Statement by Tom Myers, Associate General Counsel Personal Care Products Council On the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Announcement of Chemicals List

“The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released today a list of 312 chemicals, a subset of the 1,200 or more chemicals that will form the basis of its new Safer Consumer Products regulation.  These 312 chemicals reportedly have been detected through bio-monitoring studies, or have particular exposure pathways or traits. Many of these so-called “Candidate Chemicals” have a long history of environmental and/or human health safety, and only a fraction of them are used as ingredients in personal care products.

“We will examine the list carefully in order to help our member companies understand the complex compliance process laid out in the regulation.  It is important to note that this list is informational only – representing a portion of the universe of chemicals DTSC is examining – and in no way prohibits or suggests any immediate public health concern relating to the use of these chemicals in consumer products.

“Product safety is the number one priority for cosmetic and personal care products companies — it is a commitment that is fundamental to their businesses.  Manufacturers want to be able to comply with these rules and hope the final outcome will provide clarity to all parties involved.

“We look forward to working productively and collaboratively with the agency in a way that ensures our companies can continue to provide consumers with the safe, innovative products they trust and enjoy every day.”

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Personal Care Products Council Prepares for 2014 Annual Meeting–Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh to Kick Off 2014 Council Annual Meeting

The Personal Care Products Council will hold its 2014 Annual Meeting Sunday, February 23 to Wednesday, February 26 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. The program will kick off Sunday evening with a dinner for all attendees featuring a keynote address by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh. Tony’s energy and focus on “Delivering Happiness” will set the stage for a successful, results-oriented and fun event.

Attendees will learn about Tony’s journey from a young entrepreneur to one of the most successful CEOs in the country and hear firsthand about his standard bearing commitment customer service, innovative views on corporate culture, and visionary “Downtown Project” committed to transforming downtown Las Vegas into the most community-focused large city in the world.

Jonah Berger, James G. Campbell Associate Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and author of New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Contagious: Why Things Catch On will address attendees on Monday, February 24 at the morning plenary session. Jonah combines groundbreaking research and powerful stories as he addresses why ideas spread, some products get more word of mouth than others, and certain online content goes viral. Through rigorous academic research, he put together a framework for crafting contagious content. His research has been published in top-tier academic journals and appeared in major news outlets.

Additional speakers will be announced over the next several weeks.

About the Council Annual Meeting

The Council’s Annual Meeting is the largest annual gathering of cosmetics and personal care industry executives, suppliers, and media professionals. More than 500 attendees will gather in Palm Beach to share insights about the global, business, and policy challenges currently facing the industry. Registration is open to all Council members.

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Personal Care Products Council Submits Public Comments on Reducing UV Exposure to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention– Industry Remains Committed in its Fight Against Skin Cancer

On September 4, the Personal Care Products Council (the Council) submitted public comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the Agency’s request for information about reducing exposure to UV radiation in order to reduce skin cancer rates.

The Council’s efforts in providing scientific data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the safety and efficacy of sunscreens as well as educating Americans on a comprehensive safe sun regimen have been significant for more than 25 years.

“Individuals of all ages and skin tones should use sunscreen daily as part of an overall safe sun regimen to reduce the risk of UV damage, including premature skin aging and skin cancer,” said Farah Ahmed, Chair, Personal Care Products Council Sunscreen Committee.  “As we continue advocating for sound science, our industry looks forward to working with the CDC and the Surgeon General in the commitment to preventing skin cancer,” Ahmed said.

The Council’s activities on educating the public about the health benefits from daily sunscreen use include:

  • Provided volumes of scientific and technical data supporting sunscreen’s ability to reduce the risk of skin aging and skin cancer when used as part of an overall safe sun program.  For the first time in 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted companies to communicate the skin cancer prevention benefits that these products provide.
  • Created a video series titled, Skin SmartTM to help educate the public about skin health and wellness.  The first episode of Skin Smart is meant to help consumers understand the new sunscreen labeling regulations that FDA released in 2011, as well as highlight the many forms that sunscreens take in every day personal care products.
  • Created a second Skin SmartTM episode to demonstrate how the sun’s rays can damage skin, debunk troubling myths about the safety of sunscreen ingredients, and explain the benefits of using sunscreen daily in the fight against skin cancer and premature skin aging.
  • Hosted a number of educational workshops with key opinion leaders from the dermatology community as well as sunscreen experts from industry to discuss and exchange important information regarding proper skin care, including regular use of sunscreens.  The workshops provide a forum for understanding sunscreens and sun protection from many different perspectives – photobiology, regulatory, cosmetic chemistry, clinical experience, etc.

“Being skin smart is about sharing real science and expert advice to empower people to make informed choices when it comes to their skin beauty and health,” said Ahmed.

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Statement on the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2013 (H.R.1385) Introduced in Congress by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Edward Markey (D-MA)

“While we agree with Representatives Schakowsky and Markey that certain provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act should be modernized to keep pace with evolving science and the growth of the personal care industry, we believe our industry’s approach as outlined below is practical and science-based.  We are working with Members of Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to propose changes to the law that will make meaningful enhancements to cosmetics regulation without overburdening FDA or imposing costly and unnecessary restrictions on American businesses.

“The safety of cosmetic and personal care products in the U.S. is overseen by FDA under the FD&C Act.  The law requires that all cosmetics be substantiated for safety before they are marketed, contain no prohibited ingredients, and that all labeling and packaging must be in compliance with U.S. regulations.  Under the FD&C Act, it is a federal crime to market an unsafe cosmetic product.

