US Senator Introduces Bill to Strengthen Oversight of Personal Care Products, Protect Consumer Safety

Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today introduced the Personal Care Products Safety Act to protect consumers’ health and create uniform safety rules for companies by strengthening the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to regulate the ingredients in personal care products. While the personal care products industry is projected to exceed $60 billion in U.S. revenue, federal safety rules for these products have not been updated since 1938.

The bill, which is supported by a wide range of consumer groups and companies, builds on progress made in the previous Congress by strengthening the bill’s small business protections, earning the support of the Handmade Cosmetic Alliance, Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, and Coalition of Handcrafted Entrepreneurs. 

“From shampoo to lotion, everyone—women, men, children—uses  personal care products every day,” said Senator Feinstein. “Despite the universal use of these products, none of their ingredients have been independently evaluated for safety. This puts consumer's heath at risk and we urgently need to update the nearly 80-year-old safety rules. In contrast, Europe and Canada have robust systems with strong consumer protections including ingredient review and product registration. Our bill is supported by companies and consumer groups alike. We hope to build on the tremendous progress we’ve made in putting together a broad coalition to get the Senate to pass this important bill this year.”

“Americans use a variety of personal care products daily, and they should be able to know whether the products that they are applying to their hair or skin are safe," said Senator Collins. “By updating FDA oversight of the ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products for the first time in nearly 80 years, our legislation will help increase safety for consumers, protect small businesses, and provide regulatory certainty for manufacturers.”

 Consumer and health advocates are concerned about the use and concentration of some of the ingredients in personal care products. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, short-term exposure to formaldehyde, which is used in smoothing hair treatments, has been reported to cause a range of negative health effects. Initially, these include headaches and shortness of breath in consumers and the professionals who apply the chemicals. However, long-term exposure to formaldehyde has been associated with increased risk of cancer, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires salon owners to provide their workers with protective equipment, including masks and goggles, when applying this chemical.

SOURCE: www.feinstein.senate.gov