On January 14th, 2010 the Organic Consumers
Association (OCA) and three other parties affiliated with personal care
companies filed a complaint with the USDA. At the same time, the complaint was widely
spread through online and offline media. The complaint (not lawsuit) questioned
the use of the word “organic” in connection with the products made by these 13
companies, including our brand, ilike organic skin care.
Szep Elet strongly supports movement toward clearer AND more
universal standards for qualification and communication of what is and is not
“organic”.The clarity and
understanding of, adherence to and compliance with standards in the U.S. has
been lacking.Furthermore, there
has been little progress toward universally understood and accepted standards
or requirements that cross international boundaries.
However, we do not support misplaced accusations that are not
based on fact, are blatantly not true and which if not refuted create a false
impression and damaged reputation.We also strongly object to the language used which is also directed at
ilike organic skin care such as “fake”, “cheater”, etc. considering the lack of
research that went into the information about our products.No one from the OCA or other parties
behind the complaint has ever contacted Szep Elet for information.And the portion of the complaint which
covers ilike organic skin care products totals only 2 short paragraphs yet includes
statements such as “…few if any of the ingredients are actually organic.”
In the complaint there are highlighted ingredients about one
of our products. These include organic and natural and other ingredients all
allowed under USDA regulations overseeing use of “organic” in labeling.The only exception is methyl glucose
sesquistearate (0-1 hazard score on Skin Deep) which is no longer in the
product but the updated label is not featured in the complaint.
It is clearly THE intention of this complaint to make
it mandatory to get USDA certification in order to use the word “organic” in
the United States.
To quote the OCA website:
“We're encouraging our members to switch to USDA
certified organic body care and cosmetics products, as part of a New Year's
Resolution to "be more organic" in 2010.”
Another quote:
"We're starting right
now to plan for a national public education [campaign] ... to get out the very
simple message to consumers on a mass scale - because the mass media are going
to pick up on this - [not to] trust any 'organic' personal-care products
that lack the USDA seal," OCA Executive Director Ronnie Cummins told
"The Rose Sheet" July 21.
And this route may be the way to go. But the method of
getting there should not be without limits.
Certification requires a large investment of time and money
and there are numerous personal care product certifying organizations around
the world that are highly respected.Numerous companies and brands have invested in non USDA certifications.
It also should not be overlooked that as recently as 4 ½
years ago the USDA was refusing to allow use of the USDA certified organic seal
on personal care products:
ESCONDIDO, Calif., June 2, 2005 /U.S.
Newswire/ -- Dr. Bronner's & Sun Dog's Magic…, makers of certified organic
food-grade lotions, lip balms and body balms, is today announcing its intention
to continue to label its products "certified organic" in accordance
with the US Department of Agriculture National Organic Program
("NOP") rules and to display the USDA seal. Although USDA has informally
indicated that it now believes personal care products cannot be so labeled,
that position "represents a clear reversal of USDA's prior policy and
cannot be lawfully enforced," stated company president David Bronner.
Other certifiers around the world have been actively
certifying and have clearly stated their areas of responsibility for much
longer than 4 ½ years.The United
States is playing catch up with many parts of the world, especially Europe,
when it comes to natural and organic.
While the U.S. is a very important market for ilike organic
skin care, our products are distributed in 41 other countries around the world
(under the Ilcsi organic skin care brand in all countries outside of N.
America).Several years ago it was
decided that our products would be certified through the widely recognized and
respected German based certifier BDIH.
Our Hungarian manufacturer’s farm, where our botanical
ingredients are harvested from, is certified organic by Biokontroll Hungary.
The EU Decree 2092/91/EGK (referred to by both Biokontroll and BDIH) certifies
plants that are collected in wild areas within the European Union as organic. Many
herbs cannot be successfully grown in controlled conditions so our manufacturer
gathers many of the herbal ingredients from the wild.
The manufacturing and research and development of our
products are certified by ISO 9001:2001.
And finally, BDIH is certifying the end products. Currently
18 products of the line are certified by BDIH, 50 are about to be certified and
the rest are at various stages in the process.
Regarding labeling, ilike organic skin care products are
labeled according to international INCI standards.We only use the BDIH certified label on the products that
are already certified.
Our company’s philosophy has always been to encourage sustainability
and the use of natural and organic products. The ilike organic skin care line
utilizes handmade, cold processed raw fruit, vegetable and herbal pulps instead
of commercially purchased extracts in order to avoid any hidden ingredients and
to never lose the traceability of our ingredients. By basing our products on
our own organic pulps we can also provide nutrients in our skin care products
which are in the rawest form for the highest possible nutrient level. Every
step of the process is done by hand except for the final mixing stage.We believe this is the best way to
provide pure and effective skin care that is eco-conscious.
We at Szep Elet hope that this information provides some clarity
about the issues at hand.
We continue to be proud to provide the award winning ilike
organic skin care line, and we are happy to answer any questions or clear any
concerns caused by the above claims.
Let us bind up honesty. I love your products -- Szep Elet (ilike) because it goes so well with my progressive style and our environment. Get ready for everything because that is what is coming... ilike... indeed. indeed.
Mr. Darren Hickman, thanks.
Sincerely,
Mauricio Fernandez
Chief Appreciation Officer, native of from Holland.
Orange County, California.
LI profile: http://linkedin.com/in/mauriciofernandezoc
