Changes and Renewed Commitments for the Year Ahead

by Tom Myers
President & CEO, PCPC

As we begin 2024, I am humbled to take the reins as PCPC’s new president & CEO. I was fortunate to work alongside Lezlee Westine for more than a decade and am eager to advance the priorities she set in motion. I look forward to continuing to support and shape an industry that touches the lives of millions of consumers worldwide every day with a strong commitment to innovation, safety and sustainability.

Implementing Cosmetics Regulation

The Modernization of Cosmetics Reform Act of 2022 (MoCRA) is a significant milestone for our industry, providing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with additional oversight and enhanced regulatory tools while ensuring product safety, promoting innovation and bolstering consumer trust. PCPC will continue to work with the FDA on implementation while also working with Congress to ensure the FDA receives the $7 million in funding it needs to meet this mandate.

Ending Animal Testing for Cosmetics

For nearly four decades, in the U.S. and globally, our member companies have been instrumental in the movement to develop viable alternative safety assessment methods. The passage of The Humane Cosmetics Act will continue to be a priority for PCPC and our members who are dedicated to promoting ethical practices and non-animal testing methods that are humane and scientifically sound, reflecting our consumers’ values.

Creating a More Sustainable, Beautiful World

Our industry continues to make an extraordinary commitment to sustainability with more than half of our member companies integrating sustainable business practices into their operations and 56% of CEOs identifying sustainability as one of their top priorities. Our member companies’ efforts extend from minimizing waste to promoting renewable resources, but I know our industry can do more to reduce our ecological footprint and pioneering sustainable practices.

Creating a More Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive World

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are an important part of my vision for PCPC. I am firmly committed to continuing to diversify PCPC’s staff and leadership. As an organization, we have taken concrete steps to embed these principles through internal town hall meetings, recruiting and promotion practices that encourage more inclusive action, and training sessions on the importance of DEI practices. Our member companies promote diverse leadership and ensure their products meet the varied needs of our consumers. Women make up nearly 80% of the beauty and personal care industry workforce, and people of color represent 33% of our workforce. Nevertheless, we know we are not perfect and that we have more to do.

Promoting a Global, Holistic Perspective

Nothing happens in a vacuum, which is why PCPC and our member companies embrace a global, holistic approach to business. The interconnected nature of today’s world requires us to think beyond our borders. The ever-changing world around us drives research and development investments with scientific innovations and transformations taking shape in every corner of the globe. Our job is to maximize every opportunity to enhance the wellbeing of the millions of people who trust and use our industry’s products every day. We will continue to foster international collaboration and embrace global challenges as opportunities to learn, grow and make a broader impact.

I am proud to help lead an industry that enhances people’s wellbeing and contributes positively to our world. We are at a transformational moment, and I am ready to embrace the challenges and the opportunities ahead to build a sustainable, equitable, holistic and, of course, beautiful future for us all.

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Advocating for the Future

Karin Ross
EVP, Government Affairs
PCPC

For more than a decade, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and our member companies worked diligently with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders and a diverse group of stakeholders to modernize and enhance the effectiveness of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory authority over our sector and to provide the safety reassurances that consumers expect and deserve.

We are thrilled that the long-awaited and bipartisan Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) was passed and enacted this past December. This historic legislation modernized FDA oversight of cosmetics and personal care products, giving the FDA significant new authorities and regulatory tools that promote product safety and innovation for our science-driven industry and reinforcing consumer confidence.

But there is more work to be done. The FDA needs funding to fully implement these critical provisions. The message from member companies, PCPC and the Professional Beauty Association to Capitol Hill this month was clear and urgent: we support the $7 million in the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to empower the FDA to fully implement MoCRA. Representatives met with members of Congress, including chairs, vice chairs and members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to urge Congress to help the FDA realize the full potential of MoCRA and its public health mission. A lack of funding now would undermine more than a decade of bipartisan effort. 

