Rinse as you know it... gone forever!?!?

Not at this very moment... but now that I have your attention, it could happen. That is if the FDA Globalization Act is passed as it is.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce released a proposal that will significantly impact businesses that sell cosmetics (including soaps, lotions...) A few of the major provisions:

1) $2000 annual FDA registration fee

2) Fees for reregistration, inspections & reinspections, certification, certifying agent accreditation, laboratory accreditation, export certification, and importer registration.

3) Cumbersome paperwork

4) Substantial fines for those that do not comply

Who wins??? FDA. $600 million is predicted to be generated from the food registration fees alone. Big Box Manufacturers. They have the $$$ & the staff to be able to jump through all of the hoops without even noticing that they're there.

Who loses??? You. Customers who love a choice & prefer knowing what you're using on your body. Me (and the others like me.) Small Indie Businesses are either going to loose a lot of time & $ trying to comply with all of the requirements or loose the battle all together.

What can you do??? Speak up & let the House of Representatives know that you want a choice. Sign a petition that the Indie Business Network has put together. Email your state representative. Spread the word.

My thoughts: I'm not against having to register & jump through some of the hoops, but come on... a blanket fee no matter what your annual sales!?!? That means that Rinse pays the same registration fees as Proctor & Gamble!

We have nothing to hide as far as ingredients or known/potential adverse conditions from those ingredients (hello, you eat pretty much everything we use in our products.) But as any small business owner knows, time is $$$. There seems to be a lot of hoops, a lot of paperwork (for each product, even if the only difference is scent,) and a lot of $$$ involved - across the board.

We are proud to still offer products that are handmade is small batches. We are proud to not be a Big Box Manufacturer. It will suck if we have to pay the same $$$ as the Big Box Guys to be able to do business.

Wish us (and every other small indie Bath & Body company) luck!