08.13.23
AOC is fighting for better SPF. An article in The New York Times reports that US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-D) opts for sunscreens manufactured outside the US. Specifically, Ocasio-Cortez prefers Bioré for summer and Beauty of Joseon for winter.
In the US, sunscreens are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. That’s because they make drug claims such as “decrease the risk of skin cancer.” Elsewhere, sunscreens are considered cosmetics. As a result, the US has approved just 14 sunscreen filters; in contrast, Europe has approved more than 30.
“It just doesn’t seem that this issue has risen to the level of awareness in Congress that creates the political momentum necessary to make things a priority,” Ocasio-Cortez told NYT. “What I’m very excited about is that there is growing awareness among everyday people about this issue.”
Consumers are aware. Industry, too. The Personal Care Product Council, as well as Happi Columnist Nadim Shaath, has been calling for more approvals for years. The Sunscreen Monograph was issued in 1978. In 2014, the Sunscreen Innovation Act became law. It gave FDA five years to approve or deny the use of new sunscreens. In 2019, FDA reaffirmed the safety of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The agency asked manufacturers for more information on 12 other ingredients. More recently, in 2020, the CARES Act included a change in the approval process for over-the-counter drugs.
Still, new sunscreens are unavailable in the US. Can the industry and FDA move forward with prodding from AOC and other members of Congress?
In the US, sunscreens are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. That’s because they make drug claims such as “decrease the risk of skin cancer.” Elsewhere, sunscreens are considered cosmetics. As a result, the US has approved just 14 sunscreen filters; in contrast, Europe has approved more than 30.
“It just doesn’t seem that this issue has risen to the level of awareness in Congress that creates the political momentum necessary to make things a priority,” Ocasio-Cortez told NYT. “What I’m very excited about is that there is growing awareness among everyday people about this issue.”
Consumers are aware. Industry, too. The Personal Care Product Council, as well as Happi Columnist Nadim Shaath, has been calling for more approvals for years. The Sunscreen Monograph was issued in 1978. In 2014, the Sunscreen Innovation Act became law. It gave FDA five years to approve or deny the use of new sunscreens. In 2019, FDA reaffirmed the safety of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The agency asked manufacturers for more information on 12 other ingredients. More recently, in 2020, the CARES Act included a change in the approval process for over-the-counter drugs.
Still, new sunscreens are unavailable in the US. Can the industry and FDA move forward with prodding from AOC and other members of Congress?