Teach Soap

Just thought I'd share this because it made me do a happy dance of joy!

http://www.etsy.com/blog/news/2012/poli ... tems-list/

This is the part that really made me !

"Drugs, medical drug claims about an item, drug paraphernalia: We have clarified the previous language from “drug-like substances” to now be “medical drug claims about an item.” A medical drug claim makes a correlation between a product and the cure or relief of a health condition or illness. In many cases, an item itself is not problematic, but the way it is presented with certain language is against this policy. With this update, we’re also reinforcing our standards regarding drug paraphernalia. This includes, but is not limited to, items such as pipes with carburetors, water pipes, bubblers, oil domes, hash skillets, vaporizers, and ash catchers. (Note: Tobacco pipes that do not have carburetors are still allowed, as long as they otherwise meet Etsy’s marketplace criteria.)"

Sounds like this will apply to ALL their items - which means no more bath & body sellers making medical claims about their products!

Except as of right now, their new rules are too vague. There is a looooooooooong thread in the forum on etsy about people confused on what they can and cannot use in their descriptions. Also, people aren't happy that while they did change the descriptions, others haven't been caught yet and those are the ones that are getting sales from searches.

If etsy truly wants to make this change, they need to go after the sellers that are still making outrageous medical claims, not the sellers that have a few items and just barely cross the line. Those should come after. The thing I don't understand is why make the rules more strict then the FDA? I think this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Don't get me wrong. I would love for everyone to abide by the rules of the FDA and not make medical or drug claims, but this one is going to be hard to enforce because some people will still end up under the radar. That will hurt those sellers that are making a similar product, but not making any claims and following FDA rules.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I totally see your point, Soapbuddy. I hadn't thought about some of your points.

I think overall it'll still end up being a good thing, but it's going to require a lot of community self-policing. I noticed that they also removed some bath & body categories (diaper cream, anit-aging, etc.). Which I understand because it fits their new policy, but at the same time, it's going to make those products a lot more difficult to find. I don't see why they can't just say, "you can sell diaper cream, you just can't claim that it cures diaper rash".

I have a feeling that in an attempt to remove people selling snake oil they've totally jumped into moderating an entire segment of Etsy they hadn't anticipated on moderating.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Just saw this article about some poor old ladies who are getting picked on by Etsy

http://www.naturalnews.com/036905_Etsy_ ... z24FYmXVHd

I had to comment on that one. I love how they're making it seem like Etsy and the FDA are the bad guys. Seriously, if you're going to go into business, know the rules and follow them.

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Genny

If they follow the FDA rules, there would be no problem. As such as soon as you make ANY medical claim, it's no longer soap, but a medical drug. I was going to post to that article, but I changed my mind. If I do, they will only get more press.

There are many more Etsy sellers that need to change their listings, or their items should be pulled off. These grandmothers can fight Etsy all they want, but they will not win. Actually, Etsy is a privataly owned company, who can make their own rules. It makes me wonder if someone either tried to sue Etsy because someone did make a medical claim and the buyer said that it didn't work, or they were contacted by the FDA to straighten up their act or else Etsy would be shut down. Etsy has way too much money at stake to be shut down.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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Armi