EWG Begins Certification Program for Consumer Products

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) announced on October 27, 2015, EWG VERIFIED™, a verification program intended “to give consumers peace of mind at point of sale as they try to avoid toxic and potentially harmful chemicals and contaminants commonly found in consumer goods.”  Under the program, products must follow the European Union’s (EU) labeling guidelines for nanomaterials used in cosmetics.  EWG VERIFIED™ items must be free of substances on EWG’s “unacceptable” list and meet limits outlined in EWG’s “restricted” list.  Companies seeking to use the mark must fully disclose their products’ ingredients on their packaging and on their websites.  EWG hopes the mark will “encourag[e] more companies to reformulate their products to achieve top scores and move the marketplace to produce healthier products.”