These Lobby Days give us an opportunity to have meaningful conversations with Congress that highlight the work our members do every day to promote the safety and well-being of their employees, consumers and communities. Our member companies are proud of the work they do to advance industry efforts, and we welcome the opportunity to share our priorities for the future with policymakers. Beyond the funding of MoCRA implementation, we encouraged members of Congress to continue to eliminate trade barriers for cosmetics and personal care products sold worldwide and to support critical legislation on a number of issues:

  • Humane Cosmetics Act – We applaud S. House of Representatives by Reps. Don Beyer (D-Va.), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) for the reintroduction of this legislation, which would prohibit animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients and prohibit the sale in the United States of cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
  • 45B Tip Tax Credit – This legislation would extend the credit to beauty service establishments and their employees. An existing tip tax credit is currently only available to restaurants.
  • CROWN Act – This bill prevents workplace discrimination based on characteristics such as hair texture and styles.
  • SHOP SAFE Act – This bill prevents the sale of counterfeit products.

To top it all off, we celebrated the launch of the Congressional Cosmetics Caucus, a bipartisan forum chaired by Reps. Linda Sanchez and Nicole Malliotakis, to build awareness and dialogue on the cosmetics and personal care industry’s important issues.

Our advocacy efforts always promote policies that benefit the millions of consumers who trust and rely on our industry’s products. Last year marked a major milestone with MoCRA’s passage, and we look forward to working with policymakers and NGO partners to build on that effort in the 118th Congress and beyond. 

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Statement by the Personal Care Products Council in Support of the Bipartisan Humane Cosmetics 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 in Support of the Bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act

WASHINGTON – “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and our member companies strongly support the Humane Cosmetics Act reintroduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Don Beyer (D-Va.), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.). We applaud these members of Congress for driving a significant bipartisan effort that sets the stage for eliminating new cosmetics animal testing in favor of innovative, scientifically advanced safety assessments.

“The Humane Cosmetics Act prohibits animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients and prohibits the sale in the United States of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. This reintroduction builds on the decades’ long effort by industry and stakeholders to promote non-animal alternatives. For nearly four decades, both in the U.S. and globally, our member companies have been instrumental in the movement to develop viable alternative safety assessment methods, and we will continue to work towards this important charge.

“PCPC and our member companies have worked with policy makers to achieve regulatory and scientific advancements that will move the world closer to eliminating the need for animals in product safety testing. Our industry has been at the forefront of the ambitious goal to eliminate animal testing and has long advocated for government recognition and acceptance of non-animal testing methods for product safety. The bill includes select exemptions for products that undergo animal testing mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other international regulators.

“PCPC stands united with a diverse coalition of stakeholders to support a uniform, humane standard for animal welfare and cosmetics safety. PCPC works closely with the International Cooperation on Cosmetic Regulation (ICCR), International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods (ICATM) and the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) in an effort to advance science and encourage global adoption of alternative methods for safety assessments. Launched in February 2023 with the support of approximately 40 cosmetics brand manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, international industry associations and animal rights NGOs, ICCS is committed to the adoption of animal-free safety assessments for cosmetics and personal care products and their ingredients.

“We look forward to working with animal welfare groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, and members of Congress to enact this important legislation to protect animal welfare while ensuring the safety of these innovative products that consumers trust and rely on 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 $529.3 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, 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 safety, quality and innovation. 

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Humane Groups and Cosmetics Trade Association Join Together to Support Bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contacts:         

Emily Snow Ehrhorn (202) 779-1814, eehrhorn@humanesociety.org  
Lisa Powers, (202) 466-0489, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org

Humane groups and cosmetics trade association join together to support
bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Personal Care Products Council issued the following joint statement today on the introduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act of 2021 in the U.S. Senate, S. 3357, and U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 6207:

“The cosmetics and personal care products industry, the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund have long advocated for government recognition and acceptance of non-animal testing methods for product safety. Today marks a momentous occasion with the introduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act in the U.S. by Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va.; Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.; Paul Tonko, D-N.Y.; Ken Calvert, R-Calif.; and Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif. In the true spirit of collaboration, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Personal Care Products Council encourage expeditious bipartisan passage of the legislation.

“Our precedent-setting support brings together the cosmetics and personal care products industry and animal advocacy community. We stand firm in our shared goal to eliminate new cosmetic animal testing and promote recognition and acceptance of non-animal approaches to cosmetic safety assessments.

