The HSMG has submitted a petition that needs your voice. In mid-2012, the HSMG submitted a citizen’s petition to the US FDA requesting a change in the law to make a PO box acceptable on cosmetic product labels in lieu of a street address. The FDA confirmed receipt in August and has been collecting public …
Last week, the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild welcomed author, past HSMG President, and savvy labeler Marie Gale into our twitter chat room to share some of her vast experience labeling soaps and cosmetics for sale in the US. Read on for highlights of our discussion. [View the story "Soap and Cosmetic Labeling #HSMGchat " on Storify] …
The HSMG has been actively involved in advocacy for the handcrafted soap and cosmetics industry for the past several years. We have made tremendous progress during the past year in introducing and familiarizing our industry to Capital Hill with the assistance of our DC advocates Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo. HSMG leaders have met …
Continue reading ‘Legislative Update: The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011’ »
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 …
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 …
Continue reading ‘H.R 2359 The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 is Introduced’ »
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 …
Continue reading ‘Legislative Update – The Safe Cosmetics Act’ »
(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 …
Continue reading ‘An Update on The Safe Cosmetics Act in the 112th Congress’ »
Over the years the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild has been many things to it many members. The HSMG has now taken on its biggest challenge yet: monitoring the “Safe Cosmetics Act” and any federal legislation aimed at the cosmetics industry. An updated version of The Safe Cosmetics Act is expected to be released later this year. …
Continue reading ‘Support the HSMG’s Efforts to Ensure Legislative Representation for Soapmakers…’ »
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 …
Continue reading ‘Legislative Update: Meetings Continue with Members of Congress’ »
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 …
Continue reading ‘Members of Congress Hear From The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild’ »
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 …
Continue reading ‘WASHINGTON UPDATE: What to Expect in the 112th Congress?’ »
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 …
Continue reading ‘Legislative Update: Major Changes Coming in the U.S. House of Representatives’ »
We are thrilled to announce, Mary Anne Walsh of Roetzel and Andress has been hired to represent the HSMG and the handcrafted soap industry in Washington, DC, she will commence work on September 1st, 2010. For more information on Mary Anne please read my previous post. Mary Anne had this to say about getting down …
Continue reading ‘From the President – HSMG hires DC Advocate Mary Anne Walsh’ »
We are now one step closer to hiring an advocate to represent our industry. Yesterday, I met with Mary Anne Walsh from the law firm of Roetzell & Andress in Washington, DC. Mary Anne has over 29 years of experience and has held a variety of positions including Chief of Staff for three U.S. Congressmen. …
Continue reading ‘From the President – HSMG Interviews a DC Advocate’ »
The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild’s (HSMG) is an established and functioning non-profit trade association whose mission is to promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers, and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers. In the past three years there have been many threatening legislative proposals. The three most recent pieces …
Continue reading ‘From the President – A Voice in Washington for the Handcrafted Soap Industry’ »
Yesterday I met with legislative staffers in the offices of Reps. Jan Schakowsky, (D-Il), Ed Markey, (D-Ma) and Tammy Baldwin, (D-Wi), the original co-sponsors of H.R. 5786 The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010. I was joined by Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry in Bellingham, Wa, Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale in Portland, Or, Lela Barker …
Continue reading ‘From the President – DC Advocacy Trip Follow-up – Safe Cosmetics Act’ »
Sunday evening I flew to Washington, DC, to meet up with: Donna Maria Coles Johnson of The Indie Beauty Network (@indiebusiness) Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale (@essentialU) Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry (@brambleberry) Lela Barker of Bella Lucce (@bellalucce) We have set up meetings with senior staffers of Representatives Schakowsky (D,IL), Markey (D, MA) and …
On July 20th, a new bill was introduced, H.R. 5786, The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 by representatives Schakowsky (D-IL), Markey (D-MA) and Baldwin (D-WI). Read the entire bill here. (47 pages) This bill is intended to amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to ensure the safe use of cosmetics, and for other …
Continue reading ‘From The President – Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010’ »
Whether you live and operate a business in the state of Colorado or not you need to pay attention to The Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, HB10-1248. Read the full bill here. The main “intent” of the bill is to ban all ingredients known to be carcinogens or reproductive toxins in the state of …
Continue reading ‘From the President – Update – Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act’ »
Activities in Washington DC are back on the radar. Last week, I went to Washington DC on a fact-finding mission with Donna Maria Coles Johnson of The Indie Beauty Network and Lela Barker of Bella Lucce (IBN Member and cosmetics manufacturer based in South Carolina). We spoke with key people to try to determine current …
Continue reading ‘Important Legislative Update – From the President’ »