Statement by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO, Personal Care Products Council, on Dr. Robert Califf’s Confirmation as FDA Commissioner


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Washington, D.C. — “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) congratulates Robert M. Califf, M.D., on his confirmation as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Califf is well qualified for the position, bringing to the role previous experience as head of the agency, a strong commitment to protecting public health and a long-standing dedication to science-based decision-making.

“Consumer and product safety are top priorities for the beauty and personal care industry, with careful and thorough scientific research and development serving as the foundation for everything we do. PCPC member companies invest nearly $3 billion each year in R&D – research that allows our industry to introduce approximately 2,000 new products annually and provide consumers with a wide range of choices. PCPC shares Dr. Califf’s commitment to public health and supports innovation that enables our member companies to continue to use the latest scientific research and technological advances to develop safe, high-quality products.

“We congratulate Dr. Califf on his confirmation and look forward to working with him to ensure that well-crafted, science-based regulations enhance our members’ ability to innovate and further strengthen consumer confidence in the personal care products they trust and use every day.”

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $484.1 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation. For more information on cosmetics and personal care products, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on Benzene and Body Spray Products


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Washington, D.C. – “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is aware of the study reporting the presence of benzene in some antiperspirant and deodorant body spray products. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), benzene is formed from both natural processes and human activities and can be present at low levels in the environment. Benzene is not an intentionally added ingredient in body spray products; however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as product manufacturers, are aware that it may be present in food and drug products at very low levels. The FDA offers guidance on the level of residual benzene in drug products in its companion document for the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), and PCPC strongly supports the FDA’s guidance and activities in monitoring for conformance to these recommendations. 

“PCPC and its member companies are firmly committed to ensuring consumers have access to cosmetics and personal care products with ingredients that have been thoroughly tested for safety and follow the requirements of the law. There is nothing more important than safety. If our consumers can’t believe in a product and rely on it to do what it says, then nothing else matters.

“Deodorant and antiperspirant products and their ingredients must be shown to be safe before they can be marketed to consumers, like all cosmetics and personal care products. In the U.S., cosmetics are regulated by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). All cosmetic products and ingredients are subject to the same safety requirement under the FD&C Act: They must be safe for consumers under labeled or customary conditions of use. In addition, antiperspirants are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and must comply with all other requirements listed in the OTC antiperspirant monograph. Companies and individuals have a legal responsibility to ensure their products and ingredients are safe for the intended use.

“For more information about our industry, our products and the ingredients used in them, please visit www.cosmeticsinfo.org.”

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $499.6 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on the Personal Care Products Safety Act


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACTS:

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232 

Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558

 

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on the Personal Care Products Safety Act 

 

Washington, D.C. “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and our member companies are united in our longstanding commitment to work with all stakeholders to modernize federal regulatory oversight of cosmetics and personal care products. We appreciate Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for their leadership in introducing a bill that highlights the importance of modernizing the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration’s (FDA) regulatory framework for cosmetics and personal care products.   

“We look forward to working with members of Congress to enact bipartisan, comprehensive cosmetics regulatory reform. As part of our ongoing commitment toward this goal, PCPC and our member companies created a set of principles to guide legislative action, many of which mirror consumer protections applied to other products regulated by the FDA. Our member companies support a national standard that maintains the continued safety of our products while providing the FDA with additional regulatory authority over our industry.  

“While we firmly believe in the safety of our products, we also believe 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. The current patchwork regulatory approach with varying state bills does not achieve this goal.   

“We look forward to working with Sens. Feinstein and Collins, the leadership of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and key stakeholders to create a modern regulatory system for the personal care sector. 

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

Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)is the voice and advocate for 600 member companiesrepresenting the $450 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to safety, quality and innovation.  

