Ecocert Ecopetcare Certification Service for Pet Care Products

The pet care product market continues to grow, but competition today goes well beyond pleasant scents, rich lather, or attractive packaging. Consumers increasingly prioritize elements they can verify, including pet safety, ingredient transparency, and environmental impact.

For brand owners and manufacturers, the key question is how to build credibility that is genuinely provable without relying on marketing language that risks overstating claims. A concrete path forward is establishing a system to obtain internationally recognized labels for pet care products. A recognized standard provides a framework for formula development and documentation that is auditable, reduces ambiguity in communication, and is well-suited to brands positioning themselves in the natural and sustainable space.

ECOCERT Ecopetcare is a standard and label developed specifically for “external care and hygiene products for pets.” It promotes the use of natural and organic ingredients under a philosophy that considers pet safety, owner safety, and environmental impact together.

One important point to understand from the outset is that Ecopetcare is not a cosmetics standard for humans. It is a specialized standard for pet care products that sets out a structured framework for formula development and production practices that can be systematically audited, from ingredient selection through to documentation. This allows brands and manufacturers to build credibility on a foundation of verifiable evidence rather than marketing communication alone.

Based on Ecocert’s Ecopetcare criteria, which set out requirements in clear terms, the thresholds commonly used as minimum targets for formula development and documentation preparation are as follows:

• At least 95% of ingredients from natural origin
• For products positioned as organic, at least 10% organic ingredients of total ingredients is required
• Application of Green Chemistry principles and production practices that consider human health and environmental impact
• Avoidance of petrochemical-derived substances, with exceptions for certain permitted items such as some preservatives, and no use of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms)
• Support for the use of recyclable packaging

For brand owners and manufacturers, these thresholds and principles immediately define the technical brief: which parts of the current formula need adjustment, what type of ingredients to select, and whether to position the product as “natural” or “organic” in order to align with the standard’s framework in a systematic and auditable way.

In general, Ecopetcare covers external care and hygiene products for pets, including cleansing products, coat and skin care products, and hygiene products used in daily routines, with animal welfare as a primary consideration.

A common misconception is that “all types of pet care products are eligible.” The criteria state clearly, however, that products for aesthetics and decorative purposes, such as coat styling products, coatings, and varnishes, fall outside the scope.

For pest-repellent and insect-control products, eligibility may be considered on a case-by-case basis, generally requiring active substances of plant or mineral origin within the standard’s framework. For this reason, it is important to define the Product Scope clearly from the outset to reduce the need for repeated formula revisions and to allow documentation preparation to proceed in an organized manner.

Many brands choose to work with Ecocert because its certification structure carries credibility and coverage at an international level. Ecocert notes nearly 30 years of experience in auditing and certification, operating in more than 130 countries, which lends weight to the label across many markets. Another factor is that Ecocert offers a broad range of certification frameworks, with more than 150 standards available, allowing brands to pursue a single standard or combine multiple standards to fit their strategic positioning.

For Thai operators, a practical business advantage is clearer communication with international trade partners, since the certification speaks a “standard language” that markets already recognize, reducing the need for repeated explanations and building confidence in traceability from source to end product.

Applying for certification is not only challenging in terms of formula adjustment. The deeper challenge lies in making every element traceable and supported by evidence that demonstrates genuine compliance with the standard, including:

• Ingredient origin documentation such as certificates of conformity, quality specifications, and regulatory documents
• Justification for ingredient selection covering functional ingredients, preservatives, solvents, and fragrances, to confirm alignment with applicable restrictions
• Production controls and contamination prevention in line with the facility’s quality management system
• Label copy and product communications that fall within the scope of the standard

For these reasons, many brands choose to work with an Ecocert consultant in Thailand, to translate international requirements into checklists, project plans, and document files that a Thai team can realistically execute, reducing revision rounds and keeping the project timeline on track.

TIBD serves as a Strategic Partner of Ecocert in Thailand, supporting brands and manufacturers in preparing for Ecopetcare projects in a structured way. This includes readiness assessment, project planning and scheduling, technical file and documentation organization, team preparation for the audit, and progress coordination throughout the relevant process steps, all aimed at keeping the project on track and minimizing document revision rounds.

It is important to note that the audit and issuance of certification are conducted by the Certification Body within Ecocert’s system, in accordance with the standard’s requirements, and not by TIBD.

To start an Ecopetcare project in a structured way and reduce revision rounds, the recommended general flow is as follows:

1. Define product scope and target product list: Select initial products and confirm they fall within the eligible scope.
2. Review formula and ingredients against criteria: Compare against key requirements and identify areas that need adjustment.
3. Compile a Traceability Pack: Gather documentation to support full traceability of each ingredient and material.
4. Review packaging and label copy: Ensure alignment with the scope of the standard.
5. Pre-audit preparation: Organize files, walk through frequently asked questions, and verify completeness.
6. Coordinate and manage the project timeline: Track status and documents through to completion.

Ecocert notes that ingredient selection can reference relevant ingredient databases, such as databases of ingredients recognized within the COSMOS framework, to help confirm ingredient status against the standard’s requirements from the start of development.

In practice, this functions as a risk filter for R&D teams. Selecting ingredients whose status and supporting documentation can be verified from the first review reduces the chance of encountering problems later, such as incomplete documentation, ingredient status that does not meet requirements, or the need to reformulate after development is already well advanced. The result is better control over cost, time, and the number of revision rounds.

If you are a brand owner or manufacturer looking to elevate your pet care products to a level of credibility that is internationally verifiable, Ecopetcare is one standard worth considering. Its core framework requires at least 95% ingredients of natural origin, a minimum of 10% organic ingredients for organically positioned products, avoidance of petrochemical-derived substances, no use of GMOs, and a commitment to environmentally appropriate packaging.

A cost-effective way to start is to select 1 to 2 products with the highest readiness and strongest chance of compliance, then conduct a Gap Assessment to clearly identify what needs to be adjusted in both the formula and documentation. From there, the certification scope can be expanded to additional products once the documentation system and working processes are in place. This approach reduces revision rounds, controls timelines, and keeps the certification application moving forward systematically.

If you are considering ECOCERT Ecopetcare and want to begin the project in a structured way, from readiness assessment and evidence file preparation through to audit-readiness, TIBD, as Strategic Partner of Ecocert, can support the planning and preparation process at every step to help reduce revision rounds, manage risk, and keep the project timeline clear.

[Contact TIBD] to begin an initial readiness assessment and identify the most suitable products to start with, giving your project the best possible foundation from the first round.