Compliance Scope
Organic production criteria define GOTS Version 7.0 across all processing stages from raw harvest to final labelling. Certified supply chains must verify environmental and social criteria at every manufacturing tier before finished goods enter retail distribution. Independent certifiers inspect ginning, spinning, wet processing, and assembly facilities against baseline toxicity thresholds.
Residue testing validates chemical input limits for dyestuffs and auxiliary agents applied during wet processing.
Traceability Mechanism
Supply chain integrity relies on transaction certificates linking specific material volumes from farm gate to garment exporter. Auditors reconcile incoming organic fibre quantities with outgoing finished goods yields to prevent uncertified mixing at spinning mills. Mass balance calculations track processing losses through carding, combing, and dyeing operations to ensure certified output matches certified input.
Subcontractors handling specialized finishing steps must hold separate scope certificates before receiving unlabelled goods.
Chemical Restriction
Restricted substance lists ban specific heavy metals, aromatic amines, and formaldehyde donors across all printing and dyeing formulations. Wastewater from wet processing facilities requires biological treatment and heavy metal precipitation prior to discharge into municipal systems. Chemical formulations undergo toxicological screening by approved certification bodies before mills apply them to yarn or fabric batches.
Social Criteria
Factory inspections verify core labour standards including freedom of association, living wages, and safe working conditions under international conventions. Documented grievance mechanisms and regular working hour logging protect workers from excessive overtime during peak production cycles. Independent auditors interview floor personnel without management present to confirm compliance with occupational health regulations.
