India, Bangladesh Lose Textile Exchange Accreditation After Summer Suspension
The IOAS has announced the withdrawal of its accreditation to all Textile Exchange standards for Bangladesh and India as of Jan. 3, five months after suspending accreditation for the two countries effective Aug. 1. Behind the withdrawal of accreditation was the fact that the countries no longer conformed to the strict auditing/certification standards set during the annual assessment. The move only affects Bangladesh and India, and the status of other CCPB countries remains the same, according to a statement by Textile Exchange.
Unless the CCPB or Textile Exchange notify holders of a change in status of transaction certificates, those certificates are still considered valid. However, as of Jan. 3, CCPB is not permitted to issue transaction certificates for Bangladesh or India. It may continue to issue valid scope certificates in other countries included in their accreditation.
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To verify the authenticity of a CCPB certificate, it must be validated against Textile Exchange records which apply only to transaction certificates issued after October 2022. Textile Exchange notes on its website that certified clients in India or Bangladesh of CCPB should have already been notified or will be shortly.
Those that are affected by the change in status should contact the relevant bodies in their area to arrange new certification or determine if a transfer audit may suffice. They should also notify the prospective new certifying body and send it a copy of the notification received. When an organization moves between certification bodies, the new certifying body is permitted to issue transaction certificates for shipments dated from when the organization was certified by the former certification body as long as all Textile Exchange conditions are met.
Textile Exchange has said it regrets the situation around the withdrawal of accreditation for Bangladesh and India because of the possible hardships and/or cost involved, but assured involved parties that the move stands as testament to the integrity of the certification process.
The move further complicates an administrative landscape that is in flux around the world. The European Union in particular is gearing up to initiate new, more stringent standards for the textile industry in order to promote sustainability and circularity in the sector, which generates 92 million tons of textile waste annually. It will require traceability, durability and repairability of products to prolong the life of them, it will forbid the destruction of unsold or returned textiles, and set standards which increase the amount of recycled content in any given item. It will also require digital passports carrying all documentation of a products origin so consumers and recyclers can make more informed decisions.
