OEKO-TEX® Pre-Certified Materials - Required Proof

Pre-certified Materials - "Base Certificates"

You can use pre-certified materials in your OEKO-TEX® application IF:

The materials have a valid OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD or ORGANIC COTTON certificate
No chemicals are added or used after the certification
Only mechanical steps are done after certification

If all of that applies:

To use pre-certified materials in your OEKO-TEX® application, you must provide proof of purchase from the certificate holder.

This confirms that:

Without this documentation, the materials cannot be considered "pre-certified".

Requirements

For Use of Supplier’s STANDARD 100 Certificate

A supplier's certificate may be used IF:

The applicant provides:
- The direct supplier's valid STANDARD 100 certificate for the relevant product or article (must be in the supplier's own name)
- A copy of the invoice or delivery slip from the supplier to the applicant (to confirm the business relationship)
Supply chain is verified during the OEKO-TEX® on-site visit (OSV)
The product is less than 3 years old, with corresponding document (invoice/delivery slip):
- Less than 1 year old
  → Possible spot checks or product control tests
- 1 to 3 years old
  → May need testing for new substances and spot checks
- More than 3 years ago or no delivery documents
  → Not considered pre-certified
  → Full testing is required

Indirect Supplier Relationship

If a trader or third party is between you and the certified supplier, you must provide additional proof.

In a direct supplier relationship, the applicant provides:
- Supplier's valid OEKO-TEX® certificate
- Proof of purchase from supplier to applicant (e.g. invoice or bill of lading from supplier to applicant)
In an indirect supplier relationship (trader, factory without certification, etc), the applicant provides:
- Supplier's valid OEKO-TEX® certificate
- Proof of purchase from supplier to applicant (e.g. invoice or bill of lading from supplier to trader)
- A declaration letter from supplier to trader
- Proof of purchase from trader to applicant (e.g. invoice or bill of lading from trader to applicant)

Proof of Purchase

To use a supplier’s OEKO-TEX® certificate, you must show proof of the business relationship.

These documents must:

Be issued by the certificate holder to the applicant
Be created by the certificate holder, NOT by the applicant (e.g. purchase orders are not accepted)
Include:
- Date of issue
- Name of certificate holder (sender)
- Name of applicant (receiver)
- Product description matching the pre-certified material or article
If a trader is involved (Indirect relationship between certificate owner and applicant):
- Each step must be documented with proper invoices or delivery slips
- A declaration letter is also required

Purchase orders created by the applicant do not count as proof of business relationship.

Only documents from the certificate holder to the applicant (or trader) can be used to confirm certified goods were supplied.

Purchase orders are:

Created by the applicant, not by the certificate holder
Not proof that the certified goods were actually delivered
Too easily created for certification purposes only, without being sent to the certificate holder

If trader are involved, the declaration letter must be written by the certificate holder, NOT the trader or applicant.

Invoice Date

The invoice date of the certified material determines the test requirements.

The original sales date of the certified material is what counts—not just the most recent invoice in the supply chain
If a trader is involved, the date from the certificate holder to the trader is used
A newer invoice from the trader to the applicant does not reset the age of the material

Example:

Declaration Letter (Traders)

A declaration letter is needed when a trader is involved between the certificate holder and the applicant.

The letter must:

Be dated
Be from the certificate holder company (preferably on the certificate holder's letterhead)
Confirm that the trader purchased the certified materials/products from the certificate holder
List the specific items covered by the certificate scope
Authorize the trader to distribute the certified items to third parties along with their certificate (include certificate number)