Our Argan Oil and Damascus Rose Absolute have obtained Fairtrade's international certification. Purchasing this product can directly help the Moroccan female workers responsible for production and improve their backward living environment. Learn more...
There are more than a hundred argan oil (argan oil) manufacturers in Morocco. To make the most suitable choice quickly and effectively, the most direct way is to first understand whether the products they provide meet international standards.
The following are the certificates that most argan oil (argan oil) manufacturers have after detailed research :
1. ECOCERT-Necessary certification for exporting organic products to the EU
2. USDA-Necessary certification for exporting organic products to the United States
3. NormaCert-Certification of origin of raw materials (i.e. the protected Moroccan nut zone)
4. ONSSA- Hygiene certificate of the production plant
It is not easy to find genuine and reputable producers in the backward Morocco. Since each of the above certificates has its practical role and seems to be indispensable, our primary goal is to use the above four certificates as screening criteria. Unfortunately, most producers only provide ECOCERT and USDA certificates. Although the lack of certificates does not mean that they do not meet other standards, it may be that some small and medium-sized producers do not want to waste money on certificates, but this is exactly the working principle of different producers.
Most of the argan oil sold around the world today is certified by ECOCERT and USDA. However, no matter how famous the retailers or agents are or how good their equipment is, they cannot deny the fact that argan oil was originally produced in Morocco. The most ideal quality control must start from the production line. Having a manufacturer with sufficient certification is the most basic guarantee for producing the highest quality and purest organic argan oil.
There is one final certification that is not necessary, but has more potential than actual significance:
5. Fairtrade-Proof of fair trade between manufacturers and workers
ECOCERT
The largest and most credible organic certification body in the EU is the global organic certification indicator with strict quality control and certification standards. They ensure that more than 95% of the products are organic ingredients, prohibit the use of a series of harmful substances, and ensure that all ingredients do not harm the environment; monitor the storage, transportation, and environmental hygiene of raw materials and finished products, and conduct annual re-inspections. All products that can meet the certification requirements are absolutely trustworthy.
ECOCERT is a required certificate for all international brands selling organic products on the market. It is the most effective and basic certification.
USDA-United States Department of Agriculture/U.S. Department of Agriculture
Like ECOCERT, it is organically certified, but it complies with the organic product standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It can also be used absolutely safely on hair, skin and other parts of the human body, and can be exported to all regions in the United States.
USDA and ECOCERT both provide organic certification, but the difference is only between exports to the United States and exports to EU countries.
NormaCert
Ensure that all nut oil products from suppliers originate from the nut tree belt protected by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in the specific regions of Morocco, Essaouira and Agadir.
NormaCert is definitely the most overlooked certification for Argan Oil (Argan Oil) products, but we think it is the most important one. Laymen and even most consumers only focus on the ECOCERT certificate to determine whether the product is organic. However, as mentioned above, ECOCERT is a must for products to be exported. Organic products on the market must be equipped with this certificate, so its actual reference value is not very large. On the contrary, NormaCert is very important in proving the origin of Argan Oil products. Why is it so important to prove the origin? Just know that there are not only argan trees protected by UNESCO in the world. In fact, there is a company in Israel that has transplanted argan trees and has been cultivating them for many years. It is called "Argan 100" and produces different types of argan oil products all over the world. Of course, the price is much cheaper than the argan oil produced in Morocco. The most famous one in the market is the commonly seen "Moroxxxxoil" argan oil product. That explains why the price of the rarest and most expensive essential oil in the world can vary greatly in the market, and also explains why the importance of ECOCERT is often exaggerated by argan oil retailers.
ONSSA-Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des produits Alimentaires (French)/ National Office for Food Safety (English)
Morocco's Food Safety Authority. This certificate means that the production factory has excellent hygiene environment and equipment, and complies with all local hygiene and safety requirements.
Fairtrade Fair Trade International Certification
Proof of fair trade between producers and workers. We are one of the two nut oil producers in Morocco that can obtain Fairtrade international certification.
We believe that the management policy of the manufacturer directly affects the product quality, so one of our directions is to look for fair trade manufacturers. Unfortunately, we found that all the manufacturers claiming to be fair trade did not have Fairtrade certification. After further investigation, we found that there are only two nut oil manufacturers in Morocco that can obtain Fairtrade international certification, and our manufacturer is one of them.
The person in charge said that since fair trade gives consumers the feeling that they are giving back to society when shopping, almost all producers in Morocco, and even some organic products currently available in the market including Hong Kong, also label themselves as fair trade, which gives consumers a false impression and makes them more willing to consume, thereby increasing their income.
A manufacturer that truly adheres to Fairtrade means being willing to selflessly provide more resources to its employees and directly help all female workers. In today's profit-oriented world, especially in relatively backward Morocco, this is even more precious. We believe that all our income can truly and directly help local female workers, their families and children, and we can also contribute to one of the poorest people in the world when we provide health care.