ETKO Animal Care Standard

What is the ETKO Animal Care Standard?

The ETKO Animal Care Standard is an international certification program developed specifically for pet (dogs, cats, etc.) grooming, cosmetic, and care products, such as shampoos, coat sprays, paw balms, and grooming wipes. Animals possess a skin pH balance, coat structure, and sense of smell that are entirely different from and much more sensitive than those of humans. This standard aims to prevent the use of aggressive synthetic chemicals in pet products—chemicals that threaten our furry friends' health and can cause skin dryness, allergies, or respiratory irritation. It ensures a lifecycle that respects nature and animal health, from formulation to packaging.

Key Technical Criteria of ETKO Animal Care Certification

ETKO Animal Care offers two different label classes based on the origin of the ingredients and the manufacturing methods. The technical framework can be summarized as follows:

• Certification Categories:

  • ETKO Organic Animal Care (Organic Label): A significant majority of the agriculturally derived (plant-based) ingredients in the product formulation must be obtained through certified organic farming methods.

  • ETKO Natural Animal Care (Natural Label): All components (100%) in the product must be of natural origin. While there is no strict minimum organic content requirement in this category, the use of synthetic chemicals is strictly prohibited.

• Formulation and Animal Physiology Compliance:

  • To protect the natural skin flora of pets, the pH values of the products must be meticulously formulated to match the specific animal species (e.g., typically between 6.5 and 7.5 for dogs).

  • Because animals have a sense of smell hundreds of times stronger than humans, the use of stress-inducing synthetic fragrances is banned. Scenting can only be achieved using safe, properly diluted natural plant extracts or essential oils.

• Prohibited Chemicals:

  • Irritating sulfates like SLS/SLES, parabens, silicones, synthetic colorants, petrochemical derivatives, and GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) ingredients are strictly prohibited from the product formulations.

• Ecological Approach and Packaging:

  • When the product is washed off and enters the water system, the formulation must not harm aquatic life and must be fully biodegradable. Packaging must be selected from recyclable and eco-friendly materials.

Who this standard is for

The ETKO Animal Care Standard is for manufacturers of pet-care products (for example shampoos, sprays, wipes, or similar articles in scope) that want a dedicated pet-care claim. It is not pet food, not livestock feed, and not a farm animal-welfare standard such as RWS.

What is certified

• Leave-on and rinse-off pet-care formulations listed by the standard
• Ingredient safety and restricted substances relevant to companion animals
• Manufacturing hygiene for products that contact animal skin or coat
• Claims made on pet-care packaging

What this standard does not cover

• Pet food or treats (feed/food law)
• Veterinary medicines
• Farm animal-welfare fibre standards (RWS, RDS, RAS, RMS)
• Human cosmetics passed off as pet products without meeting this standard

Questions buyers and operators usually ask

Can we sell a human COSMOS shampoo as pet shampoo under Animal Care?

Only if the SKU is assessed against this standard, including ingredients that may be unsuitable for cats or other species. A human cosmetic certificate does not automatically qualify a pet SKU.

Does Animal Care mean the product is vegan or cruelty-free?

Not by itself. Those are separate claims with separate evidence. A pet shampoo can fail vegan if it contains lanolin, for example.

Are essential oils freely allowed because they are “natural”?

No. Some oils and phenols are a toxicity risk for pets (especially cats). The standard’s restricted lists and species warnings apply even when the oil is plant-derived.

Is this an organic pet-care certificate?

Only if the product also meets organic ingredient rules the standard defines. Do not print “organic” solely because the SKU is Animal Care certified.

What to have ready before the audit

• Species the product is intended for (dog, cat, other)
• Full formula and safety assessment relevant to those species
• Ingredient supplier documents
• Label claims and usage instructions
• Manufacturing site and filling records

Frequent findings

• Tea-tree or other restricted oils in a cat product
• Human-cosmetic leftover filled into pet bottles
• “Organic” or “vegan” printed without those certificates
• Treats or supplements placed under a care-product certificate