“We applaud these members of Congress for driving a significant bipartisan effort to introduce the Humane Cosmetics Act. Consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders demonstrates widespread support for legislation that ensures a uniform standard for animal welfare and the development of safe and innovative cosmetics and personal care products.

“We look forward to working with this bipartisan group of Congressional leaders and other key stakeholders to help enact the Humane Cosmetics Act in this Congress to eliminate animal testing for cosmetics, while also ensuring the safety of the products consumers trust and rely on every day.”

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 About the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund

Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States fights the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, we take on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries. With our affiliates, we rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals every year through our animal rescue team’s work and other hands-on animal care services. We fight all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind our name: A humane society. 

Learn more about our work at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to Kitty Block’s blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast.  

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at hslf.org/blog, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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

More from PCPC

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council in Support of the Reintroduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACTS:

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

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

 

Statement by the Personal Care Products Council in Support of the Reintroduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act 

 

Washington, D.C. – “The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) stands firm in its commitment to eliminate new cosmetics animal testing and urges Congress to reintroduce the bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act. 

“The Humane Cosmetics Act ensures a uniform standard for animal welfare, while continuing to support the development of safe and innovative cosmetics and personal care products. We are proud of our work with legislators, regulators and other partners, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF), on the previous version of this legislation and look forward to continued collaboration as we work toward our shared goal of eliminating cosmetics animal testing globally. 

“The beauty industry has long advocated for government recognition and acceptance of alternative testing methods for product safety. Working with regulators, scientists and safety experts – and through collaborations with institutional, academic and private sector partnerships – PCPC and its member companies have promoted and used alternative methods for decades.  

“To date, the cosmetics and personal care products industry has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop scientifically valid alternatives to animal testing. This research began in 1981 with an industry grant to establish the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT). The cosmetics and personal care products industry continues to support research programs that eliminate the need for animal testing and remains committed to advocating for the acceptance of alternative methods and approaches to animal testing by regulatory bodies around the world.” 

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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. 

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Partnerships: An Essential Ingredient for Success

Lezlee Westine
President & CEO, Personal Care Products Council

Each new year presents an opportunity to examine our priorities and focus on what matters most. As our nation continues to address the many challenges from 2020, PCPC stands ready in 2021 with renewed energy and sense of purpose.

As our country begins to heal from the tragic events of January 6 and focuses on unity in light of a new administration and new Congress, PCPC and our member companies remain steadfast in our commitment to bipartisan collaborations that enable and enhance our member companies’ ability to provide safe and innovative products to countless American families.

Partnerships are key to achieving meaningful solutions to some of our biggest challenges. From my professional experience in government and the private sector, I know we can accomplish the seemingly impossible by working together. I have seen incredible things achieved when people work towards a common goal.

The spirit of collaboration inspired PCPC to work with policymakers, regulators and NGOs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We engaged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress to issue temporary guidance allowing non-traditional manufacturers to address the critical shortage of hand sanitizers. Our members quickly converted manufacturing lines and increased production to provide these essential products. Companies donated more than 20 million units of hand sanitizer to hospitals, community clinics, medical and emergency professionals, first responders, industry employees and made them available to retail customers.

The nation also grappled with issues of systemic racism and calls for equality and social justice this past year. As an industry, we intend to be a positive agent of change and a force for good aiming to engage in partnerships that are both authentic and meaningful. We don’t have all the answers and know there is much work still to be done to address diversity. Working in coalition with many diverse organizations in 2020, PCPC supported anti-discrimination legislation, including the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, which passed the House in September. The CROWN Act became law in seven states in 2020 and is currently pending in 20+ states this year, preventing discrimination based on characteristics – such as hair texture and cultural styles, particularly those common in the Black community – and specifically recognizing that Black people are disparately impacted and excluded from some workplaces based on physical appearance. Similar legislation has been passed in seven states. Looking ahead, PCPC is committed to taking continued action to examine and address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), both within our organization and in the industry at large, and in partnership with others committed to the same goal.

PCPC’s work with Cruelty Free International proved to be another successful partnership, resulting in compromise agreement on state animal testing legislation, now pending in several states. At the federal level, we worked closely with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to introduce the Humane Cosmetics Act, which would ban cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. We will continue to work with HSUS and our congressional partners to pass this legislation in the 117th Congress.  

