03.09.10
CSPA Seminar To Focus on Development, Sustainability
The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) is continuing its cleaning products seminar series with a high-impact full-day course led by industry experts that will provide participants with a deeper understanding of ingredient selection and the issues related to the optimal development of sustainable cleaning products.
The full-day seminar—developed by the CSPA Cleaning Products Division Education Committee to further professional development and product stewardship—will be held in Chicago, May 3 at the Downtown Marriott. Registrationinformation is available on the CSPA website, www.cspa.org.
The course will also provide an overview of market trends from a global perspective, with emphasis on product forms, raw materials, washing procedures, testing methods, general formulation technology and the newest green regulatory requirements and component trends.
Following this event, the CSPA will hold its Mid-Year Meeting, May 4-7, also at the Downtown Marriott in Chicago.
More info: www.cspa.org
SOCMA Outlines Priorities for 2010
The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) revealed its legislative priorities for the second session of the 111th Congress—outlining plans for its national grassroots program, SOCMA Connect, and efforts to launch a voter registration drive ahead of the November midterm elections.
“Our priorities this year are similar to those in 2009, but our message will more forcefully communicate how overreaching legislation will negatively impact specialty chemical manufacturers, particularly small and mid-sized producers,” said Bill Allmond, Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates vice president of government relations and ChemStewards.
“With unemployment still at 10%, Congress should be doing all it can to take concerns about new regulatory burdens more seriously,” he added.
According to Allmond, building off last year’s grassroots successes, SOCMA Connect is launching new services to better assist members in their congressional advocacy efforts. Using web-based tools, all SOCMA members will be able to research upcoming election dates, races and important issue information.
SOCMA Connect will also spearhead voter registration drives and provide email updates on races and candidates that will inform and engage members prior to the November elections in the U.S. It is also renewing its call to permanently extend the research and development tax credits.
More info: www.socma.com
More Than 400 Attend Personal Care Product Council’s Annual Meeting
More than 400 industry executives attended the general session of the Personal Care Product Council's annual meeting in Boca Raton, FL on Feb. 24. The session featured Chairman Dan Brestle's review of 2009 accomplishments and new Council President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lezlee Westine discuss 2010 goals and initiatives.
The general session also included presentations from PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the economic impact and social contributions of industry and pollster John Zogby on the changing profiles of American consumers.
In his speech, Brestle, focused on the Council’s successful legislative and regulatory efforts in 2009, key advances in consumer safety, and the continued success of the Council’s signature philanthropic program, Look Good ...Feel Better, which helps women deal with the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.
“While we worked on the legislative and regulatory fronts, we also continued our work to strengthen and enhance important safety programs that reinforce our industry’s commitment to product and ingredient safety,” said Brestle. “We welcomed two new chemists to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, and we made significant progress in enhancing CIR procedures to increase efficiency,” he added.
Westine noted the dramatic change in the political environment and said that the Council has stepped up industry visibility on Capitol Hill and in state capitols with manufacturing facility visits, educational Congressional events and legislative meetings.
“On the regulatory front, we are working closely with new FDA leadership, and our lobbying for increased federal funding has strengthened FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors,”Westine said.
This is the first annual meeting for Westine since she joined the Council in May 2009. She previously served as president andchief executive officer of TechNet, a bipartisan political network of CEOs and senior executives from the nation’s leading technology companies. She was also White House Director of Public Liaison and Director of Gov. Pete Wilson’s Northern California office.
During the session on Feb. 24, Brestle was re-elected Personal Care Product Council chairman for 2010.Other Personal Care Product Council 2010 officers include: Vice chairs—William Gentner, Kao Brands; Iain Holding, Beiersdorf, North America; Heidi Manheimer, Shiseido Cosmetics (USA) and Ed Shirley, Procter & Gamble; and Secretary—Linda Marshall, Elysee Scientific Cosmetics and Treasurer—Scott Beattie of Elizabeth Arden.
More info: www.personalcarecouncil.org