Handcrafted Soap Makers GuildGeneral » Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild http://www.soapguild.org/blog Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:28:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 HSMG Advocacy Position Statement http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/07/hsmg-advocacy-position-statement/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/07/hsmg-advocacy-position-statement/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:40:57 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2841
The HSMG has issued the following Advocacy Position Statement, approved by the Board of Directors on July 14, 2011.

The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HSMG) is a non-profit trade association for soapmakers, small businesses hand making soaps and the handmade soap making industry as a whole. Depending on the formulation and/or claims, handmade soaps can be regulated by the FDA or CPSC.  The following principles outline the HSMG policy positions:
  1. Supports small businesses manufacturing safe soap and safe cosmetics.
  2. Supports current cosmetic regulations for the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as a means of providing consumers with safe cosmetics.
  3. Supports the current soap exemption as defined in the current cosmetic regulations for the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
  4. Supports all manufacturers having affordable and sufficient product & liability insurance.
  5. Supports small business manufacturers having access to up to date information and education.
  6. Supports positive advocacy strategies and communication as a means to affect change.
  7. Opposes new regulations which would be overly burdensome or costly to small business while not significantly increasing consumer safety.
]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/07/hsmg-advocacy-position-statement/feed/ 2 H.R 2359 The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 is Introduced http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/06/h-r-2359-the-safe-cosmetics-act-of-2011-is-introduced/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/06/h-r-2359-the-safe-cosmetics-act-of-2011-is-introduced/#comments Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:37:08 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2821

Today, Reps. Schakowsky, Markey and Baldwin introduced The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, H.R. 2359.

Here is the press release issued by Rep. Schakowsky’s office:  PRESS RELEASE

The full text of the bill should be available Monday or Tuesday online.  You can look for it here by searching the bill number, H.R. 2359.

We have a very open line of communication with the staff of Rep. Schakowsky, Markey and Baldwin’s offices and have been very encouraged by all of the positive changes made for small business between the 2010 and 2011 versions of this bill.  Please check back next week for a more comprehensive report on this legislation.

Leigh O’Donnell

HSMG President

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/06/h-r-2359-the-safe-cosmetics-act-of-2011-is-introduced/feed/ 0 Legislative Update – The Safe Cosmetics Act http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/06/legislative-update-safe-cosmetics-act/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/06/legislative-update-safe-cosmetics-act/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:01:55 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2801 On June 10th, I flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional staff from Representative Schakowsky, Markey and Baldwin’s offices.  I was invited to meet with them as a follow up to ongoing meetings that have been conducted over the past year and to hear the changes that they are proposing to make as a result of our active advocacy efforts.

Since our first meetings last July (after the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 was introduced) the Representatives’ staffs have kept the lines of communication open and have been very receptive to our input.  This meeting was no different;  I attended with our D.C. advocate Mary Anne Walsh of Roetzel and Andress who has been not only our eyes and ears in Washington, but also an advisor and strategist, introducing the industry to Members of Congress in both the House and Senate.

I can tell you now, without a doubt, that the HSMG’s voice is being heard on Capitol Hill.

After some lengthy discussions and negotiations in our recent meeting, it looks like the new draft of The Safe Cosmetics Act should include several provisions that are major victories for the HSMG and its members.  They are:

REGISTRATION

For registration of your facility or company and your products:

  • Any cosmetic company with under $2 million in gross aggregate sales per year will be exempt from FDA registration for both the company and products being made.
  • A company that makes between $2 million and $10 million in gross aggregate sales per year will register their company (facility) and their products annually.  There will be no registration fees and no change forms if you introduce a new product within that year.
  • A cosmetic manufacturer that has over $10 million in gross aggregate sales per year will register their company (facility) and their products and will be responsible for a registration fee to the FDA.  This fee will be determined by the FDA and will be based on gross sales.

LABELING

  • All botanicals will be listed as what they are on the label and will not need to be broken down into their organic compounds.  For example, Coconut Oil will be Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil).
  • Also, the legislation will NOT require additional testing for products made using already tested, approved  and labeled ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

The FDA will be charged with coming up with three categories of cosmetic ingredients:  Safe without limits, Restricted, and Prohibited.

