Better Cotton Principles and Criteria

The Better Cotton Production Principles and Criteria lay out the global definition of Better Cotton, by upholding the following 7 principles:

Principle 1: BCI Farmers minimise the harmful impact of crop protection practices

Principle 2: BCI Farmers promote water stewardship

Principle 3: BCI Farmers care for the heath of soil

Principle 4: BCI Farmers enhance biodiversity and use land responsibly

Principle 5: BCI Farmers care for and preserve fibre quality

Principle 6: BCI Farmers promote decent work

Principle 7: BCI Farmers operate an effective management system

BCI Banned

The Producer must not use any pesticide listed in:

1. Annex A and B of the Stockholm Convention; or
2. Annexes of the Montreal Protocol; or
3. Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.

BCI Phase out

The Producer must phase out the use of any pesticide active ingredients and formulations that are known or presumed to be extremely or highly hazardous (acute toxicity).

1. The Producer has a plan to phase out by 2021 pesticides listed in category 1 of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS); Ia of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
2. The Producer has a plan to phase out by 2024 pesticides listed in category 2 of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS); Ib of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.

The Producer must phase out the use of any pesticide active ingredients and formulations that are known or presumed to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances.

1. The Producer has a plan to phase out Pesticides defined as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances according to Categories Ia and Ib of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).