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association on the FDA’s Proposed Administrative Order for Sunscreens


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:       

Lisa Powers, (202) 297-1232, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org
Mike Tringale, (202) 429-3520, mtringale@chpa.org

Washington, D.C. – “Sunscreens are a crucial and well-recognized tool in the fight against skin cancer. The dangers of excessive sun exposure are clear and universally recognized by public health professionals, including prominent dermatologists. As part of the revised regulation of sunscreens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed Administrative Order today, largely mirroring provisions made in its 2019 Tentative Final Monograph (TFM). These include revisions and updates related to maximum sun protection factor (SPF) values, active ingredients, broad spectrum requirements and product labeling.

“As part of today’s proposed Administrative Order, the FDA is reiterating its request for additional data for some sunscreen filters currently approved in the U.S. to further evaluate their status as generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE). Importantly, sunscreens made with these ingredients are not considered unsafe by the FDA and will remain on the market to be used as part of consumers’ sun-safe practices while more data are collected. Not all of these ultraviolet (UV) filters are used in formulations marketed today.

“In the U.S., sunscreen products are regulated by the FDA as non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drug products. Our industry has long supported OTC monograph reform, and our member companies remain committed to working with the FDA to further demonstrate the safety of UV filters in sunscreens – avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, octinoxate, homosalate, ensulizole and meradimate. These filters are approved globally in Europe and other regions around the world and have been used in formulations in the U.S. for decades.

“Numerous nonprofit health organizations and government agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and Skin Cancer Foundation, recommend continuing to use sunscreens as part of a safe-sun regimen. The FDA noted in its announcement of the proposed Order, ‘Sun safety is important for everyone, regardless of your skin tone. Americans can reduce risks from sun exposure with continued use of sun protection measures including broad spectrum sunscreen.’ Ensuring consumers have access to sunscreen products containing UVA protection is an important contribution to the FDA’s public health mission. 

“The personal care and consumer healthcare products industries have a long history of working to improve the well-being of the people who trust and rely on our products every day. Our goal is to provide consumers with access to a wide variety of safe, effective and innovative sunscreens to meet the differing needs of individuals and their families. Sunscreen products protect consumers from harmful UV rays that can cause premature aging and skin cancer. We hope that using sunscreen becomes as much of a health habit as putting on your seatbelt.”  

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About the Personal Care Products Council
Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $450 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to safety, quality and innovation. For more information on cosmetics and personal care products, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.

About the Consumer Healthcare Products Association
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), founded in 1881, is the national trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of consumer healthcare products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements, and consumer medical devices. CHPA is committed to empowering self-care by ensuring that Americans have access to products they can count on to be reliable, affordable, and convenient, while also delivering new and better ways to get and stay healthy. Visit www.chpa.org.

Statement by Alexandra Kowcz, Chief Scientist, Personal Care Products Council, Addressing a Recent Paper on Potential Presence of Benzophenone in Sunscreens Containing Octocrylene


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACTS:       

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Washington, D.C. – “Sunscreens on the market today are backed by decades of safe use to help adults and children guard against the dangers of sun exposure, playing a critical role in the fight against skin cancer. The recently published research paper, ‘Benzophenone Accumulates Over Time from the Degradation of Octocrylene in Commercial Sunscreen Products’[1] perpetuates misinformation and needlessly misleads and scares consumers about the safety of sunscreen products, potentially discouraging sunscreen use and putting consumers’ health at risk. 

“The study claims the sunscreen ingredient octocrylene can naturally degrade into the chemical benzophenone and increase in concentration as sunscreen products age, suggesting a potential risk to human health. However, global regulatory agencies have concluded that octocrylene is safe as a UV-filter in products such as sunscreen cream and lotion, sunscreen pump spray, face creams, hand cream and lip products. It is important to note that the report’s authors concluded that additional research should be conducted.

