Organic
While the term natural continues to be disputed, organic is a term that is strictly regulated. In fact, many people are simply not aware of how strict these regulations are and bath and body companies often make claims of their products that are not legally permissible. It is therefore, very important to understand organic certification.
Organic can be defined as of, marked by, or involving the use of fertilizers or pesticides that are strictly of animal or vegetable origin and raised or conducted without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals. Regulations regarding organic products are strictly enforced by the USDA in the United States. Other countries have government organizations that oversee organic certifications in their area of the world. The National Organic Program (NOP) by the USDA has a number of agencies that actually certify farmers and sellers of organic materials.
Farmers and manufacturers of organic ingredients must undergo a strict certification process in order to use the term organic. Some of the guidelines they must follow include the following:
• avoidance of most synthetic chemicals such as fertilizer, antibiotics, pesticides, additives, genetically modified organisms, irradiation, other than naturally derived
• use of farmland that has been free from synthetic chemicals for a three or more years
• keeping detailed written production and sales records
• maintaining strict separation of organic products from non-certified products
• undergoing periodic on-site inspections
Here is how this affects your bath and body business. You are NOT permitted to use the term organic unless you are certified through the USDA to do so, even when just selling a product. For example, let’s say you make your soap using all organic oils, organic essential oils, and organic herbs for coloring. They are all certified organic ingredients from your favorite supplier. Unless you have become certified to sell organic materials, you are not permitted to call or advertise your soap as organic, except in the product’s ingredient statement (i.e. Ingredients: Almond oil, organic Lavendula Officinalis (lavender) oil, etc.) You are also permitted to list the percentage of organic ingredients on an informational panel of your product packaging, but not on the primary display panel or main side of the packaging. Failure to follow these rules can result in fines of up to $10,000.
Federal organic legislation defines three levels of organics for those certified.
• Products made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods can be labeled "100% organic".
• Products with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the word "organic". Both of these categories may also display the USDA organic seal.
• A third category, containing a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled "made with organic ingredients".
• Products made with less than 70% organic ingredients cannot advertise this information to consumers and can only mention this fact in the product's ingredient statement.
It is important that unless you become a certified organic retailer that you do not use the term organic except in designated areas of your packaging. If you are seeking organic ingredients for your products, look for certified organic suppliers carrying the USDA seal.
The Bonnie Bath Co.
Natural, handmade bath and body products
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