Plant-based cosmetic ingredients and food-based ingredients are common in the cosmetics industry. However, in a world where a great deal of importance is placed on health and nature, it can be beneficial for a brand to highlight its non-GMO certified products. GMO-Free certification will help you stand out from your competitors.

GMO Free certification criteria

BIORIUS follows the standards of Regulations EC No 1829/2003 as well as Directive EC No 2001/18 to certify that a product is GMO-free.

According to Directive EC No 2001/18 (Art. 2), a ‘genetically modified organism (GMO)’ is an organism, in whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. Within the terms of this definition:

(a) genetic modification occurs using techniques listed in Annex I A, Part 1;

(b) the techniques listed in Annex I A, Part 2 are not considered to result in genetic modification;

ANNEX I A

TECHNIQUES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2(2)

PART 1

Techniques of genetic modification referred to in Article 2(2)(a) are inter alia:

(1) recombinant nucleic acid techniques involving the formation of new combinations of genetic material by the insertion of nucleic acid molecules produced by whatever means outside an organism, into any virus, bacterial plasmid or other vector system and their incorporation into a host organism in which they do not naturally occur but in which they are capable of continued propagation;

(2) techniques involving the direct introduction into an organism of heritable material prepared outside the organism including micro-injection, macroinjection and micro-encapsulation;

(3) cell fusion (including protoplast fusion) or hybridisation techniques where live cells with new combinations of heritable genetic material are formed through the fusion of two or more cells by means of methods that do not occur naturally.

PART 2

Techniques referred to in Article 2(2)(b) which are not considered to result in genetic modification, on condition that they do not involve the use of recombinant nucleic acid molecules or genetically modified organisms made by techniques/methods other than those excluded by Annex I B:

(1) in vitro fertilisation,

(2) natural processes such as: conjugation, transduction, transformation,

(3) polyploidy induction

In order to determine if your product is eligible for “GMO-Free” certification, BIORIUS evaluates the raw materials in your cosmetic products according to the above standards.

Certification logo and validity

By fulfilling the ‘GMO free’ certification, the brand receives:

• a signed certificate
• the right to use the BIORIUS’ ‘GMO free’ logo on the label of your certified cosmetic products.

This certification remains valid as long as the composition of the cosmetic product does not change.