“Octocrylene is a chemical sun filter that provides balanced UVB and UVA protection. It remains stable during sun exposure, provides better water resistance and global regulatory bodies permit its use.  Octocrylene has been approved for use as an active sunscreen ingredient by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for decades. While the FDA has asked for additional data on a number of sunscreen active ingredients (including octocrylene), the agency has clearly stated that this request does not indicate that these ingredients are unsafe. In addition, given the recognized public health benefits of sunscreen use, FDA urged consumers to continue to use sunscreen in conjunction with other sun-protection measures as FDA gathers additional scientific information. PCPC and its member companies have been actively working with the FDA to provide data that will allow an updated safety assessment of octocrylene.

“PCPC and its member companies support the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s efforts to review the state of science on currently marketed sunscreen ingredients, their fate and effects in aquatic environments, and the potential public health implications associated with changes to the use of sunscreens.

‘The European Union (EU) includes octocrylene in Annex VI of the Cosmetic Products Regulation (No 1223/2009) as an approved UV sunscreen filter. The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded octocrylene is safe in sunscreen products as recently as March 31, 2021.

“The FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Foundation, and health professionals worldwide consistently advocate for the use of broad-spectrum sunscreens as part of a safe-sun regimen. Nonprofit health organizations and government agencies recommend using sunscreens as part of a safe-sun regimen to prevent skin cancer. CDC’s Sun Safety recommendations note the importance of daily sunscreen use to help prevent most skin cancers, even on cloudy and overcast days.

“As sunscreen manufactures, our goal is to provide our consumers with access to a wide variety of safe, effective and innovative sunscreens so they can make informed decisions. Sunscreen is an important part of an overall safe sun program.  It is our hope that using sunscreen becomes as much of a habit as putting on your seatbelt.” 

[1] “Benzophenone Accumulates over Time from the Degradation of Octocrylene in Commercial Sunscreen Products” Chemical Research in Toxicology: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00461

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

Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $450 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to safety, quality and innovation. 

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on the Introduction of the Safer Beauty Bills Package


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACTS:

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232 

Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558 

 

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on the Introduction of the Safer Beauty Bills Package 

 

Washington, D.C. “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and our member companies are united in our longstanding commitment to work with all stakeholders to modernize federal regulatory oversight of cosmetics and personal care products. We appreciate Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Doris Matsui (D-CA) for their leadership in introducing  four bills that highlight the importance of modernizing the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration’s (FDA) regulatory framework for cosmetics and personal care products.   

“We look forward to working with members of Congress to enact bipartisan, comprehensive cosmetics regulatory reform. As part of our ongoing commitment toward this goal, PCPC and our member companies created a set of principles to guide legislative action, many of which mirror consumer protections applied to other products regulated by the FDA. Our member companies support a national standard that maintains the continued safety of our products while providing the FDA with additional regulatory authority over our industry.  

“While we firmly believe in the safety of our products, we also believe 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. The current patchwork regulatory approach with varying state bills does not achieve this goal.   

“We look forward to working with Reps. Schakowsky, Blunt Rochester, Fletcher, and Matsui, and the leadership of the Energy and Commerce Committee and key stakeholders to create a modern regulatory system for the personal care sector. 

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

Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)is the voice and advocate for 600 member companiesrepresenting the $450 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to safety, quality and innovation.  

Statement by Alexandra Kowcz, Chief Scientist, Personal Care Products Council, on PFAS in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACTS:       

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Washington, D.C. – “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of chemicals with more than 6,000 ingredients and widely differing chemistries. It is inappropriate to assume that anything with a fluorine atom has the same safety profile. This group of chemicals is used in a wide range of consumer products. A small number of PFAS may be found as ingredients or at trace levels in cosmetics and personal care products, such as lotion, nail polish, eye makeup and foundation. When added as an ingredient, these materials are used to condition and smooth the skin or for product consistency and texture.

“In the U.S., cosmetics are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). All cosmetic products and their ingredients are subject to the same safety requirement under the FD&C Act – they must be shown to be safe for consumers before they are marketed. The labeling of those products must be truthful and not misleading under FPLA. Companies that market cosmetics and personal care products have a legal responsibility to ensure that their products and the ingredients used in them are safe before they are marketed to the public.

