Essential U Blog

Do You Want the Good News or the Bad News First?

At Essential Wholesale we have continued working with Donna Maria Johnson Coles of Indie Beauty Network and our colleagues in the beauty industry to advocate for the beauty industry regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2009 (HR-759). Donna Maria, Essential Wholesale, Marie Gale and Leigh O’Donnell of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Lela Barker of Bella Lucce, Anne-Marie Faiola of Brambleberry have all remained involved in an attempt to positively affect the legislative process on behalf of thousands of small cosmetics manufacturers nationwide.

      

As we have mentioned before - you spoke and Congress listened regarding the fees originally attached to the 2008 version of the FDA Globalization Act. With your support signing the Indie Beauty Petition, writting letters to and meeting with your representatives, we were successful in having those fees and other portions of the law removed. The battle is won but our advocacy continues, including efforts to seek language in HR-759 that empowers the FDA to define "small businesses," and grant waivers from parts of the registration requirements when they would be in the public’s interest. You can read our latest letter to Congress in that regard at this link.

Our Response to Congress

We were honored to be asked our opinion of the new FDA Globalization Act of 2009 by Mr. Virgil Miller, the Professional Staff Member from the House Energy & Commerce Committee.  We were pleased that our meeting with Mr. Virgil Miller resulted in a long term conversation.  I have attached a copy of the letter that was drafted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Esq. of the Indie Beauty Network.  It was signed by both Donna Maria and Maria Gale of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild on behalf of Indie cosmetic businesses.  Donna Maria is a true leader and asked for input and editing from Dennis and I from Essential Wholesale, Lela Barker from Bella Lucce, Lisa Rodgers from Cactus & Ivy, Anne-Marie Faiola from Brambleberry, Leigh O'Donnell of HSMG and many more.  After 48 hours of round robin emails and an hour long phone call to hash out the details of the Act the final letter was sent to Mr. Virgil Miller last night. 

Please take a moment to read the letter and voice your opinion in the comments section below.  This is an ongoing day to day issue that we will all stay involved in until the final moments. 

You Spoke and Congress Listened

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Isaac Newton

In the original Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act 2008 has gone through some major changes since it was first introduced.  The new Bill HR 759 is the FDA Globalization Act of 2009.  I believe that the voices of the people who are in our industry and who love it passionately were heard by Congress.  Grassroots efforts and good old fashion pounding the pavement paid off.

 

      

 

You wrote letters and called your Representatives, the Committee of Energy and Commerce and the media.  You signed our petition.  You wrote encouraging emails, twitters, blog comments to everyone who went to Washington D.C. to speak on your behalf.  You spread the word to your customers, friends, family and social networks around America.  And more than anything you stayed in business and didn’t back down out of fear.  For all of that I owe you a gigantic thank you. 

FDA Globalization Act of 2009

When the peanut butter recall hit I figured it was only a matter of time for the draft bill of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 to officially become the draft bill of 2009.  Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. sent out a press release titled Key Energy and Commerce Members Introduce FDA Globalization Act announcing just that.  I found the whole tone of the press release reassuring for the cosmetic industry.  It is clear that the food and drug industry are in trouble.  Cosmetics are only mentioned because we fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA, but we are not the target of this legislation and rightly so because cosmetics are safe. 

      

Anne-Marie of Bramble Berry was on the phone today speaking with Frank Pallone, Jr.'s office.  She was informed that the draft bill is expected to be assigned a number by Friday and made public on the internet.  As soon as that happens we will put it out on twitter, facebook and on our blogs.  On twitter to search for information or post information regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2009 use #fdag for quick sharing of information. 

It is important that we work together to spread information.  Like Andrew Carnegie said, "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."  I believe ordinary citizens have already made in impact when the original draft bill was published and we will see that reflected in the new draft bill. 

A coalition of determined women went to Congress once to speak on your behalf and are ready and willing to return to tell the universal story of small cosmetic companies if we need to. 

"Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean." Ryunosuke Satoro

Updated news January 30, 2009:  The Bill Number is HR 759 and an entire copy of the draft bill FDA Globalization Act of 2009 can be read here.  The pages regarding cosmetics are 115-124. 

Collaboration to Fight for Our Industry

As soon as we became aware of the FDA Globalization Act in June, 2008 and incredible group of businesswoman rallied together to fight for the industry that we all love. Our united passions led Donna Maria Johnson Coles of the Indie Beauty Network to invite all of the leaders in our industry to join her in an effort to make our voices heard in Washington. Lela Barker of Bella Lucce, Anne-Maria Fiaola of Brambleberry, Jamila White the E-Commerce Diva and me took Donna Maria up on her invitation and traveled to Washington D.C. tell our story and to inform them of the thousands of indie beauty companies that we represented.

