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Associations Congratulate Biden & Harris

Personal Care Product Council and American Cleaning Institute executives look forward to working with the new Administration.

Following the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris, industry trade associations issued statements congratulating them and said they look forward to working with the new Administration.

Said Lezlee Westine, president and CEO, Personal Care Product Council:

“The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) congratulates President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala D. Harris on their historic inauguration. We look forward to working with their administration and the 117th Congress to continue to improve our industry’s ability to provide an array of safe, innovative products that enhance the well-being of countless American families who trust and enjoy our products every day. 
 
“Today marks a momentous event for our country. For the first time, girls and women of color can see a future where anything is possible regardless of their gender or race. Beauty and personal care products companies have a strong history of women’s successes—from Estée Lauder to Madam C.J. Walker, Elizabeth Arden to Mary Kay Ash to a new generation of female entrepreneurs. Future leaders, inspired by the most diverse Administration in history, will continue to address social challenges while building a more equitable and inclusive future.
 
“PCPC and its members have always believed in the importance of partnerships. We firmly believe that working together can unify the country, improve the nation’s safety and health, and get America moving and working again. Throughout the past year, our industry worked diligently with a diverse group of stakeholders across the country to keep Americans healthy and safe by addressing the critical shortage of hand sanitizers. Companies quickly converted manufacturing lines and increased production to produce these essential products. Our companies worked with federal and state governments to provide and donate more than 20 million units of hand sanitizer to hospitals, community clinics, medical and emergency professionals, first responders, industry employees, and made them available to retail customers. This could not have happened without those critical partnerships. 
 
“As President Biden said: ‘To live together and work together. That’s how I see America. That’s how I see the presidency, and that’s how I see the future.’ We are energized by the new administration’s commitment to partnerships. Whether it’s American business, international relations or confronting our nation’s many social challenges, PCPC and our member companies are ready to support President Biden’s, Vice President Harris’ and our country’s future success.” 


Said Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO, American Cleaning Institute:

On behalf of the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), I am writing to congratulate you on your inauguration. Below you will find some top priorities for the cleaning product supply chain to help ensure and enhance the availability of critical products and chemistries for the American people.


Public Health
ACI member companies have increased production and are operating around the clock to produce vital products to protect individuals from the spread of COVID-19 and to meet the dramatic expansion in demand. The ACI goal remains to ensure delivery of finished cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting products critical to combating the novel coronavirus to market and increasing the supply of ingredients to accomplish this goal.

Our members have embraced guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple governmental authorities to undertake social distancing, enable telework and practice good hygiene. ACI encourages the continued public health guidance of the CDC nationwide. Because the business of cleaningproduct chemistry is so fundamental to our nation’s economy and to the continued operation of multiple othersectors, the US Department of Homeland Security has classified the Chemical Sector (of which the cleaning product industry is a key component) as a Critical Infrastructure Sector.


US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The continued overall chemical management work at the EPA should be a priority in your Administration. ACI is the cleaning product industry leader for issues of disinfectant active ingredients such as quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). ACI recognizes the importance and safe use of disinfectants to combat the novel coronavirus. ACI has engaged in a special focus on educating the public on how to find products that are effective on the novel coronavirus such as those on EPA’s List N, and how to use such products in a safe way. As a matter, ACI urges continued funding and attention to a robust Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) implementation and chemical management processes to ensure speed to market of important cleaning product chemistries.


US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
ACI is leading industry efforts to address FDA’s safety and efficacy data requirements in the final OTC TopicalAntiseptic Monographs for Health Care, Consumer Wash and Consumer Rub products. These regulations have significantly impacted currently marketed health care and consumer topical antiseptic products by establishing testing requirements for active ingredients to support determinations of their safety and efficacy which are greatly burdening product manufacturers. ACI provides the industry-leading forum for manufacturers and suppliers to work together to meet these testing demands.
 
The FDA has finalized rules for consumer antiseptic soaps and body washes (September 2016); health care antiseptic products (December 2017); and consumer rub or leave-on antiseptic products (April 2019). ACI is providing testing for the following active ingredients: benzalkonium chloride (BAC), benzethonium chloride (BZT), chloroxylenol (PCMX), ethyl alcohol and povidone iodine (PVP-I). FDA issued deferrals from final rulemaking on these active ingredients based on updates demonstrating our progress towards meeting FDA’ssafety and efficacy data requirements. ACI has developed and submitted to FDA detailed work plans to satisfythe agency’s data requirements for the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients. We urge the Agency to ensure the continued availability of highly sought after products with these deferred active ingredients to consumer healthcare and commercial audiences.

ACI notes the guidance allowing temporary formulators of much-needed alcohol-based hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic to address market shortages. However, we are alarmed by the reported poisoning and exposure incidents across the country. ACI urges continued market surveillance for products that do notconform to FDA’s temporary manufacturing and labeling guidance in order to maintain the safety of all consumers who use these products.

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