Bar Soap Testing

[jcsoapmaker]

Hello,
Can anyone help with advice on how to get your soap tested, for purity/quality/safety?
Is there a standard making body?
Are there recognized testing companies that perform testing and certify, or at least document testing of, your soaps?

Thanks,
JC

 

[akseattle]

@jcsoapmaker , I'm relatively new to soapmaking and I only make soap as a hobby. I give it to family and friends, etc.
But, I was curious. I'm not really even sure what you mean by soap purity or soap safety. If no one responds, I googled and found the following link to the U.S. Product Safety Commission. The brief post by them is called "Soap Business Guidance." You might read that article and all the links on it and then even contact them if you want more information.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Soap
Good luck!

 

[artemis]

The first thing to establish is where you are located. Also, what are your reasons/goals for testing your soap? Without that information, I don't think we'll be of much help.

 

[akseattle]

The first thing to establish is where you are located. Also, what are your reasons/goals for testing your soap? Without that information, I don't think we'll be off much help.

@artemis, good thinking! I forget soapers are all over the U.S. and all over the world!!!

 

[AliOop]

As noted by @artemis, the answer depends on where you live, and where the soap is being sold.

In the US, soap that makes no cosmetic claims, and is made by a person or company with less than $1M in annual sales (averaged over the previous 3 years) is not really subject to labeling, testing or inspection - unless someone experiences a serious adverse event due to using it.

In the EU, the requirements are significantly greater. Recipes must be tested and approved by specific persons or entities who are approved to provide that service. I believe Canada has some requirements, as well.

Your profile gives a zip code for Arizona in the US. If that is correct, and you are only selling non-cosmetic soap in the US, you don’t need to have your soap tested. But if you want to do that anyway, I recommend contacting the Handcrafted Soap and Candle Guild. They probably can point you to some companies that provide this service for some of their larger members.

FYI, it is best not to post the same question multiple times on different places.