“Our goal is that an agreement on cosmetics legislation will be reached quickly with FDA and that legislation that enhances FDA’s regulatory authority can be passed on a bipartisan basis. We will continue to support Congress and FDA in their efforts.  Consumers deserve a strong and sensible regulatory climate for the products that they and their families use and trust every day. We believe it is time to modernize the statute, passed more than 70 years ago, so the regulatory functions over cosmetics and personal care products keep pace with the changes in science and technology while providing the industry the ability to innovate and improve products and meet consumer demand.  

“We believe the following measures would enhance FDA oversight and give the agency the information and flexibility it needs to continue to ensure consumer safety and safeguard public health:

(1) Enhanced FDA Registration. Require that personal care products manufacturers that market their products in the United States comply with the following:

  • Register with FDA all facilities where those products are manufactured.
  • File with FDA product ingredient reports disclosing all of the ingredients used in those products.
  • Report to FDA any serious unexpected adverse event with a personal care product experienced by consumers.  

(2) New Process to Set Safety Levels for Trace Constituents. When requested by a consumer or other stakeholder, or on its own initiative, FDA would be required to establish safe levels for trace constituents in cosmetic ingredients and products.

(3) New FDA Ingredient Review Process. Once a request has been made, or FDA unilaterally determines action is warranted, the agency would be required to review the safety of any ingredient intended for use in a personal care product and set safety use levels for such ingredient on a specified timetable.

(4) New FDA Oversight of CIR Findings. FDA would be required to review current and future findings on the safety of cosmetic ingredients by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel and determine if FDA agrees with these findings. If there are instances in which it does not agree with a CIR ingredient review, FDA would determine by guidance or regulations if, or under what conditions, the ingredient can be used safely in personal care products.

(5) FDA-Issued Good Manufacturing Practices. FDA would establish industry-wide “Good Manufacturing Practices” requirements.

“We believe our proposed measures would further enhance the effectiveness of the FDA cosmetic regulatory structure, and we look forward to continuing to work with Congress toward that goal.”

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Personal Care Products Council Requests Public Comments on the Revised Microbiology Guideline “Determination of Preservation Efficacy in Water- Miscible Personal Care Products

The Personal Care Products Council (the Council) is requesting public comments by October 3, 2013 on the revised Microbiology Guideline “Determination of Preservation Efficacy in Water-Miscible Personal Care Products.”

The Council’s Microbiology Guidelines are intended to provide manufacturers with guidance regarding establishing and maintaining microbiological quality programs within their companies.  These Guidelines are also recommended for contract packagers and suppliers of raw materials.

Each Guideline undergoes an extensive development and review process by the Council’s technical committees and scientific staff, as well as public review by member companies, nonmember companies, federal government agencies, and scientific professional societies.

An electronic copy of the draft guideline is available online. Comments should be submitted by email to John Krowka, Senior Microbiologist, krowkaj@personalcarecouncil.org.

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New Online Survey Conducted by Harris Interactive Shows Many Americans Uninformed About Anti-Aging and Year-Round Sun Protection Nearly 40 percent say sunscreen is used mainly on sunny days

As children return to school and memories of summer vacations fade, a new nationwide online survey conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc.1 shows that many Americans around the country are uninformed about sun protection, regardless of the season.  They also are unaware of the risks of sun exposure and who is at risk for sun damage. In fact, 90 percent of skin aging is caused by everyday sun exposure that occurs throughout the year, not just at the beach.

“The American public is still not in a place where they are sun smart every time they step out of their door,” said Farah K. Ahmed, Chair, Personal Care Products Council Sunscreen Committee.

Wear Sunscreen Every Day – Even When Cloudy

Nearly 2/5 (38 percent) of Americans say sunscreen is mainly for use on a sunny day.  However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin and cause damage.  Since UV rays can be reflected off of water, sand, snow and concrete, the risk of sunburn can be high even if you are in the shade or when skiing on a cold, winter day.

Cloudy with a Chance of Wrinkles

Americans are unaware of the damage everyday sun exposure causes.  Two in five (40 percent) say the main risk of sun exposure is sunburn, and 45 percent think skin aging is mostly related to a person’s genetics.  However, extensive research demonstrates that it’s everyday sun exposure that contributes heavily towards:

  • Wrinkles
  • Fine lines
  • Sagging skin
  • Dull skin
  • Dehydrated skin
  • Age spots

In addition, sun exposure also contributes to:

  • Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions – caused by loss of the skin’s immune function
  • Benign tumors
  • Telangiectasias — the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin

Everyone Is At Risk

One-third (33 percent) of Americans believe the darker a person’s skin, the less susceptible they are to sun damage.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone’s skin is damaged by UV exposure, but those with lighter skin types are more at risk for developing skin cancer.

“Unfortunately, the American public still has a long way to go before we treat sunscreen the way we treat seatbelts,” said Ahmed.  “Every time you step out of your door, you should automatically apply sunscreen – rain or shine, summer or winter – as well as wear protective clothing and seek shade whenever possible.”

According to the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation, some of the best ways to protect yourself from UV damage are to:

  • Seek shade when appropriate.  The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade.
  • Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
  • Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more to all exposed skin. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
  • Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.
  • Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product or spray, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

“Our goal is to help consumers make informed decisions, and use sunscreen as part of a daily safe sun regimen.  Sunscreen is a crucial step in the fight against premature skin aging, sunburn, and skin cancer,” said Ahmed. “Today, consumers can find sunscreen protection in a variety of products labeled with SPF, such as daily facial moisturizers, foundations, lipsticks, powders, etc.  Our hope is that sun protection will become as much of a habit as putting on your seatbelt,” said Ahmed.

[1]Nationwide online survey conducted among 2,010 U.S. adults ages 18 or older by Harris Interactive, Inc. on behalf of the Personal Care Products Council from August 14-16, 2013. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.  For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Lisa Powers (202-466-0489) or Hayley McConnell (202-454-0302).

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