Control Union Certifications

GOTS Logo use Registration Global Organic Textile Standards

GOTS LOGO USE REGISTRATION

Certification programme

Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)

NAME AND ADDRESS OF COMPANY APPLYING / CU CLIENT NUMBER
TELEPHONE / FAX NUMBER
/
E-MAIL OF CONTACT PERSON
V.A.T. (Value Added Tax) number of your company (if left blank CU is required to charge 19% tax additional to the price for this service).
Use of logo:
-on products (hangtags, care labels, product labels)?
-off products (=brochure, promotional material)?
/
Choose between:
On-product
Off-product
Product names and categories (“label grades” organic / made with x% organic)
Procedure

-As per the GOTS Labelling Guide, it is a requirement to have any use of the GOTS Logo approved by Certification Bodies prior to use of the logo.

-Along with this Registration form, please send an example of the GOTS Label using the GOTS Labelling Guide attached, or on our website.

-The example of the label must contain the logo, correct references to the product (‘label grades’ organic / made with x% organic) and CU client number (“CU xxxxxx”).

-The label assessment is done on the basis of one example, but it may be applicable to all products on your scope certificate.

-The label assessment result will be communicated to the contact person by email mentioned at the top of this form.

-The verification of correct logo use is done by the CU auditor during the GOTS audit.

-Incomplete registration forms or registration forms without examples will not be processed.

-Completed and signed application should be sent to the respective certifier.

-By signing this Registration you agree to be invoiced by Control Union Certifications in The Netherlands for €50.- (this is an administration fee for CU).

-Keep proof of the use as a record in the administrative offices of your company for the auditor to check this form.

-As soon as the GOTS logo use is approved, the EKO Sustainable Textile logo may no longer be used on new labels, brochures and products.

Examples of correct GOTS labels[1]

Terms and Conditions

Fees

  • No fees need to be forwarded to IWG any more. However, to cover costs CU is charging € 50.- administration costs per Certificate Holder.
  • GOTS Logo use fees are not refundable under any circumstances.

Ownership

  • The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard (IWG) has developed and is continuously revising the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and is its sole owner.
  • The GOTS picture-mark, also represented as “GOTS logo” or “GOTS label”, is copyright material and is a registered trademark owned by the IWG.
  • The use of the GOTS picture-mark is regulated and governed by the IWG; unauthorised use of this copyright material is prohibited and may lead to legal action.
  • Processors, manufacturers and traders of GOTS goods that hold a valid GOTS scope certificate by Control Union Certifications (CUC) are considered a Certificate Holder.
  • The IWG has approved CUC as certification body (Approved Certifier) thereby granting the CUC the right to sub-licence the use of the GOTS picture mark to Certificate Holders.

Obligations of the Certificate Holder

  • The Certificate Holder is entitled and obliged to use the GOTS picture mark in accordance with the Labelling Guide of the IWG (in particular but not limited to point 4.1 and 6 thereof) and together with the following points so as to ensure that the logo user is identifiable on its basis:

-the applicable label grade [The only label grade available for US market is “made with…organic…”), depending upon the product and Market

-the reference to the approved certifier (“CU[client number]”)

  • The Certificate Holder is obliged to inform CUC immediately and truthfully on any changes concerning the identification data of the Certificate Holder and certification status of suppliers, subcontractors, production sites and certified customers.
  • The Certificate Holder shall indemnify and hold harmless CUC, the IWG and its representatives and members from and against all claims including product liability, losses, damages and expenses arising out of this Registration and the use of the GOTS and or the GOTS picture-mark.

Information transmitted

  • The Certificate Holder entitles CUC to transmit to the IWG the following information on facilities and/or operators inspected and/or certified on behalf of the Certificate Holder:

-Company name

-address

-production-category

-product-information

-product quantities.

  • The Certificate Holder entitles the IWG to enter the afore-mentioned information into a public data-base accessible to third parties.

Termination and duration

  • CUC retains the possibility to withdraw this sub-licence with immediate effect (suspension) if there are reasons to believe that any of the terms of this Registration, the GOTS Labelling Guide of the IWG or the GOTS-requirements are not being adhered to.
  • The Certificate Holder makes known to CUC without delay any unauthorised use of the GOTS picture-mark that it gains knowledge about, including but not limited to any unauthorised use of the GOTS picture-mark by its direct and/or indirect customers and buyers. Failing to do this may have consequences for the certification status of the Certificate Holder.
  • Either party may terminate this GOTS Logo use Registration with three months prior notice in writing.
  • Should the IWG withdraw or otherwise discontinue the approval of CUC and should a withdrawal of the approval of CUC not be revoked, Control Union Certifications will inform the Certificate Holder without delay. In this case, CUC is entitled to transfer its rights and obligations under this Registration to another approved certifier.
  • This Registration enters into force when it has been signed by the legal representative of the Certificate Holder and the logo user has paid the sub-licence fees based on an invoice issued by CUC.

Undersigned declares to have completed this GOTS logo use Registration truthfully, and will comply with the requirements and conditions of use as set out in this Registration as well as in the applicable version of the Labelling Guide issued by the International Working Group of the Global Organic Textile Standard:

NAME and SIGNATURE of legal representative
DATE
GOTS logo assessment result, to be completed by the CU office
Result: Approved / not approved
Name, date & signature of CU person approving

TEXGOTSLOGOAPPL.F01(04) 2012JULY 1/3

[1] This pertains to labels on packaging of the product. Logos used in hangtags or similar, need the CU number underneath the logo. In these cases it is not necessary to put names and addresses of the last-certified company.