      

Since our trip to Washington D.C. we have all remained committed to fighting and the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild has joined our team. We all remain committed to our mission with no added fees to the companies that we represent. It is out of our united heart for indie business, handcrafted products and the goals of small businesses that fuels our energy to continue fighting on our industry’s behalf.

There have been ups and downs in this battle. Lately it has been a quiet time as the country transitions leadership. We grew stronger in support and numbers during the lull before the next battle. We fight because we love our industry and because the growth of each individual indie company is important to overall health of the cosmetic industry.

We don’t want your money to continue on, we simply ask that you continue to support by spreading the word. Let it be known that the cosmetic industry will not be caught off guard like the handmade toy and clothes industry was. Representative Henry Waxman and Congressman John Dingell will co-chair the subcommittee responsible for the draft bill FDA Globalization Act of 2008.

Let it be known to Dingell and Waxman, your local representatives, the media, twitterverse and any other place where you have a voice that the indie cosmetic industry is strong, vocal, and united.  There is no need to panic because we firmly have our foot in the door and are being heard by the people working on this draft bill.  We feel confident that their intention was not to harm small businesses.  Let them know that you are out here and make your story real. 

FDA News

As of yesterday I noticed that my links to the draft bill of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 had vanished off of the Committee on Energy and Commerce site.  Could this be good news?  I’m not certain because the Environmental Working Group has found a friend in Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) to create a new policy.  I don’t have any answers for you yet but keep tuned to Essential U for the latest news as we look into the changes. 

       

We might all be holding our breath until January to see what happens.  The good news is that Essential Wholesale and Essential Labs already complies with all of the proposed regulations and will be able to be your manufacturing partner when and if anything changes.  We set up the Private Label Selector Program to make staying in business possible for small businesses.

What's Your Story?

Tell It, with Essential Wholesale, Bella PR and You

love my PR company. I’ve been working with Bella PR for several years and they have never failed to impress me. Meredith Morville-Reilly is in communication with me daily. When I send her an email, I have an answer as fast as email can travel (sometimes faster). Logic tells me that I am not her only client but the level of customer service that I get from Meredith makes me feel like I am her top priority. When I asked Meredith to help us spread the word about the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, she got right on it. She developed a press release this week that quickly got picked up by many news organizations. I asked her if she was open to trying something a little untraditional to increase the effectiveness of the indie cosmetic industries campaign against this act she was all for it.

The idea behind the Essential Wholesale, Bella PR and You media campaign is that, if we join together our resources, contacts and voices we will be stronger. Bella PR in their representation of me is willing to be the credibility source of our media blitz. And you and I together will be the stories that make this media outreach program came alive.

Four Industries. One Bad Law

ave you been wondering exactly about exactly what the discussion draft of the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2008 is and what it means? Judging from the amount of email inquiries I'm getting on the topic, the answer is "yes." This post provides an overview of some of my thoughts and predictions.

       

The FDA Globalization Act of 2008 was triggered by several food catastrophes that have occurred over the past few years. Congress is not happy about these issues, so it is seeking to stem the tide by amending the FDA's regulatory framework. Since the FDA regulates cosmetics as well as food (and also drugs and drug devices), Congress seems to have decided that a one-size-fits-all approach is best. It has drafted a law that would regulate four separate industries in exactly the same way.

Four Industries. One Bad Law.

Raising the Stakes on Capitol Hill

t appears that the stakes are getting even higher for cosmetics manufacturers on Capitol Hill. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) (pictured below) either isn’t sharing notes with the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding draft legislation regarding the FDA, she isn't satisfied with their version or she's simply looking to up her political clout. Why do I say this? Because the good Congresswoman is reported to be poised to introduce her own legislation.

            

On Tuesday, Donna Maria Coles Johnson of the Indie Beauty Network passed on the information to Indie Beauty Network members that she read in Happi Magazine, “Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) may soon be introducing legislation to require new cosmetics regulations.

Put it in Writing

No Record is as Strong as the Written Word

n business, it's always a good idea to get it in writing. Whether it's a contract, the correct recipe for a new product or the directions to a new restaurant in town, you are better off always if you get it in writing. Fighting the draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is no different. Now is the time to take action and make an impact on this pending legislation, and it has to be done in writing.

Donna Maria Coles Johnson from the Indie Beauty Network is one of the many thousands (yes, we are thousands strong!) of people I am working with on this effort. Donna Maria graciously shared sample letters that you can use to contact your Congressman, Senator and the local media. 

            

These samples letters are a great starting point, but the most effective portion of your letter will be the portion in which you share your own story. In order to make changes happen we absolutely must make our companies come alive. Touch the heart of those who have a vote and the media who can help us spread the word of the devastating results that this legislation would have in our industry. This pending legislation will affect those in the food industry as well so please pass the word to make all small businesses heard. Donna Maria over at Indie Business Blog posted a wonderful collection of 10 Tips for Impacting the Political Process, which gives some useful tips for the road ahead of us.