The Guild is a voluntary peer support network and is FREE to join – but please do read ALL the information on this page carefully before applying to avoid delays in processing your application. The application process is very straightforward but we do require very specific information
It is important to understand that the Guild functions as a peer support network and should not be considered a replacement or alternative to any other trade bodies. What makes this Guild unique is you are required to show evidence, in the form of valid product safety assessments, that you are in compliance with the Cosmetics Regulations before you can be accepted as a member.
Admission to the Guild members register is entirely discretionary and no correspondence will be entered into.
It is not Guild policy to accept into membership resellers, i.e. traders only selling on other manufacturers products or makers who self-certify their own products. This is not a comment on these practices, which are perfectly valid business activities, however, the Guild was set up for self-employed and SME’s who manufacture and market their own products. This is reflected in our title ‘Maker’. This also ensures that each member has had their products independently verified.
The Guild does not set standards but rather raises awareness of existing standards. Neither does the Guild involve itself in approving suppliers of raw materials and products. As raw materials used in craft products must be safety tested and certified before the end product can be legally sold, standards in the area of supply are maintained by those who test the products. Testing is carried out by authorised persons as specified by the regulations.
Membership is open to any EU based craft soap and toiletry maker who can demonstrate that their products have been safety assessed and approved for sale by a chartered chemist in line with the Cosmetics Regulations.
Members are required to hold insurance cover where available (such cover may not be available in all countries). We do not ask to see copies of insurance policies. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure that they hold such cover where available. Where not available members should abide fully with any variations in local legislation. Each member is responsible for ensuring that they continue to meet membership conditions, including updating safety certificates as required, and any issue affecting membership eligibility must be reported in writing, preferably via email, to the Guild immediately.
You are making yourself known as a craft soap and toiletry maker who complies with the relevant cosmetics safety regulations. You can let your customers know this by stating that you’re a member of the Guild on your promotional literature. Members receive a membership certificate:
Click to view an example of the MembershipCertificate (certificates are for the strict use of registered members ONLY)
You can also tell other people about the Guild and encourage them to join. The more members we have, the greater the ability of the Guild to raise awareness of the regulations. This is in the interests of members, other compliant crafters, and consumers of cosmetics products.
By joining you agree that the Guild can use the email that you provide to send you members updates. This will generally be in the form of email newsletters. The email that you provide is for publication with your profile, the plugin used for membership registration on this site requires a username and email before it can be published. We do not sell or share our membership list. To opt out of these emails please inform admin once joined. You will still receive individual communications relating to your individual Guild membership occasionally. This will generally be to confirm details in order to meet our requirement to hold an up to date membership list.
Failure to comply with any of these preconditions above invalidates membership immediately.
We DO NOT ask to see details of the formulas that you use to make any of your products – this is commercially sensitive information. Kindly note that any information you share with the Guild as part of your application will be kept in strictest confidence. Applications are only seen by the registrar. We will not be keeping any information that we do not need. Guild membership is offered entirely at the discretion of the Guild.
Membership of the Guild is at our entire discretion. No correspondence will be entered into where applications are not successful.
If you would like to join the Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Makers, please see the instructions below. Kindly note that we do not use drop-box or other similar file-sharing services. Once your information is received and your membership approved, you will be a sent a link where you can register and create a profile. Please allow 21 days for a response regarding membership applications.
Note that your trading name and business email are for publication on this site and are used to set up your member profile. Your business name will be your site username and cannot be changed. Your email can be changed at any time by using the log in details that are supplied to all new members.
To join the Guild we need to see the original safety assessments sent to you by your assessor.
This information is seen only by the registrar and is never shared with anyone else. If you have many SA’s please only provide a copy of one.
When applying please also provide the following information:
Once ready please email the above information, including attachments, to: info@gcstm.co.uk
Once you have your login details you can then build your profile – if you need any help with this just email and we will do our best to help…
The Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Makers is owned and operated by:
Registered in England & Wales – Company number 11250299
Registered office address: Suite 306, Kemp House 152-160 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1V 2NX