Negotiations between FDA and cosmetics industry groups end in dispute

3/12/2014

Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor of the FDA, having despaired at the results of these discussions, wrote a strongly worded letter to the groups, stating his disappointment at lack of compromise between the relevant parties, and the impacts of these disputes for American consumers.

It has long been known that the American consumer industry has little of the authority regulations seen in their European counterparts, with the last rules drawn up around the time of the Great Depression. Efforts over the past year between relevant bodies have been made to update these rules with relevance to ingredients used in 21st century consumer merchandise.

Previous discussions raised promising hopes of a new set of regulations with mutual agreement over a detailed framework in which to assert new authority and monitoring of product safety ingredients.

However, initial optimism has plundered, along with suggested amendments, with rules under the new draft reducing FDA authority, and in certain cases, eliminating it entirely, offering not only no further advancement to FDA powers but essentially preventing what little powers they already possess, claims Michael Taylor of the FDA.

He states that under the new draft, the FDA would be forced to issue confirmation that some ingredients be deemed �safe� , that are in fact those they already know to cause harmful effects, and undertake lengthy and unnecessary procedures to take action against industry should ingredients used be suspected as harmful to human health.

All the while, continues Taylor, with the reporting process required for monitoring harmful incidences as a result of product usage , being stunted, preventing detection signals of harm from cosmetics, and delaying subsequent action to remove unsafe ingredients for the protection of consumers; the fundamental objective of the FDA�s existence.

Concluding his letter, Taylor expresses regret at missing such a monumental opportunity in which to develop and re-establish regulation over cosmetic ingredients for the safety of consumers worldwide

Industry groups have countered this argument saying that intensions to weaken federal authority are false, and proposals given have been mischaracterized. Lezlee Westine, CEO of the Personal Care Products Council has stated that she was "extremely disappointed that FDA had indicated they would not participate in further discussions with the cosmetics industry regarding cosmetic legislation and had taken such a hard line approach to [the industry's] efforts to operate in good faith".

In a largely self-regulated industry without requirement to list all ingredients on the product itself, or register all ingredients used in the manufacturing process to authorities, a delay in establishing regulation might be harmful to the American consumer society in terms of safety and exposure to potentially hazardous products.

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Check our REACH registration services for 2018

EcoMundo is an expert service provider for REACH registration 2018 Our services include:

Need a quote?

Contact us via phone: for North America please dial + 1 (778) 231-1607 or for Europe +33 (0)1 83 64 20 54 or email us: contact@ecomundo.eu