Code Of Ethics

Preamble

The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. is a trade organization whose object and purpose is to promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers, and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers.

Membership is open to those who make and sell handcrafted soap, businesses and individuals who provide ingredients and/or supplies to handcrafted soapmakers and those who wish to assist in promoting the handcrafted soap industry in general.

Code of Ethics

A member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. shall:

1. Promote the handcrafted soap industry and assist in its recognition and acceptance.
2. Encourage a spirit of respect, cooperation, ethical conduct and fair dealing with and between all soapmakers, whether members of the HSMG or not.
3. Conduct herself in a manner which inspires confidence in and reflects well of the handcrafted soap industry.
4. Conduct his business in accordance with all local, state and federal laws.

A Soapmaker Member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. shall:

5. Follow good manufacturing practices in the production of his soaps.
6. Ensure that her soaps are safe for use by the consumer.
7. Accurately label his soaps in accordance with the current regulations of the authorized governmental body in his country.
8. Provide accurate information to her customers regarding the ingredients, benefits and use of her products.

A Vendor Member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. shall:

9. Follow good manufacturing and/or re-packaging practices in the production and/or packaging of soap making ingredients which he sells to soapmakers.
10. Provide sufficient information to her soapmaker customers to enable them to label their soaps with accurate ingredient labels in accordance with the current regulations of the authorized governmental body in their country.

A member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. shall:

11. Honor property rights, including copyrights and patents and give proper credit for another’s work even in cases where the work has not been explicitly protected.
12. Use and protect the marks and trademarks of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild in accordance with the guidelines set by the Board of Directors.
13. Uphold and promote the principles of this Code.

NOTES:

For the purposes of this document, reference to a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc alternates between the feminine and masculine forms and applies to both genders.

In the United States the federal agencies would be the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission; state agencies may also have authority. In other countries similar governmental bodies may exist.

The Code of Ethics above was adopted by the Soap Guild membership as official HSMG Policy at the 2005 Annual Meeting.