Op-Ed by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO Personal Care Products Council, on Modernizing the FDA to Protect Cosmetics Users

This op-ed, authored by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO, Personal Care Products Council, originally appeared in RealClearPolicy on March 4, 2019. 

Millions of American families use cosmetics and personal care products every day. From toothpaste, sunscreen and lipstick to deodorant, shampoo and moisturizer, these products are used to promote the beauty, health and well-being of consumers. We hold sacred the trust that families put in the safety and effectiveness of our products. That is why cosmetics and personal care product companies are committed to product safety and scientific innovation. We want families to have continued confidence in our products.

Read the op-ed on RealClearPolicy. 

 

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Statement by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO Personal Care Products Council on the Reintroduction of the Personal Care Products Safety Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Tesia Williams (202) 297-1232 williamst@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington (202) 615-6558 harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org

 Washington, D.C. — “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies stand united in our longstanding commitment to work with all stakeholders to modernize federal regulatory oversight for cosmetics and personal care products. We greatly appreciate the strong bipartisan leadership in Congress to create a more contemporary regulatory system for the cosmetics and personal care sector, and especially thank Senator Feinstein and Senator Collins for their leadership on this important issue.

“PCPC has been working for many years with a bipartisan group of leaders in Congress and a diverse group of interested parties. We believe strongly that any legislation moved in the 116th Congress should have broad bipartisan support.

“Several legislative proposals have emerged over the years and we hope the 116th Congress provides an opportunity to find a conclusive and strong bipartisan compromise. As part of our ongoing commitment toward modernization, PCPC and its member companies support a set of principles to guide legislative action.

“While we believe our products are one of the safest categories the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates, we support modernizing the Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act to ensure FDA has the appropriate authority and resources to regulate cosmetic products in the 21st century.  Over the last decade, our commitment to reform has not wavered.  We believe that well-crafted, science-based reforms—applied on a consistent basis nationwide by FDA—will enhance our industry’s ability to innovate and further strengthen consumer confidence in the products they trust and use every day.

“As different approaches are considered, we look forward to continuing to work with partners in the NGO community and interested members of Congress, including Senators Feinstein and Collins, Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray, Chairman Pallone and Rep. Shimkus to create a more contemporary regulatory system for the personal care products sector—one that advances safety, innovation and consumer confidence.”

For more information on cosmetic and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org. 

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. Founded in 1894, PCPC’s 600 member companies manufacture, distribute, and supply the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the U.S. As the makers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day, from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, lipstick and fragrance, personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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Personal Care Products Council Among Leading Organizations to Join USMCA Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACTS:

Tesia Williams (202) 297-1232 williamst@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington (202) 615-6558 harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org

 Washington, D.C. – More than 200 companies and associations – including the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) –  have joined together to launch the USMCA Coalition. In the coming weeks and months, the Coalition will advocate for congressional approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade agreement formerly known as NAFTA.

“We are actively engaged in supporting the ratification of USMCA,” said PCPC EVP of Global Strategies Francine Lamoriello. “Our priority is to help preserve and strengthen the benefits of North American trade for American workers, businesses, and consumers alike.”

The Agreement, signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada on November 30, 2018, successfully renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), bringing North American trade into the 21st century with brand new provisions on digital trade, agriculture, labor, and the environment, among many others. Of particular note is the high standard Cosmetics Annex, which commits all three countries to good regulatory practices for the personal care sector.

“We believe USMCA will provide the industry with further opportunities to grow regionally and contribute to its competitiveness around the world,” added Lamoriello. “The US-Canada Appendix to the Annex uniquely recognizes the importance of regulatory alignment for OTC-like products and will have a significant commercial benefit for our member companies.”

To learn more about the USMCA Coalition, visit the website.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. Founded in 1894, PCPC’s 600 member companies manufacture, distribute, and supply the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the U.S. As the makers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day, from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, lipstick and fragrance, personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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Statement by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO Personal Care Products Council on FDA Statement Regarding Cosmetics Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contacts:

Tesia Williams (202) 297-1232 williamst@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington (202) 615-6558 harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org

Washington, D.C., – “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies are united in our continued commitment to modernize federal regulatory oversight for cosmetics and personal care products. We appreciate Commissioner Gottlieb and Dr. Mayne’s leadership on this important issue, and support several of the recommendations in their recent statement. We join their call and urge Congress to move swiftly to pass bipartisan cosmetics legislation this year.

“As noted by Commissioner Gottlieb and Dr. Mayne, cosmetics products are one of the safest categories regulated by FDA, a fact that has been borne out by decades of consumer experience with our products. Given the industry’s scientific rigor and commitment to consumer safety, we support modernizing cosmetics regulation to ensure FDA has the appropriate resources and administrative authority to continue to oversee our products. We also believe strongly that well-crafted, science-based reforms will enhance our industry’s ability to innovate and further strengthen consumer confidence in the products they trust and enjoy every day.

“As part of our ongoing efforts toward cosmetics reform, PCPC and its member companies support a set of principles to guide bipartisan legislative action, which mirrors protections applied to other products regulated by the FDA.

“Currently, cosmetics companies are responsible for obtaining all data and information needed to substantiate the safety of their products before introducing them into the marketplace. Raw material suppliers also bear responsibility for substantiating safety of the ingredients they supply to the cosmetics industry. Any product or ingredient for which safety is not adequately substantiated prior to marketing is considered misbranded and must have a warning label. With that said, our industry recognizes that the law should keep pace with innovation and scientific advancements which is why our commitment to reform has not wavered.

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with FDA and other stakeholders to create a more contemporary regulatory system for the personal care products sector—one that advances safety, innovation and consumer confidence.”

For more information on cosmetics and personal care products, please visit www.Cosmeticsinfo.org.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. Founded in 1894, PCPC’s 600 member companies manufacture, distribute, and supply the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the U.S. As the makers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day, from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, lipstick and fragrance, personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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Statement by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO Personal Care Products Council, on the Pallone/Shimkus Discussion Draft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Tesia Williams (202) 297-1232 williamst@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington (202) 615-6558 harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org

Washington, D.C. — “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies are proud of our longstanding commitment to work with all stakeholders to modernize federal regulatory oversight for cosmetics and personal care products.  We greatly appreciate Chairman Frank Pallone’s (D-NJ) and Congressman John Shimkus’ (R-IL) leadership to update the regulatory system for the cosmetics and personal care sector.

“As part of our ongoing efforts toward cosmetics reform, PCPC and its member companies support a set of principles to guide bipartisan legislative action, many of which mirror protections applied to other products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Decades of consumer experience with our products demonstrate that they are one of the safest categories regulated by FDA.  Given the industry’s scientific rigor and commitment to consumer safety, we support modernizing cosmetics regulation to ensure FDA has the appropriate resources and administrative authority to continue to oversee our products.  We also believe strongly that well-crafted, science-based reforms will enhance our industry’s ability to innovate and further strengthen consumer confidence in the products they trust and use every day.

“PCPC and our member companies remain united in our commitment to reform.  We look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Pallone, Congressman Shimkus, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and other relevant stakeholders to create a more modernized regulatory system for the personal care products sector—a system that advances innovation, safety and consumer confidence.”

For more information on cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. Founded in 1894, PCPC’s 600 member companies manufacture, distribute, and supply the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the U.S. As the makers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day, from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, lipstick and fragrance, personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

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