What does certification really mean?

Why are there so many certification boards? Do we really need ALL these certifications? Yes, I know, I sometimes ask difficult questions. It’s partly for philosophical reasons, partly for practical ones that I question the various reasons for certification.

On the surface, certification by some authoritative institution that a product is safe and reliable makes good common sense. What other guarantee does a consumer have that consumption of a product will not be harmful?

Whether you are talking about cosmetics and beauty products -- or food, medicine, vehicle parts, or any other kinds of products – for a consumer to feel and be safe, we assume that certification means an authority has inspected the manufacturing process and tested the products.

On the other hand, those assumptions could be false.

As the old adage says, “Follow the Money.” Beauty is big business and the certification process can clearly be seen to favor the big brands. The application process is complex, the tests are expensive, and the monitoring and administration of the application can drag on for long time. For a small company with unique products -- a family grower of the purest olive oil in Italy, or a small farm growing rosemary and lavender in France or Turkey -- whether or not to apply for certification becomes a real question of time and money. Is it worth it?

The number of possible certifications is mind-boggling – just as one example, to be “certified organic,” there are now dozens of possible agencies offering certification. These institutions make claims that their certifications are important and reliable, but how often do consumers ask about the trustworthiness of the certification? Companies and products are often challenged, but how about the certifying agencies themselves?

Here are some questions consumers could ask about any certification:

  • Who founded or supports the certification agency?
  • Does the certifier actually inspect or test products?
  • How does the certifier establish its credibility?
  • What criteria does the authority use for certification?
  • How much does the certifier charge for its certification?
The bottom line is that certification may be financially out of reach for most small creative companies or for family companies who have produced their stuff for generations. They now may be pushed out of business because of the BUSINESS of certification. These certification companies are getting richer every day in a most profitable and successful business.

However, the issue is not whether or not a company should go for certification (as we have chosen to do with our PP products). Not being certified does not mean that there is something wrong with the products. Could it be that there is something wrong with the BUSINESS of certification companies?

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

By Teviot Fairservis.


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