  • All food-grade ingredients will be on the “Safe without limits list”.
  • Ingredients on the “Restricted list” may be used in cosmetics but will have restrictions on usage or quantity.
  • Ingredients on the “Prohibited list” cannot be used in cosmetics and will have a 2 year phase out period.
  • To facilitate compliance, the FDA will maintain an online site for companies to access information on the three categories of ingredients and will update regularly, including the addition of new ingredients after testing and determinations are made.

SOAP

The soap exemption will remain the same as it is in the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act. To familiarize yourself with this exemption please read this area of the FDA site.

IN SUMMARY

I am very encouraged by the proposed changes and exemptions.  Likewise, I am very optimistic that the congressional leaders will continue to work with us and hear our concerns.   In the weeks ahead, we will remain in close contact with the bill’s sponsors to keep the lines of communication open and to make sure that the proposed changes and exemptions outlined above are, in fact, included in the new Safe Cosmetics Act.

What this all means is that our industry is no longer an unknown in DC.  Through countless hours of work on the part of many individuals and the input of our DC Advocates Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo, we find ourselves possibly looking at a much more industry friendly version of The Safe Cosmetics Act.  We now know that at some point — whether this year or next or even further down the road – Congress will move ahead to pass safe cosmetics legislation.  The good news is that the HSMG is now a known stakeholder and Members of Congress are not only listening, but very willing to work with us.

I would personally like to thank the following individuals for their tireless work on this over the past couple of years and hope that we can continue to make a difference together in the future.  Our industry is stronger and our voice is louder when we work together.

  • Debbie May of Wholesale Supplies Plus
  • Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale
  • Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry
  • Marie Gale – HSMG Past President
  • Donna Maria Coles Johnson of Indie Beauty Network
  • Lela Barker of Bella Lucce

Please stay tuned to the HSMG Blog for further updates on The Safe Cosmetics Act, we will post them as they become available.

Leigh O’Donnell

HSMG President

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/06/legislative-update-safe-cosmetics-act/feed/ 1 An Update on The Safe Cosmetics Act in the 112th Congress http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/04/an-update-on-the-safe-cosmetics-act-in-the-112th-congress/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/04/an-update-on-the-safe-cosmetics-act-in-the-112th-congress/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:45:59 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2764

(L to R) Deborah May, HSMG President Leigh O’Donnell, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA), Feleciai Favroth, Marie Gale

In our continuing efforts to work with Members of Congress to advance the interests of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild (HSMG), we would like to update you on the recent progress on the still evolving Safe Cosmetics Act in the 112th Congress.

After hearing the concerns of the HSMG in February and the promise to continue a dialogue with us on behalf of the HSMG, staff members of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky have been quite responsive in keeping us informed.  In our most recent communication, we learned that a number of the provisions of the original bill are being redrafted.  We are not surprised by this information based on the range of issues discussed in our February meeting.
Although we have not seen any of the new draft language, through our continued engagement with offices involved in drafting the bill, we are optimistic that we will get to see and comment on any proposed language that directly impacts HSMG and the industry.   Furthermore, we remain encouraged that our ongoing conversations with Congresswoman Schakowsky, her staff and our continuing outreach with other Members of Congress will result in more positive conversations and support for HSMG concerns as the legislative proposal is developed and finalized.
]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/04/an-update-on-the-safe-cosmetics-act-in-the-112th-congress/feed/ 0 Legislative Update: Meetings Continue with Members of Congress http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/03/meetings-continue-with-members-of-congress/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/03/meetings-continue-with-members-of-congress/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:29:48 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2700

(L to R) Feleciai Favroth, Marie Gale, Russ Carnahan (MO-3), HSMG President Leigh O'Donnell, Debbie May

Continuing our efforts to reach out to Members of the 112th Congress, I traveled to Washington, DC during the week of March 7th with several of my colleagues.  Over two days, we met with 16 Congressional Offices and 2 Senate Offices representing states across the country.

