With regard to the current situation and the COVID-19 outbreak, Oeko-Tex is adapting its processes for renewing certificates and reducing the effort for production facilities. Renewals of certificates and new applications should continue to be carried out as far as possible. The production processes of retailers and companies should not be interrupted.
Renewal of the Ecopassport, STeP, Leather Standard, and Standard 100 certificates are possible for existing and known certificate owners and is currently handled by the relevant institutes without any submission of samples. These have to be submitted by the certificate owner within the next three months and will be checked by the institutes. If no samples are submitted within this period, the certificate is cancelled and becomes invalid. This service can only be offered to existing production facilities, as the Oeko-Tex association has confidence in them and their products. The certificates’ validity date is set to the date of the original expiry including three additional months, the company said in a media statement.
In the interest of the Oeko-Tex association, retailers are not affected in their manufacturing processes. The labels are not identified as invalid during the controls. Regions that are vastly affected by the virus will suspend all tests until further notice. Their work may resume when the extraordinary situation has calmed down. New certifications and applications are still possible, if a sample is presented and has been checked by the institute according to the usual criteria.
The Oeko-Tex association also tries to keep any imminent risk as low as possible and operates in the fullest conscience. Their actions are based on solidarity and communion. Institutes that are currently not able to carry out laboratory tests are supported by partner institutes of the Oeko-Tex association. This is a great advantage for the entire organisation: retailers do not have to sacrifice performance and service.