The power of partnerships was also demonstrated in our work with the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and more than 60 other health, education and parent groups to support legislation that specifically allows sunscreens to be used in schools. To date, 26 states and Washington, D.C., have passed the “SUNucate” model.

Partnerships are key to our industry’s continued success, and we remain committed to deepening and broadening them in the year ahead. As President Biden noted: “To live together and work together. That’s how I see America. That’s how I see the presidency, and that’s how I see the future.” This year, PCPC re-dedicates itself to boldly push forward – confronting the challenges ahead while ensuring our member companies can continue to enhance the well-being of countless American families with the cosmetics and personal care products they trust and enjoy every day. 

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To New Beginnings…

Lezlee Westine
President & CEO, Personal Care Products Council

We will soon celebrate a new decade, just as the Personal Care Products Council’s (PCPC) 125th anniversary year comes to an end. So much has happened over the last decade and the last year. I remain incredibly proud to be a part of this industry and of the work of PCPC’s staff on behalf of our member companies and consumers around the world.

Our organization advocates for modern government policies, sound science and global access, while working to strengthen public trust in the beauty and personal care industry.

In 2019, we continued to work with policymakers and advocacy groups to modernize state and federal laws. I’ve shared my perspective on the importance of modernizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s regulatory structure for cosmetics. Our Executive Vice President of Global Advocacy, Francine Lamoriello, has written about how the Humane Cosmetics Act brings us closer to eliminating the need for animal testing with a historic agreement reached with the Humane Society. You may have read a statement from our Chief Scientist, Alex Kowcz, on the critical public health benefit of sunscreens or testimony from Dr. Jay Ansell, Vice President of Cosmetic Programs, which he delivered before California’s assembly committee on environmental safety. From cosmetics reform and animal testing to sunscreens and ingredient safety, we’ve been actively engaging leaders around the world to ensure policies are rooted in the best available science and to reiterate our commitment to communities far and wide.

We have also made investments to advance our industry’s approach to sustainability—an important industry-wide initiative that our members will hear about during our Annual Meeting next March. Our companies are committed to creating a more beautiful world. PCPC’s sustainability program honors that commitment through our focus on four key areas: dynamic economic growth, exemplary citizenship, environmental stewardship, and ethical and transparent practices.

We value the important role that cosmetics and personal care products have played in the lives of families for generations, and we remain dedicated to advocating for our industry’s ability to deliver safe, quality, and innovative products that enhance consumers health and well-being.

2020 will be an exciting year for the beauty and personal care industry. I look forward to continuing our work together.

Happy Holidays.

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Humane Cosmetics Act Brings Us Closer to Eliminating Need for Animal Testing for Cosmetics

Francine Lamoriello
EVP, Global Strategies, Personal Care Products Council

It’s often said that the most challenging part of a marathon is the final mile. The goal of eliminating animal testing is a similar journey – one that cosmetics and personal care products companies have been at the forefront of for more than 40 years. The industry has significantly reduced the use of animals in product safety testing through substantial investments in research and development of alternative methods and strategies that do not rely on animals. We are proud of the progress that has been made so far and are committed to the goal of completely eliminating the need for animal testing to assure cosmetic product safety.

Widespread use of non-animal approaches throughout our supply chains is an important and necessary goal to assure our vision. In an effort to harmonize and encourage global adoption of modern approaches to safety assessment, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) works closely with international regulators in the International Cooperation on Cosmetic Regulation (ICCR), and we encourage regulatory acceptance of non-animal approaches in every country where our members sell their products. We continue to work closely with our partners, including Cruelty Free International (CFI) and the Humane Society of the United States to advance policies that support improvements in legislation, regulation and science.

We reached a critical milestone in 2019 with the introduction in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives of the Humane Cosmetics Act. The bill prohibits new animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients and prohibits the sale in the United States of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Specifically, the legislation:

• Prohibits animal testing and bans the use of evidence from animal testing to establish the safety of a cosmetic or cosmetic ingredient unless there is no non-animal alternative method or strategy recognized by any Federal agency or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for the relevant safety endpoints and other very strict criteria are met.

• Requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promote scientific advancements in this area.