Accompanied by Marie Gale (HSMG Past-President), Feleciai Favroth (HSMG Board Member) and Debbie May (Wholesale Supplies Plus), we met with these offices to make them aware of our industry, discuss the impact the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (HR 5786) would have had and to build relationships.  This is part of our strategic plan to avoid becoming inadvertent collateral damage in any federal legislation.

I am very encouraged by both this round of meetings and our meetings in February.  For the most part everyone we have met with has been very receptive to our message and eager to learn about our industry and our trade.  Accompanied by our DC Advocacy Team of Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo, we were able to deliver a very clear and compelling message.  We left them with samples of handcrafted soap from members of the HSMG, which was an excellent conversational piece and also educated them on the types of products we were discussing.

As we move forward in our Advocacy Plan, we will continue to work with our DC Advocates and stay vigilant to any changes in Washington.  We still do expect a new version of The Safe Cosmetics Act to be released sometime later this year by Rep. Schakowsky (IL).  Now more than ever we need your support through donations to our Legislative Advocacy Fund and/or by joining the HSMG.  The more members we have the louder and stronger our voice becomes.

We are also pleased to announce that our DC Advocates Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo will be joining us at our Annual Conference in Miami, Florida, May 18-20 at the Hilton Miami Downtown.  They will address the attendees of the conference on May 18th and be available for questions and discussion throughout the event.  If you are attending the conference this will be a great opportunity to find out how this process works and get the answers to some of your burning questions about the legislative process.  For information on how to register for the conference visit our conference pages here.

If you would like to stay informed about what is happening with Cosmetics Legislation, you can visit our legislative advocacy pages, follow our blog and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,

Leigh O’Donnell

HSMG President

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/03/meetings-continue-with-members-of-congress/feed/ 3 Members of Congress Hear From The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/02/members-of-congress-hear-from-the-handcrafted-soapmakers-guild/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/02/members-of-congress-hear-from-the-handcrafted-soapmakers-guild/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:51:19 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2605

President Leigh O'Donnell, Debbie May and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4)

During the week of February 8th, I visited our nation’s capital for scheduled meetings with  several Republican and Democratic lawmakers representing Districts from New York to California.  I was joined by HSMG member and supporter, Debbie May of Wholesale Supplies Plus. Led by our Washington, D.C. advocates Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo, over the course of two days we met with twelve Congressional offices to gather information, express our concerns, and educate Members of Congress and their staff about the impact the Safe Cosmetics Act would have on the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and the industry.

Of particular interest was our meeting with the Congressional staff of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) and Congressman Ed Markey (MA-7) who were the lead cosponsors of last year’s Safe Cosmetics Act (H.R. 5786). Joining us at this meeting was Donna Maria Coles Johnson of The Indie Beauty Network.  Our meeting was productive and afforded us the opportunity to convey our concerns regarding the legislation and clarify directly to staff some of the unintended consequences the Safe Cosmetics Act would have on the handcrafted soapmaking industry. Furthermore, we learned that Congresswoman Schakowsky intends to introduce a revised version of the Safe Cosmetics Act in the 112th Congress sometime in the late Spring.  The timing of our visit enabled us to offer input and guidance as to how the bill can be improved upon to ensure the vitality of our industry.  Equally important, we were told that we can expect an ongoing dialogue as the bill is drafted.

President Leigh O'Donnell with Rep. Chris Gibson (NY-20)

Another key meeting was with the legislative assistant for FDA and health issues to Congressman John Dingell, the former Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Congressman Dingell has a keen interest in advancing safe cosmetics legislation, but is also committed to provisions to adequately accommodate small manufacturers, their businesses and the workers they employ.  We and our Washington advocates were very pleased by Congressman Dingell’s position and will continue to work with his office to promote the interests of HSMG members and the necessary protections for their businesses.


I left D.C. encouraged that our meetings on Capitol Hill were effective and that we communicated a clear message on how harmful previously introduced Safe Cosmetics Act would be to the handcrafted soapmaking industry. Although our message was well received, we will and must continue to remain focused on educating Members of Congress and their staff on our industry and how additional regulation would be burdensome to thousands of small businesses across the country.  Furthermore, the meetings were enormously valuable in making Members of Congress aware of the handcrafted soapmaking industry, the professional and safe standards that the HSMG actively promotes within the industry and the economic contributions each and every HSMG member makes in their local community.

