To protect and equip consumers to maximize their well-being, NPA developed the Natural Standard and Certification for Personal Care Products, a set of guidelines that dictate whether a product can be deemed truly "natural." The standard encompasses all cosmetic personal care products regulated and defined by the FDA. The NPA Natural Standard is based on natural ingredients, safety, responsibility and sustainability. Natural Ingredients: A product labeled "natural" should be made up of only, or at least almost only, natural ingredients and be manufactured with appropriate processes to maintain ingredient purity. Safety: A product labeled "natural" should avoid any ingredient with a suspected human health risk. Responsibility: A product labeled "natural" should use no animal testing in its development. Sustainability: A product labeled "natural" should use biodegradable ingredients and the most environmentally sensitive packaging. Under the Natural Standard for Personal Care Products, allowed ingredients come from or are made from a renewable resource found in nature (flora, fauna, mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. For each ingredient, the substance must be listed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and contain no residues of heavy metals or other contaminants in excess of tolerances set by the FDA or the EPA or has been reviewed using criteria in this standard. NPA has developed the NPA Illustrative List as a reference document for the NPA Natural Standard and Certification Program.