To remain in good standing, AHPA members must come into compliance with the new trade requirement by Jan. 9, 2010

July 21, 2009 – At its most recent meeting, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Board of Trustees added a trade requirement to the association’s “Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.”

The trade requirement, printed below, supports the safe-use and proper-identification of undiluted essential oils that are intended to be used topically and are offered for retail sale. The labeling requirements established below do not address synthetic fragrances, as synthetic fragrances are not, in fact, essential oils.

Labeling of Undiluted Essential Oils Used Topically and Offered for Retail Sale

Undiluted essential oils offered for retail sale and intended for topical use are labeled with all of the following information or statements on package labels:

• “Keep out of reach of children” or significantly similar cautionary language
• “External Use Only,” “Not for Internal Use,” “Not for Ingestion” or significantly similar cautionary language
•  “Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes” or significantly similar cautionary language
• The Latin name of the plant from which the essential oil is derived
• Identification of the plant part from which the essential oil is derived

AHPA’s By-Laws defines Obligations of Membership to include “…adherence to all policies and principles of business as outlined in the Code of Ethics.” The AHPA “Code of Ethics and Business Conduct” has established that a trade requirement of the Board of Trustees constitutes an amendment to the Code. The trade requirement described in this communication, therefore, constitutes an amendment to the Code and should be considered as such by all AHPA members.

AHPA members selling undiluted essential oils offered for retail sale and intended for topical use must come into compliance with the new trade requirement by Jan. 9, 2010.