Commissions
In order to answer specific scientific questions, the executive committee has created special subject- related commissions. An independent body for the issuance of the natureplus-Quality seal was formed to review the conformity of the products submitted for certification with the corresponding issuance guidelines and decide upon whether the product should be licensed to use the Quality Seal. This body is composed of independent specialists from recognised testing institutions, who were not involved with the concrete testing of the particular products in question. The basis criteria for the issuance of a certificate are the test results reports from these recognised testing institutes. The issuing body checks the formal and content-related accuracy of these reports as part of the quality control process.
The Criteria Commission is responsible for the development, harmonisation and further development of the criteria for the issuance of the quality seal. It is primarily composed of scientists and specialist assessors with experience in the area of ecological product testing. These members of the Criteria Commission are supported by representatives of the member sections within natureplus in order that the interests of all involved are adequately represented. It is the special responsibility of the Criteria Commission to clarify fundamental questions which may affect the guidelines relating to products, product groups and basic criteria and also for the determination of the principles for certification (i.e. the permissibility of certain materials according to the criteria relating to their health-related effects, the evaluation of technical alternatives, the determination of allowable emission levels and the establishment of test and measurement methods). Following a public hearing, allowing representations from legal counsel who can show a commercial or social interest in the issuance guidelines, a final version is prepared, agreed upon and made public.
All test institutes or assessors involved in the process of certification or the review of certifications must be authorised by natureplus itself. The Authorisation Commission is responsible for the establishment and application of the authorisation guidelines, setting a scale of charges, performing assessments upon the institutes and assessors and producing documentation to support the decision-making process for the executive committee.