Cosmetics Industry Urges US Congress to Fund Vital FDA Reform

In an op-ed featured in Real Clear Policy on September 12, 2023, Lezlee Westine, President & CEO of the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), urges Congress to allocate funding to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully implement the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA).

Westine highlights the commitment of cosmetics and personal care product companies to provide American consumers with safe and effective products that enhance their health and well-being. She emphasizes the importance of robust scientific research and development in ensuring product safety.

The MoCRA, passed in 2022, represents a significant milestone in federal regulatory cosmetics reform, granting the FDA new authorities and regulatory tools to enhance product safety and innovation in the beauty and personal care industry. It establishes comprehensive national regulations for these products and strengthens consumer confidence.

Under MoCRA, manufacturers are required to maintain records of adverse events and report serious incidents, while facilities producing cosmetics in the U.S. must register with the FDA and provide detailed product information. Product labels must also identify potential allergens and contact information for reporting adverse events. The FDA gains enhanced enforcement capabilities, including the authority to suspend facility registrations and recall products posing health risks.

However, to fully realize the potential of MoCRA, the FDA requires funding. PCPC, along with the Professional Beauty Association and its extensive membership, supports the allocation of $7 million in the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This funding is crucial to empower the FDA to implement MoCRA effectively.

Westine emphasizes that failure to allocate funding now would undermine over a decade of bipartisan effort. The beauty and personal care industry is dedicated to consumer safety, product innovation, and scientific excellence, and Congress is urged to act promptly to ensure the FDA has the necessary resources to fulfill MoCRA's promise and prioritize public health.