retailing essential oils to clients

[SED]

hi

can anyone help me with the following assignment question please

Discuss the correct procedure for a therapist retailing blended oils to their clients. Briefly outline the do’s and don’ts of the cosmetic law

i couldnt find it in any of my books & its the last quest i need to answer for an assignment.

many thanks x

 

[milfordbum]

Oh ok, think I can help....

Basically when you sell on products they need to have the following information:

Your name, address and telephone number.
All contents, including a list of ingredients in any base or carrier.
Safety warnings regarding pregnancy, high bp etc etc etc.
Usage instructions.

You are responsible for any problem that may occure with any product you sell on whether you made it or just sold it on.

You also need to have insurance to cover this.

Products need to be in appropriate containers, ie dropper caps for oils etc.

Hope that helps.

 

[GerGrounnyhow]

So if a therapist sells essential oils a client and the client has an allergy or something then the therapist would be held responsible? But if I buy oils for my own use in a shop, and I get an allergy, surely I couldn't go and say that the shop is responsible, could I?!

A related question: are you allowed to resell essential oils if you are not a qualifed aromatherapist? Or maybe the question is: would insurance cover you??

Artemis

 

[*~*cAnDi*~*]

thanks for your help candie, its been really useful!!

s x

 

[Crystal?? ?]

I think as an aromatherapist, if you were selling essential oils or blended products, you would be expected to give out advice regarding usage, contraindications and patch testing etc. It's probably the same as going to a herbalist as opposed to buying something over the counter at Holland and Barrett.

I would imagine that many insurance companies wouldn't be happy about a therapist not trained in aromatherapy selling esssential oils for the reasons above. I am very aware that as a therapist, clients often ask me about herbal supplements, etc, which I have a little knowledge of, but am not trained in. I am very cautious to remind them to seek the advice of a trained herbalist (luckily the woman who runs our local health food shop is, so I just send them to her for advice). I couldn't possibly recommend something that I don't know enough about and how it may interact with other supplements, meds, etc.

Lesley

 

[2cold scorpio]

From what I remember when we covered this on our course, you are responsible for selling on products.

As for selling products when not trained, there is nothing to legally stop you. As you know, aromatherapists are not regulated and anybody can call themselves an aromatherapist and sell stuff on.

Having said that, if you are a therapist who cares then you will have insurance. You will need extra insurance for selling on products.

Hope that helps.

 

[GlycleGub]

I looked into the insurance thing as I resell neways who have essential oils in their product list and it is crazy.

if I was not insured I could resell what ever I liked whether or not I was qualified in the area.

however i cannot resell the oils as a therapist as it invalidates my insurance because I am not yet a qualified aromatherapist - so I don't resell them (yet)

 

[jiemcubdiinioaeyz]

Janey - hence what I was saying. When people buy products from a retailer, they take the responsibility, but when they buy from a therapist it is as if you are recommending to them that they use the products (even if you don't, the client could think that).

Lesley

 

[Nic?lette]

Hello,

I am wodnering if the same holds for selling food suplements? Like vitamins, minerals, etc... And what about magnets? Not that I am planning to sale magnets, but I got a phone call the other day by a magnet rep who was wondering if I would be interested for my clients?...

Artemis

 

[staalwart]

Hi Artemis,

Its down to the 'qualified' bit. As a qualified aromatherapist you are expected to do a consulation to make sure the product is suitable for the person, plus all the labelling and insurance Candie detailed so well.

How it works if you 'mass market' aromatherapy products I'm not sure, but I think you have to get a chemist to analyse the product and declare it safe, and you might need a 'medicines' license if you claim therapeutic properties for it.

If you are just a retailer of products, you are still responsible for what you sell, but have comeback on your supplier. So yes, if you buy an EO in a shop and you have a reaction to it, its the shopkeeper you complain to in the first instance. Obviously if you have changed their product by mixing essential oils into their base cream then the onus is on you, not them, unless you could get a chemist to prove it was their cream at fault.

It's a minefield of legislation. The Aromatherapy Trades Council website has more info: www.a-t-c.org.uk

Don't have any information on magnets, etc, sorry.

This is when you wish you'd paid attention in 'business studies' class when you wished they'd just let you get back to massage !

 

[PiggyDog]

The cosmetics law they are referring to is probably The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2003
You can find more information here:
[link=http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20030835.htm]http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20030835.htm[/link]

It is long and you might need to take your time reading it.

Anyone selling aromatherapy blends to teh public should be aware of this important law.

More useful info can be found here:
[link=http://www.dweckdata.co.uk]http://www.dweckdata.co.uk[/link]

Especially the Legal section

hth
Sharon xx

[link=http://www.butterflyblends.co.uk]www.butterflyblends.co.uk[/link]