Products under BDIH guidelines

The Bundesverband der Industrie- und Handelsunternehmen (BDIH) is a German non-profit industry and trade association. Together with natural cosmetics producers in 1996, it created guidelines for the certification of natural cosmetics that is safe to consumers and is environmentally friendly.

Basic guidelines concerning BDIH-certified natural cosmetics:

Raw materials of plant origin must originate from certified organic raw material.
Substances that are produced by animals (e.g. milk or honey) are allowed.
Raw materials obtained from dead vertebrates (e.g. emu oil, mink oil, marmot fat, animal fats, collagen or living cells) are prohibited.
It is prohibited to carry out or commission another party to carry out animal testing.
Raw materials that were tested on animals after December 31, 1997 must not be used.
The use of inorganic and mineral salts, acids and bases (e.g. magnesium sulphate or sodium chloride) is generally allowed.
Alongside physical processes, enzymatic and microbiological processes as they occur in nature are allowed for the production of natural cosmetics.
Substances from the following groups may not be used: organic and synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, silicones, paraffin and other petroleum-derived products.
For the purpose of preservation, the following may be used: benzoic acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid and benzyl alcohol.
Natural fragrances that comply with ISO 9235 are allowed.
Raw materials of plant and animal origin or end products must not be treated with ionizing radiation.