Personal Care Product Safety Act Legislation Is Introduced

Two US senators introduced legislation in April that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate and report on some of the ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoo and skin cream. The Personal Care Products Safety Act would require the FDA to investigate at least five ingredients each year. The reviews would lead to the agency providing guidance about whether ingredients should continue to be used, and if so, at what concentration levels.

The measure is supported by the Personal Care Products Council, as well as industry companies Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Revlon, Estée Lauder, Unilever and L’Oréal. The legislation also has the blessing of The Environmental Working Group, Society for Women’s Health Research, National Alliance for Hispanic Health and HealthyWomen.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the bill’s sponsors, said that federal regulations of the ingredients in cosmetics and personal-care products haven’t been updated for 75 years. The bill would require the FDA to evaluate a minimum of five ingredients per year to determine their safety and appropriate use. The review process set forth in the bill would provide companies with clear guidance about whether ingredients should continue to be used and if so, what the concentration levels should be and whether consumer warnings are needed.

The first set of chemicals for review includes: diazolidinyl urea, which is used as a preservative in a wide range of products including deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath and lotion; lead acetate, which is used as a color additive in hair dye; methylene glycol/formaldehyde, which is used in hair treatments; propyl paraben, which is used as a preservative in a wide range of products including shampoo, conditioner and lotion; and quaternium-15, which is used as a preservative in a wide range of products including shampoo, skin creams and cleansers.

The bill would provide streamlined federal standards so that the personal care products industry knows what to expect, according to FDA.