“In a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Letters, some of the fluorine levels detected could be the result of trace amounts from materials naturally occurring in the environment or as a result of the manufacturing process. Since trace amounts are not intentionally added to products, they are not required to be listed on the label. FDA recognizes their possible presence and offers guidance on allowable levels. The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) supports FDA’s authority to review these compounds, and they have the expertise to do so.

“Cosmetic and personal care products companies remain committed to advancing innovative approaches while creating products that benefit a variety of consumers’ needs. PCPC, working with the Environmental Working Group, has supported prohibition of certain PFAS from use in cosmetics. Our member companies take their responsibility for product safety and the trust families put in those products very seriously. Science and safety are the foundation for everything we do.”

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $450 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to safety, quality and innovation. For more information on cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council on Benzene and Sunscreens


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:     

Lisa Powers, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 297-1232
Stefanie Harrington, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 615-6558
Jamie Kurke, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org, (202) 258-5285

Washington, D.C. – “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies are firmly committed to ensuring consumers have access to cosmetics and personal care products with ingredients that have been thoroughly tested for safety and follow the requirements of the law. There is nothing more important than safety. If our consumers can’t believe in a product or rely on it to do what it says, then nothing else matters. We are aware of the study reporting the presence of benzene in some of the sunscreen products tested.

“Benzene is not an intentionally added ingredient in sunscreen products, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as product manufacturers, are aware that benzene may be found in food and drugs at very low levels. FDA offers guidance on the level of residual solvents as a companion document for the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). PCPC strongly supports FDA’s guidance and activities in monitoring for conformance to these recommendations.  

“Sunscreens on the market today are backed by decades of safe use to help adults and children guard against the dangers of sun exposure. The FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Foundation, and health professionals worldwide consistently advocate for the use of broad-spectrum sunscreens as part of a safe-sun regimen. These products play a critical role in the fight against skin cancer.

“Nonprofit health organizations and government agencies recommend using sunscreens as part of a safe-sun regimen. CDC’s Sun Safety recommendations note the importance of daily sunscreen use to help prevent most skin cancers, even on cloudy and overcast days.

“As sunscreen manufactures, our goal is to provide our consumers with access to a wide variety of safe, effective and innovative sunscreens so they can make informed decisions. Sunscreen is an important part of an overall safe-sun program. It is our hope that using sunscreen becomes as much of a habit as putting on your seatbelt.” 

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Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $450 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributers and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation. For more information on cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients, please visit www.CosmeticsInfo.org.

 

Statement by Lezlee Westine, President and CEO, Personal Care Products Council, on the Introduction of the SHOP SAFE Act of 2021


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:  

Lisa Powers, (202) 466-0489, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington, (202) 615-6558, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org
Jamie Kurke, (202) 454-0316, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org

Washington, D.C. — “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies appreciate House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Chairman Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA); Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Ranking Member Darrel Issa (R-CA); and Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) for introducing the Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-Commerce (SHOP SAFE) Act of 2021. We strongly support its passage.

“E-commerce platforms create opportunities for legitimate companies to grow and reach new consumers, providing them with more choices and greater convenience. However, the current structure is vulnerable to exploitation and contributes significantly to a rise in illicit trade. Counterfeit personal care products damage businesses, disregard regulatory protections and more importantly threaten consumers’ health and safety.

“Consumers should have the same assurance that the products they purchase online are as safe and effective as the products they purchase in a brick and mortar store. Our member companies invest substantial resources to ensure the safety and quality of their products and U.S. laws hold our members accountable for doing so. The SHOP SAFE Act would even the playing field.

“We encourage Congress to establish a system that makes online marketplaces and others responsible for ensuring that products on their e-commerce platforms comply with U.S. laws and regulations. Legislation should also establish a minimum threshold for submission and validation of identification, banking and product authentication documentation to provide consumers greater confidence that the products they purchase are authentic and safe.

