ACI Responds To Cleaning Product Claims

ACI Responds To Cleaning Product Claims

• Consumers can continue to use cleaning products in their homes properly, safely and effectively—despite the distortions coming from a special interest group’s attack on these beneficial products, according to the American Cleaning Institute (ACI).

“The cleaning products industry dedicates an enormous amount of resources to assuring the safety of products, including many millions of dollars in research, development and testing before products ever hit the shelves,” said Brian Sansoni, ACI vice president of communication. “Additionally, products must meet all applicable federal and state quality, safety and labeling regulations.”

ACI contends this latest EWG effort distorts the science and research about cleaning product and ingredient safety and defies a fundamental principle of science by ignoring that ingredients can be used safely at the levels present in cleaning products.

“It is a fact that anything can be safe or unsafe—it all depends on the amount. Manufacturers work to ensure that they use levels of ingredients that are ‘just right’ —in that they provide a benefit in the products, but at the same time are safe.”

ACI reminded consumers that more information is available than ever before on cleaning product ingredients, which companies are providing on labels, website, toll-free numbers and other non-electronic means.

More info: www.cleaninginstitute.org/IngredientCentral

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Congress Passes Bill Reauthorizing EPA Collection of Fees from Pesticide Registrants
• The PRIA Coalition, led by the Consumer Specialty Products Association and CropLife America, appreciates the support and efforts of the leadership in the House of Representatives and the US Senate to pass S. 3552, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2012, according to the group.S. 3552 reauthorizes the collection of fees to support the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Program registration process.

The PRIA Coalition is comprised of the following associations: Biopesticides Industry Alliance, Biotechnology Industry Organization, The Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology, ISSA–The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) and the American Chemistry Council’s Biocides Panel.

The leadership of Senators Debbie Ann Stabenow (D-MI) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Representatives Frank Lucas (R-OK), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA), represents the commitment to this important registration program administered by EPA, noted the group.The PRIA Coalition expressly acknowledges the efforts of Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and as well as Representatives Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

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Energizer Recalls Banana Boat Ultra Mist
• Energizer Holdings Inc. has initiated a voluntary market withdrawal of a variety of continuous spray Ultra Mist Banana Boat sun care products due to a potential risk of product igniting on the skin if contact is made with a source of ignition before the product is completely dry. The company is voluntarily removing these products from retail outlets because of this potential safety concern.
Energizer believes that this issue is associated with the product delivery system, specifically the size of the spray valve opening on the affected products. The spray valve opening on the affected products dispenses more than is typical in the industry for continuous sun care sprays.

As a result, the product is taking longer to dry on the skin than is typical with other continuous sprays. If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite.

Energizer is notifying its retail partners to stop selling the product. The company received four reports of adverse events involving burns associated with the use of the Banana Boat Ultra Mist Sport SPF 30 and 50 products in the US, and one event in Canada. Consumer safety is the primary objective of Energizer and therefore it has voluntarily initiated this market withdrawal, said the company in its recall, announced on Oct. 19.

These over-the-counter products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers and retailers from January of 2010 through Sept. 30, 2012. At press time, this market withdrawal is being conducted with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration.

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ACI Launches Cleaning Product Inventory
• The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) debuted a detailed online inventory of ingredients used in consumer cleaning products as part of ACI’s Cleaning Product Ingredient Safety Initiative. The new Cleaning Product Ingredient Inventory is available on ACI’s Science website, www.ACIscience.org.

The inventory features a list of more than 900 chemical ingredients used by ACI members to manufacture consumer cleaning products, including laundry care products (e.g., laundry detergents, fabric softeners), dish care products (automatic dish detergents, hand dish detergents) and hard surface cleaners.

“The Cleaning Product Ingredient Safety Initiative is one of ACI’s many efforts to promote the responsible management of our members’ products and the safety of the ingredients in them,” said Dr. Paul DeLeo, ACI senior director, environmental safety.“The first step in this initiative is to compile and make publicly available a comprehensive inventory of ingredients used among its members in the formulation of home use consumer cleaning products sold in the US. The initiative focuses on laundry care, dish care and hard surface cleaning products.”

The Cleaning Product Ingredient Inventory collected ingredient information from 900 consumer cleaning products manufactured by ACI members. ACI developed and published the unique ingredient names and, where available, associated Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers, as part of the consolidated Ingredient Inventory. In 2010, ACI and industry allies launched the Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative.

More info: www.cleaninginstitute.org/ingredientcentral

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TSCA Would Cost $128 Million
• The Safe Chemicals Act (TSCA), Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) chemical reform bill backed by ACI and SOCMA, among other organizations, would increase the US Environmental Protection Agency’s annual workload by about 30%, an estimated $1 million per chemical, according to reports. This figure totals at $128 million over a five-year range, added the reports.

According to CSPA, which commented on the issue in the past, CSPA member companies are committed to the process of engaging in dialogue to work through and narrow differences on areas of TSCA reform, particularly those that most impact downstream product manufacturers.

CSPA president Chris Cathcart emphasized: “Several key factors motivate CSPA and its member companies to support an updated TSCA statute, including:

• Enhancing consumer confidence in the safety of chemicals in commerce used to formulate popular products;
• The need for consistent regulation of commerce in all 50 states; and
• Advocating global leadership for a risk-based approach to chemical management.”

More info: www.cspa.org

RIFM To Host 46th Annual Meeting • The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) will hold its 46th annual meeting, “Green Chemistry for a Competitive Edge,” on Nov. 15 at The Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, NJ. There will also be an important update on the RIFM Testing Program at the event. More info:www.rifm.org