“For Immediate Release: June 24th, 2011
Contact: Stacy Malkan, 202-321-6963, stacy@safecosmetics.org; Stephenie Hendricks, 415-258-9151, stephdh@earthlink.net; Leeann Brown, 202-939-9146, leeann@ewg.org
New Bill to Modernize 1938 Regulations that Allow Harmful Chemicals in Shampoos, Cosmetics
WASHINGTON; June 24, 2011 – Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., joined by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359), which would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that personal care products such as shampoo and cosmetics are free of harmful ingredients. Existing law, which has not been updated since 1938, has loopholes that allow chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other illnesses in products we use on our bodies every day.
The legislation will:
- Phase out ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental harm
- Create a health-based safety standard that includes protections for children, the elderly, workers and other vulnerable populations
- Close labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure, including salon products and the constituent ingredients of fragrance, on product labels and company websites
- Give workers access to information about unsafe chemicals in personal care products
- Require data sharing to avoid duplicative testing and encourage the development of alternatives to animal testing
- Provide adequate funding for the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors so it has the resources it needs for effective oversight of the cosmetics industry
- Level the playing field so small businesses can compete fairly”
***Yaaaay!!! One step forward greenies!!!!!
For more info: www.safecosmetics.org/safecosmeticsact
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The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition of more than 150 nonprofit organizations working to protect the health of consumers and workers by eliminating dangerous chemicals from cosmetics. Core members include: Clean Water Action, the Breast Cancer Fund, Commonweal, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and Women’s Voices for the Earth.
This Bill should be opposed in its current form as it is full of unscientific propaganda and scare tactics that will not serve the public in any way at all.
Check out this Blog for all the details of the bill and exactly what each of the problems are.
http://essentialu.typepad.com/
Just because it has the word “Safe” in the name does not make it so.
Jackie