Mr. President, I am introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Collins today to improve safety standards on products that affect every single American household. Most people assume that the…
Mr. President, I am introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Collins today to improve safety standards on products that affect every single American household. Most people assume that the personal care products they use every day, whether it is shampoo or shaving cream, lotion or make-up, hair dye or deodorant, have up-to-date Federal oversight.
In reality, however, the Food and Drug Administration's authority to do so is sorely outdated. In fact, even though research continues to better inform us on the safety of ingredients used in products that we absorb through our bodies, skin and even our nails, regulation of these ingredients have not kept up and little has changed over the past eight decades on how we conduct oversight of these products. It is time to modernize our safety oversight and correct this problem.
Over the last several years, Senator Collins and I have worked with a wide group of stakeholders that represent both industry and consumer groups. Together, we have drafted the Personal Care Products Safety Act with the support of many companies, health experts, and consumer organizations to put commonsense measures in place.
One of the most critical components of this legislation is a process for the FDA to review the safety of ingredients in personal care products. The FDA may limit the quantity of an ingredient, require specific screening protocol to ensure dangerous contaminants aren't present, or require warning labels when needed to alert consumers. If an ingredient is simply unsafe for use under any conditions, the FDA can require that it be banned from use in all personal care products.
Just this week, the FDA announced finding asbestos in several different types of make-up marketed to children and teens at the popular store, Claire's. This is a serious concern that highlights the need for Congress to move quickly to give FDA the tools they need.
Under our bill, the FDA could implement new screening protocols for contaminants like asbestos. Companies would be required to register, so it would be easier to know where products were coming from. FDA would have mandatory recall authority for personal care products like they do for food, and companies would finally be required to report adverse health events.
The Personal Care Products Safety Act is the result of many diverse groups working together with the common goal of modernizing the Federal oversight system to ensure the safest products possible are on the market. These stakeholders include small and large companies, doctors, consumer advocates, patient advocates, scientists, and the Food and Drug Administration.
This legislation recognizes the needs of businesses of all sizes to support their growth while not sacrificing high safety standards that will keep consumers safe and raise the bar for industry standards. Many companies are taking voluntary steps to do the right thing, but it is time for this to be a uniform requirement.
Another shocking example of concern is the ongoing use of formaldehyde, also called methylene glycol when in liquid form. It is used in the popular hair straightening treatment called a Brazilian blowout. During this beauty treatment, formaldehyde is released into the air and can cause shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness in the short-term. Exposure to formaldehyde long-term has even been linked to cancer.
I am also greatly concerned about safety of salon professionals, who are exposed daily to a variety of chemicals. In addition to reviewing the safety of chemicals they may be exposed to, this legislation ensures that the salon products they use are properly labeled with ingredients and warnings.
This bill will require the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate at least five ingredients per year for safety and use in personal care products. In addition to reviewing the latest scientific and medical studies, the agency will consider how prevalent the ingredient is, the likelihood to exposure, adverse event reports, and information from public comments.
Public input will be critical to the review process. There will be opportunities for companies, scientists, consumer groups, medical professionals, and members of the public to weigh in on not only the safety of particular ingredients but also which ingredients should be a priority for review.
After review, the Food and Drug Administration may deem an ingredient safe, unsafe, or safe under certain uses or under certain conditions. The agency will also have the authority to require warning labels as needed for certain ingredients and limit the amount of an ingredient that may be used in personal care products. For example, some ingredients may only be safe for use by adults or when used by professionals in a salon or spa setting.
The Personal Care Products Safety Act will also require companies to provide the Food and Drug Administration with a list of their products' ingredients and attest to their safety.
The bill recognizes the unique nature of the American handmade cosmetic industry and meets their needs to encourage growth and innovation. This legislation provides flexibility for small businesses, particularly those making low-risk products. And this bill would not increase taxpayer obligations because it is paid for by user fees from the cosmetic industry.
I am pleased to have the support of a broad coalition, including Environmental Working Group, Endocrine Society, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Women's Health Network, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, March of Dimes, Handmade Cosmetic Alliance, and the following companies that together represent over 90 brands of products: The Estee Lauder Companies, Procter and Gamble, Revlon, Unilever, L'Oreal, Johnson and Johnson, Beautycounter, Makes 3 Organics, SkinOwl, Silk Therapeutics, and S.W. Basics.
I want to thank Senator Collins for her support and hard work on this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this much needed legislation to modernize our outdated regulatory system for personal care products, and I hope the Senate will pass this long overdue legislation this year.