President Leigh O'Donnell and Donna Maria Coles Johnson of The Indie Beauty Network

Rest assured that while I am not in Washington, D.C., our government relations team of Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo will continue to advocate on our behalf by meeting with Members and staff on this important issue and monitoring the latest developments on the Safe Cosmetics Act as well as other issues affecting the industry.  Along with our team in D.C., I am committed to making sure the U.S. Congress knows and understands our industry and that we want and deserve a seat at the table should any legislation move forward.
For more information on our legislative advocacy position and efforts, please visit our Legislative Advocacy web pages here. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Leigh O’Donnell
HSMG President
]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/02/members-of-congress-hear-from-the-handcrafted-soapmakers-guild/feed/ 1 WASHINGTON UPDATE: What to Expect in the 112th Congress? http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/01/washington-update-what-to-expect-in-the-112th-congress/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/01/washington-update-what-to-expect-in-the-112th-congress/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:36:45 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2537

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE HSMG DC ADVOCATES MARY ANNE WALSH & RICK LIMARDO:

As Capitol Hill prepares to close the chapter on the 111th Congress and convene a new session this month, we want to take a moment to evaluate and provide an overview of the changes that The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and its members can expect in the 112th Congress.

President Obama will be evaluating his options on how to work with a newly elected and emboldened Republican majority in the House of Representatives and a slim Democratic Majority in the Senate.  Republicans rendered meaningful gains in both Chambers of Congress with an increase of 63 seats in the House and 6 seats in the Senate.

Fresh off big gains across the country, Republican leadership has pledged a responsibility to listen to voters and support a legislative agenda that reflects the perceived mandate they received on November 2nd.  Topping their priority list is repealing sections of the recently passed health care law, limiting increases to federal agencies and programs, and the extension of tax breaks for individuals and small businesses.

Unlike the 111th Congress, the federal government will be divided among political parties, with the Democrats controlling the Senate and White House and the Republicans controlling the House of Representatives. All legislation signed into law during this 112th Congress will result from a compromise between parties, as opposed to the previous session in which the Democrats dominated the agenda. We can expect the parties to reach compromise on certain economic issues involving measures friendly to small business and additional tax relief. We can also expect legislation on education, trade, and transportation and infrastructure.

What does all this mean for the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and its members?  It means that the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 will have to be reintroduced in 2011 to a much less friendly audience who will in all likelihood be more business friendly and opposed to imposing burdensome regulations on small business.

As the new Congress begins to organize, we will be tracking the committee assignments of newly elected Members of Congress and look to seek their support in opposition to the Safe Cosmetics Act as it currently stands.  To that end, we have already had several discussions with current Members of Congress and their staff regarding our concerns and we plan to schedule meetings with lawmakers in January to further state our position on how harmful this legislation would be to soapmakers across the country.

During this time of political transition, it is important to have advocates on the ground monitoring the political climate in Washington and how it can impact your industry.  We are very excited to be a part of the HSMG team and look forward to delivering your message to the decision-makers in our nation’s Capital.

Lastly, for those of you looking to get involved, rest assured that a sample letter to your Member of Congress is being drafted so you can express your concerns regarding the Safe Cosmetics Act and the impacts it will have on your business.  This is important as it will allow us to express our opinions collectively to many Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

Mary Anne Walsh & Rick Limardo

Roetzel & Andress

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2011/01/washington-update-what-to-expect-in-the-112th-congress/feed/ 5 Happy Thanksgiving from the HSMG! http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-hsmg-2/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-hsmg-2/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:57:51 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2451  
 

Cherry Almond and Orange Cranberry by Barb's Homemade Soap

The HSMG would like to wish everyone a very happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Safe travels to all!

