Certification to our standards is carried out by a third party

Textile Exchange is sharing an update on the New Zealand Merino (NZM) investigation into animal welfare concerns that were raised at the end of 2024.

We have been informed by NZM and their certification body that the ZQ and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) investigation into two farms has been concluded. In February, NZM voluntarily withdrew both of these farms from its ZQ group and the RWS.

As with any investigation, Textile Exchange will ensure that appropriate actions are taken by the responsible parties. In any case where non-conformities are found, the responsible certification body follows up to ensure that necessary corrective actions are carried out by the certified organization. Due to confidentiality requirements within our complaints and due diligence process, we cannot provide additional information about this investigation.

We view the RWS, ZQ and other animal welfare standards as essential tools for driving continuous improvement across the industry. By adopting and promoting standards like RWS, ZQ and other animal welfare standards, we collectively elevate the baseline for animal welfare and have accountability frameworks in place for when this baseline is not met and encourage incremental advancements in practices.

If you have any questions on the ZQ or RWS investigation, please contact NZM or Standards@textileexchange.org directly for more details.

Textile Exchange is sharing an update that Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. (Intertek)’s accreditation body, ANSI National Accreditation Board, LLC (ANAB), has lifted the suspension of Intertek’s accreditation to all Textile Exchange standards effective February 12, 2025.

Therefore, as of February 12, 2025, Intertek may resume all certification activities related to Textile Exchange in all countries. This includes (but not limited to) issuing transaction certificates for certified products shipped while the suspension was in place.

Textile Exchange has provided guidance to certification bodies regarding the issuance of transaction certificates, including for certified organizations who have transferred to another certification body (please see ASR-104 Policy for Transaction Certificates, section A8.5).

If an organization transferred to a new certification body during Intertek’s suspension, the succeeding certification body may issue transaction certificates for shipments certified under Intertek, provided all conditions outlined in ASR-104-v3.1 Policy for Transaction Certificates, Section A8.5 are met. For more details, please contact your certification body. Transaction certificates previously issued by Intertek are still considered valid – unless otherwise notified by Intertek or Textile Exchange. To authenticate a transaction certificate issued by Intertek, please see the Textile Exchange transaction certificate portal.

If you are a certified client of Intertek, please contact them directly for more details regarding how the lifting of this suspension may impact the certification services you receive. Contact information of licensed certification bodies is available below.

Please see our initial statement for more information.