“We look forward to working with members of Congress and other stakeholders to raise awareness and develop solutions to combat the online sale of counterfeit products and establish stronger consumer protections.”

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

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the leading national trade association representing global cosmetics and personal care products companies. 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 and trust every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

Statement by Alexandra Kowcz, Chief Scientist, Personal Care Products Council, in Response to the Environmental Working Group’s 2021 Sunscreens Guide


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:       

Lisa Powers, (202) 297-1232, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org
Stefanie Harrington, (202) 615-6558, harringtons@personalcarecouncil.org
Jamie Kurke, (202) 258-5285, kurkej@personalcarecouncil.org

Washington, D.C. – “The cosmetics and personal care products industry is proud of the innovative sunscreen products we provide to help protect consumers from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunscreen use is a crucial and well-recognized step in the fight against skin cancer. It is unfortunate that just as Americans are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel in the fight against COVID-19 and will soon be spending more time outdoors, the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 2021 Guide to Sunscreens unnecessarily alarms consumers with information that may be harmful to public health. More importantly, EWG’s claims could keep consumers from using sunscreen altogether.

“EWG’s 2021 shopping guide contains little new information in comparison to previous reports. For example, this report claims that sunscreens containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both as active ingredients are better for consumers and implies a conclusion that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – the agency that regulates sunscreens in the U.S. – did not reach. EWG suggests that sunscreen products containing other active ingredients may be harmful. FDA has rejected this characterization and has publicly stated that Americans should continue to use sunscreens.

“Working with our industry, FDA has requested additional information on some sunscreen ingredients, emphasizing that this does not mean that the ingredients are unsafe. Ensuring that consumers have access to products containing a broad variety of sunscreen active ingredients is critical and an important contribution to FDA’s public health mission.

“EWG also claims that the majority of sunscreen products in the marketplace today offer inferior broad-spectrum protection from UV radiation. It is important to note that all sunscreen products in today’s marketplace are regulated by FDA as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. FDA requires rigorous testing for sunscreen effectiveness (both Sun Protection Factor [SPF] and Broad Spectrum). Broad-spectrum sunscreens must protect against both UVB and UVA radiation. Consumers can be confident that these reliable and credible testing methods, which are well recognized by scientific experts and regulatory authorities across the globe, result in sunscreens that are safe and effective in protecting them from harmful UV rays.

Oxybenzone and Homosalate
“Oxybenzone, unjustly criticized by EWG every year, is one of the few FDA-approved ingredients that provides safe and effective broad-spectrum protection, and has been approved and safely used since 1978. Additionally, it is approved for use in Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, China, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan and Brazil. Oxybenzone protects against UVA rays, which penetrate more deeply into the skin and have been scientifically proven to contribute to skin cancer.

“Homosalate is another active ingredient mentioned in EWG’s guide. This UV filter has also been approved by FDA for use in sunscreens since 1978 and has a long history of use in Europe, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and South America.

Sunscreens and Sun Safety
“The American Cancer Society, American Academy of Dermatology, the Mayo Clinic and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend using sunscreen as part of a safe-sun regimen to prevent skin cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Sun Safety recommendations note the importance of daily sunscreen use, including on cloudy and overcast days, to help prevent most skin cancers. Sun exposure dangers are clear and universally recognized by public health professionals and dermatologists. The National Toxicology Program identifies solar UV radiation as a ‘known human carcinogen.’ A single bad burn as a child is known to increase the skin’s susceptibility to damage and skin cancer throughout life.

“Some simple tips for sun safety include:

  • Avoiding the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Wearing sun protective clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses
  • Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days
  • Reapplying sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating
  • Seeing your health care professional every year for a skin exam

“Our goal continues to be to help consumers make informed decisions and use sunscreen as an important part of a daily safe-sun program. It is our hope that using sunscreen becomes as much of a habit as using your seat belt.”

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

Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the leading national trade association representing global cosmetics and personal care products companies. 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 and trust every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.