• Bans cosmetics manufacturers from including “cruelty free” claims on their packaging if animal testing data was used to establish the safety of the product or any of its ingredients.

• Creates a national uniform standard for animal welfare.

Eliminating animal testing in an ambitious goal. Working with animal welfare groups and members of Congress to enact this important legislation helps us protect animal welfare while supporting the continued development of safe and innovative cosmetics and personal care products.

You can read more about the legislation here in a bill summary developed by the Personal Care Products Council and the Humane Society of the United States.

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Humane Groups and Cosmetics Trade Association Join Together to Support Introduction of Bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Emily Ehrhorn, (202) 779-1814, eehrhorn@humanesociety.org
Lisa Powers, (202) 466-0489, powersl@personalcarecouncil.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Personal Care Products Council issue the following joint statement on the introduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act in the U.S. Senate, S. 2886, and U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 5141:

“Today marks a historic moment with the introduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act in the Senate by Sens. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Rob Portman, R-Ohio and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va., Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., Ken Calvert, R-Calif., and Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif. In the true spirit of collaboration, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Personal Care Products Council encourage expeditious bipartisan passage of the legislation in this Congress.

“Our precedent-setting support brings together the personal care products industry and animal advocacy community. We stand firm in our shared goal to eliminate new cosmetics animal testing and promote recognition, and acceptance of alternative approaches to cosmetics safety assessments.

“We applaud these members of Congress for driving this important bipartisan effort to introduce the Humane Cosmetics Act. This consensus among diverse stakeholders was essential, and enactment of this legislation is critically important to ensure a uniform standard for animal welfare, while continuing to support the development of safe and innovative cosmetics and personal care products.

“We look forward to working with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, and other key stakeholders, to help enact the Humane Cosmetics Act in this Congress.”

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Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year. The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues. More at humanesociety.org. 

Subscribe to Kitty Block’s blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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 approximately 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, lipstick and fragrance – personal care products 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.

More from PCPC

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PCPC Supports FDA Modernization

Lezlee Westine
President & CEO
Personal Care Products Council

The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and its member companies support modernizing the Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act to ensure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the appropriate authority and resources to regulate cosmetic products in the 21st century.

Decades of consumer experience with our products demonstrate they are among the safest product categories regulated by the FDA. Nevertheless, we believe well-crafted, science-based reforms will support the industry’s ability to innovate and further strengthen consumer confidence in our products.

For more than a decade, PCPC and its member companies have worked with a bipartisan group of leaders in Congress and a diverse group of interested parties to create a more contemporary regulatory system for the cosmetics and personal care sectors.

We believe a comprehensive national program, based on the best available science, is needed to ensure uniform regulation of cosmetics throughout the country, in order to prevent an unworkable patchwork of differing state requirements across the nation.

Our member companies endorse a set of reform principles, including:

Mandatory Registration: Establish mandatory foreign and domestic manufacturing registration and ingredient reporting by manufacturers for all cosmetic products sold in the U.S.;

Adverse Event Reporting: Require mandatory reporting by manufacturers to FDA of serious and unexpected adverse health events from a cosmetic product marketed and used in the U.S.;

Mandatory Recall: Provide FDA authority to order a mandatory recall of a product if a manufacturer refuses to comply with an FDA request for a voluntary recall;

FDA Cosmetic Ingredient Review: Create an FDA program authorized to review the safety of individual cosmetic ingredients and nonfunctional constituents;

Cosmetic Records Inspection: Allow FDA to inspect a manufacturer’s records if FDA has a reasonable belief that a cosmetic product presents a health threat;

Safety Substantiation: Require manufacturers to substantiate the safety of cosmetic products and ingredients;

Alternatives to Animal Testing: Encourage FDA approval of alternatives to animal testing;

National Program Uniformity: Preempt state and local laws that would duplicate new authorities in FDA regulation of cosmetics; and

Importation: Bar importation of cosmetics produced outside the U.S. where the manufacturing facility or ingredient statement has not been registered with FDA.

Regulators, legislators, nongovernmental organizations, and industry are all on the same side when it comes to modernizing the FDA.

As different approaches are considered, we look forward to continuing to work with partners in the NGO community and leaders in 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 supports FDA’s public health mission, advances safety, innovation, and consumer confidence.

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