Advocacy Day 2017

Sara WagnerIndustry Advocacy & NewsLeave a Comment

As you most likely saw on our social media pages, the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild hosted our very first Advocacy Day on April 5th, 2017. Dozens of Handcrafters including HSCG Board Members and two HSCG staff members participated in this incredible effort to educate members and staff of both Congress and the Senate on the businesses of handcrafted soap … Read More

Legislation: Update on Advocacy Efforts

Sara WagnerIndustry Advocacy & NewsLeave a Comment

On April 20th, Senators Diane Feinstein (CA) and Susan Collins (ME) introduced S. 1014, The Personal Care Products Safety Act. The bill was drafted to update The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and was intending to give the FDA more funding and oversight over the cosmetic industry. As many of you know, the HSCG has been involved in … Read More

Why Are Bills Introduced? (A Legislative Guide)

Executive DirectorIndustry Advocacy & NewsLeave a Comment

If you have been following the HSCG’s Legislative Advocacy or the bills that have come out seeking to further regulate soap and cosmetics, then you know we have been seeing bills from different Members of Congress since about 2008.  In some terms we have seen as many as 3 active bills relating to soap and cosmetics at a time.  This … Read More

FDA Responds to PO Box Petition

Executive DirectorIndustry Advocacy & News19 Comments

In August of 2012, the HSCG wrote a Citizen Petition to the FDA – Department of Health & Human Services, regarding the use of a PO Box in the place of a street address on a cosmetic label.  We did this mainly for the safety of the small businesses that make up the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry as many … Read More

Legal News: Soap Loaf Trademark

Executive DirectorIndustry Advocacy & NewsLeave a Comment

Last week it came to our attention that a private handcrafted soap company had successfully trademarked the term “soap loaf”. This word mark was published for opposition by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on February 5, 3013. The owner has been enforcing the mark on various sites (e.g. eBay) and having handcrafted soapmakers and suppliers that use the term … Read More

Share Your Voice: US Labeling

Executive DirectorIndustry Advocacy & News7 Comments

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 comments on the petition prior … Read More

Celebrate Global Handwashing Day!

Executive DirectorIndustry Advocacy & NewsLeave a Comment

Sure, you make soap, but do you ever stop and think about what a fundamentally life-saving device you’re producing?  Next Monday, October 15, marks the 5th annual Global Handwashing Day.  In celebration, we thought we’d share a few facts illustrating the power of a simple bar of soap. BAC graphic courtesy of NSF Scrub Club A staggering 6.9 million children … Read More

Legislative Update: The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011

HSMG ConferenceIndustry Advocacy & News11 Comments

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 with Members of Congress to … Read More

HSMG Advocacy Position Statement

Executive DirectorIndustry Advocacy & News2 Comments

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 … Read More