Health and beauty standards
These standards set out the requirements for organic and natural health and beauty products certified to the internationally recognised COSMOS standard and for Soil Association health and beauty certified products.
Version 4.0 (v4.0) of the COSMOS standard was published 1st January 2023 and has been applicable from 1st June 2023. A sub version was published (1st March 2024) which contains editorial changes. From 1st March 2024, COSMOS version 4.1 was applicable to all products and ingredients.
On 1st September 2025, a second sub version is published (v4.2), again with editorial changes.
Note, all products and ingredients that meet version 4, automatically meet version 4.1 and v4.2. There are not criteria changes in v4.1 or v4.2. The up-to-date transition dates have been written in v4.2.
Soil Association Certification certifies products to the COSMOS-standard for products that are considered ‘cosmetic products’ by definition in the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009.
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COSMOS standard v4.2
Version 4.2 of the COSMOS standard is applicable from 1st September 2025.
Read the standard
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Technical Guide
COSMOS standard technical guide.
Read the guide
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Soil Association health and beauty standards
Applicable to personal care products, pet products and other products that cannot be considered ‘cosmetic products’ by definition in the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. Also applicable to existing cosmetic products that have not been reformulated to the COSMOS standard.
Read the standard
See the summary of changes document for more information.
Supporting documents for COSMOS v4.2
The COSMOS labelling guide, technical guide, standard and control manual, have changed been updated in accordance with the launch of COSMOS v4.2.