Soil Association invites entries for organic awards

The categories include best organic body care product, best organic facial skincare product and the best organic babycare product. Products submitted must be certified to the Soil Association's organic standards or an equivalent, and must be available for purchase by the general public in the UK. Judging criteria include the effectiveness of the product, its consistency and fragrance, and the product's packaging and labelling. The Soil Association is calling for manufacturers to enter the products as a way to promote business as short listed and winning products will gain publicity and coverage. The skin care and beauty awards are part of a wider event, the Natural and Organic Products European trade show, taking place on the 13^th​ and 14^th​ of April in London and the awards ceremony will take place after the show closes the Sunday night. This year's show will be the twelfth annual event for what the organisers describe as the leading event for the natural and organic industry in the UK. Visitor numbers have grown by 65 per cent in the past four years and are expected to continue to rise, said the organisers. The 2007 show attracted 8500 visitors, according to event organisers. A large natural and organic beauty area is planned for this year's show in the hope of accommodating what is one of the fastest growing sectors in the cosmetics and personal care market. The Soil Association has been hitting the headlines this week with its ban on nanotechnology in certified organic cosmetics and personal care products. The ban means that the organisation will not allow any product containing man-made nano particles to bear its globally recognised certification and labelling. The move also makes the Soil Association the first body in the world to take regulatory action against nanoparticles in an effort to 'safeguard the public'. "We are deeply concerned at the government's failure to follow scientific advice and regulate products,"​ said Gundula Azeez, Soil Association policy manager. "There should be an immediate freeze on the commercial release of nanomaterials until there is a sound body of scientific research into all the health impacts,"​ Azeez added.