed in Madhya Pradesh, and farmers were unaware they had been made members,' he added. He further said some powerful traders are making six times the profit by selling non-organic cotton as organic. Citing instances where the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the European Union, and the Global Organic Textile Standard revoked the accreditation of Indian certifiers, Mr. Singh said India is now seen as a hub of fraud in the organic product market. He said that he had written to the Prime Minister in August 2024, flagging the organic cotton fraud in Madhya Pradesh. 'I got a reply from Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal acknowledging the irregularities, (but) no appropriate action was taken,' Mr. Singh said. He demanded criminal proceedings against all 192 fraudulent ICS groups, an investigation into these groups, and fair compensation for the exploited farmers.
Fashion Value Chain
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Eurofins Assurance India Earns GOTS & Textile Exchange Nod
Eurofins Assurance has announced that its India office has been accredited by IOAS as a Certification Body for Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Textile Exchange certification schemes. These globally recognised programs support sustainable practices in textiles by ensuring traceability of organic and recycled materials while promoting transparency across supply chains. Following rigorous evaluation, IOAS has approved multiple Eurofins offices for these certification programs. With this recognition, Eurofins Assurance India is now equipped to provide certification services across Asia and Europe, with plans to expand further. Approved standards include: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Textile Exchange GRS (Global Recycled Standard) OCS (Organic Content Standard) RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) CCS (Content Claim Standard) Benefits for Buyers and Suppliers Achieving GOTS and Textile Exchange certifications offers significant advantages — from increased transparency of raw material origins to better chain-of-custody risk management. These internationally recognised certifications also enhance brand trust and consumer confidence through verified product claims and adherence to rigorous protocols. Digital Efficiency with Impact Trace Eurofins is also developing Impact Trace, a digital platform designed to streamline the certification process. The platform enables efficient management of bookings, documentation, audit progress tracking, report access, and issuance of Transaction Certificates—all in one user-friendly interface. Trusted Network and Expertise Eurofins Assurance has a network of trained auditors across key manufacturing hubs and extensive experience in third-party audits and verification, ensuring prompt support for certification setup and compliance. Eurofins Assurance India Pvt. Ltd. also holds ISO 17065:2012 accreditation from IOAS for the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) under the Textile Exchange scheme. For more details on the certification process and requirements, visit the official Eurofins Assurance India website.
Fashion Network
16-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Global Standard to announce new voluntary sustainability standard in Q4
Global Standard, the non-profit organisation behind the internationally-recognised Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has launchd a public consultation period for its new 'voluntary sustainability standard', the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS). The new standard will be announced in Q4 and the body said GRTS 'aims to extend the same principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care' to a broader range of fibres. While GOTS 'remains the global benchmark for organic textiles, GRTS 'will enable companies using other responsible fibres to credibly demonstrate both environmental and social performance under the same trusted system'. While GOTS is now implemented in over 15,000 certified facilities across 87 countries, GRTS builds on that foundation, marking a 'key milestone in advancing the mission to drive the highest levels of social and environmental impact across the textile value chain through voluntary sustainability standards and related activities'. Global Standard said GRTS is designed to 'help the textile industry drive positive change across the entire value chain', enabling companies 'to respond to rising market expectations and comply with emerging regulatory requirements without adding unnecessary complexity or cost'. Rahul Bhajekar and Claudia Kersten, managing directors of Global Standard, added: 'This expansion… empowers us to maintain minimal fees in our non-profit set-up, as we are dedicated to avoiding additional burdens on the industry's sustainability measures. 'On the one hand, the GOTS framework will now serve as a foundation for broader applications, while on the other, it continues to stand as the leading voluntary sustainability standard in the organic textile sector.'
Fashion Network
15-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Global Standard to announce new voluntary sustainability standard in Q4
Global Standard, the non-profit organisation behind the internationally-recognised Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has launchd a public consultation period for its new 'voluntary sustainability standard', the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS). The new standard will be announced in Q4 and the body said GRTS 'aims to extend the same principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care' to a broader range of fibres. While GOTS 'remains the global benchmark for organic textiles, GRTS 'will enable companies using other responsible fibres to credibly demonstrate both environmental and social performance under the same trusted system'. While GOTS is now implemented in over 15,000 certified facilities across 87 countries, GRTS builds on that foundation, marking a 'key milestone in advancing the mission to drive the highest levels of social and environmental impact across the textile value chain through voluntary sustainability standards and related activities'. Global Standard said GRTS is designed to 'help the textile industry drive positive change across the entire value chain', enabling companies 'to respond to rising market expectations and comply with emerging regulatory requirements without adding unnecessary complexity or cost'. Rahul Bhajekar and Claudia Kersten, managing directors of Global Standard, added: 'This expansion… empowers us to maintain minimal fees in our non-profit set-up, as we are dedicated to avoiding additional burdens on the industry's sustainability measures. 'On the one hand, the GOTS framework will now serve as a foundation for broader applications, while on the other, it continues to stand as the leading voluntary sustainability standard in the organic textile sector.'
Fashion Network
15-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Global Standard to announce new voluntary sustainability standard in Q4
By Global Standard, the non-profit organisation behind the internationally-recognised Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has launchd a public consultation period for its new 'voluntary sustainability standard', the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS). The new standard will be announced in Q4 and the body said GRTS 'aims to extend the same principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care' to a broader range of fibres. While GOTS 'remains the global benchmark for organic textiles, GRTS 'will enable companies using other responsible fibres to credibly demonstrate both environmental and social performance under the same trusted system'. While GOTS is now implemented in over 15,000 certified facilities across 87 countries, GRTS builds on that foundation, marking a 'key milestone in advancing the mission to drive the highest levels of social and environmental impact across the textile value chain through voluntary sustainability standards and related activities'. Global Standard said GRTS is designed to 'help the textile industry drive positive change across the entire value chain', enabling companies 'to respond to rising market expectations and comply with emerging regulatory requirements without adding unnecessary complexity or cost'. Rahul Bhajekar and Claudia Kersten, managing directors of Global Standard, added: 'This expansion… empowers us to maintain minimal fees in our non-profit set-up, as we are dedicated to avoiding additional burdens on the industry's sustainability measures. 'On the one hand, the GOTS framework will now serve as a foundation for broader applications, while on the other, it continues to stand as the leading voluntary sustainability standard in the organic textile sector.'
