What Is Certification?

The MSC Product Certification Program was developed to assist regulators, retailers, writers, academics, and most importantly, consumers, in determining what products conform to the Voluntary Uniform Product Guidelines for Horticultural Mulches, Growing Media and Landscape Soils (UPG).

These guidelines were developed over a five-year period of industry debate among Council members and non-members to define product nomenclature, uniform product characteristics, minimum acceptable performance objectives and proper labeling requirements to properly inform end users.

Certified products must:

• Conform to the Council's "truth-in-labeling" requirements for product nomenclature and package label claims
  
• Pass laboratory testing, including weights and measures
  
• Pass greenhouse growth testing (For all soil products)
  
• Pass random audit testing of packages selected from retail markets

In an ongoing system of monitoring and evaluation, MSC Certification is a major step in any manufacturer's customer assurance that its product label is truthful, accurate and that product claims have been verified.

Mulch and Soil Council acts to protect the public from CCA Treated Woods in Mulch.

Forestry Resources features a product line that is safer for people and the environment.