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-hsmg-2/feed/ 0 Legislative Update: Major Changes Coming in the U.S. House of Representatives http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/11/legislative-update-major-changes-coming-in-the-u-s-house-of-representatives/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/11/legislative-update-major-changes-coming-in-the-u-s-house-of-representatives/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:47:56 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2408 Now almost two weeks after the November 2, 2010 election, some of the dust is starting to settle and we are beginning to see how the Congressional landscape is going to change.

With Republicans winning more than 60 seats in the House of Representatives, the Democratic led House will move to the minority in January 2011, and the Republicans will ascend to the majority.  As the adage goes, “there is a new sheriff in town” and the agenda in the House of Representatives will be remarkably different – from Chairpersons of Committees to the legislation that is actively considered to bills that are brought to the floor for a vote.

So the key question is how will this change affect The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild?

While it is far too early to speculate on what specific legislation will be introduced, we are fairly confident that the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, as introduced in July, will not be a major priority of the House Republican leadership.  Since all legislation requires the support of the leadership to get heard in Committee, passed and brought to the floor for a vote, it is most unlikely that the Safe Cosmetics Act will receive any significant Republican support.   For the members of the HSMG this is welcome news.  However, given the growing efforts of environmental organizations with their well-organized and well-funded campaigns to push for greater federal regulation of cosmetics, we still must make sure that any legislation and any add-on amendments include provisions that accommodate the handcrafted soapmaking industry.   While the passage of a single bill like the Safe Cosmetics Act would be devastating to businesses like yours, seemingly minor provisions in other food, consumer products, FDA and related bills could be equally harmful.

As your federal advocate, we are diligently watching the now developing agenda of the House of Representatives and are looking at all issue discussions that provide even the most remote possibility of developing into legislative language impacting your business.  Furthermore, we are reaching out to many re-elected Republican Members of the House and their staffs to make them aware of the HSMG, the number of businesses in their state and the economic contribution they make to communities.    Between now and the end of January, we will be making contact with the new Members to share the same message.

Our job is to make sure your Congressional leaders know about your business and your commitment to the quality of the products you make.  We are your voice in Washington and we are committed to the task, but we will need your help.  After the 112th Congress convenes in early January, we will be asking for a few minutes of your time to reach out to your own Member of Congress.   A draft letter will be forthcoming.   While we know many of the Members and will definitely get to know many of those who are coming to Washington in January, elected officials need to hear from their own constituents.   As a member of an industry operating in virtually every community in the country, you have a compelling story to tell and, if we work together, we can be sure that businesses like yours are protected.

Mary Anne Walsh & Rick Limardo

Roetzel & Andress

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/11/legislative-update-major-changes-coming-in-the-u-s-house-of-representatives/feed/ 0 Announcing the 2011 Conference Keynote Speaker – Barbara Corcoran http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/10/announcing-the-2011-conference-keynote-speaker-barbara-corcoran/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/10/announcing-the-2011-conference-keynote-speaker-barbara-corcoran/#comments Sat, 23 Oct 2010 11:20:18 +0000 HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=2300 As if you needed ONE MORE REASON to attend the 2011 Conference in Miami, Florida on May 18-20 at the Hilton Miami Downtown…

We are proud to announce that the KEYNOTE SPEAKER will be Barbara Corcoran!!

Barbara is the founder of The Corcoran Group and is most recognized as the weekly real estate contributor on NBC’s TODAY Show. She is also an investor/shark on ABC’s reality hit Shark Tank. In the first season, Barbara bought eight young businesses which she’s shepherding to success.  You can also see her on HGTV’s Top Ten and LXTV’s Price Fix.

You do not want to miss this outstanding speaker! In addition to her presentation, she will have time for a question and answer session and will sign copies of her national best-selling book, If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons On Your Pigtails.

There are only 9 days left to get the Early-Early Bird Member Rate of $429. This rate AND the option to pay in installments expires on October 31st at midnight. If you are not a member of the HSMG you can join now and take advantage of the savings.

This is one conference NOT TO MISS!  We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Feleciai Favroth,
Conference Chair, HSMG
Conference@SoapGuild.org

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/10/announcing-the-2011-conference-keynote-speaker-barbara-corcoran/feed/ 0