The Washington Safe Cosmetics Act (HB 2166)
A bill introduced to the State Legislature in 2007 would require cosmetics companies that sell products in Washington to disclose ingredients that are linked to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm to the Washington Department of Health; and authorize the department to conduct health and safety investigations of cosmetics products containing these chemicals of concern.
A similar bill passed in California in 2005 – House Bill 2166 would require that companies provide the same information to WA state.
Overview of the Safe Cosmetics Act
Links to media stories about the Bill
Legislative Update: HB 2166 was not voted out of committee before the cut-off, so the bill is done for this year. The House Select Committee on Environmental Health plans to examine this issue further during the interim before the 2008 session.
To receive updates on developments on Safe Cosmetics legislation, please send an email request to
mshield@toxicfreelegacy.org
back to main Safe Cosmetics project page
Resources from our November forums
National Safe Cosmetics Campaign
Overview of the Washington Safe Cosmetics Act of 2007 (HB
2166)
Prime sponsor: Representative Maralyn Chase (32nd district)
- Requires manufacturers to disclose to the Department of Health all ingredients in their products known or suspected to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, including those ingredients that are currently listed on product labels as “fragrance” or “other ingredients.” Small manufacturers, with total cosmetics sales less than $1 million per year, are exempted.
- Allows the Department of Health to conduct an investigation of cosmetic products that contain ingredients of concern.
- If the Department of Health’s investigation
reveals that an ingredient in a cosmetic product is potentially toxic,
then the department is authorized to:
- refer the products to the Attorney General and the federal Food and Drug Administration for possible enforcement under Washington and federal law,
- refer the investigation results to the Department of Labor and Industries, which then must determine whether it is necessary to develop a standard to protect the health of workers with regular exposure to the product(s).
Why do we need the WA Safe Cosmetics Act?
Did you know that…
Neither federal nor state law requires pre-market safety testing or approval of the ingredients used in cosmetic products? Of the over 10,000 chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care products, only 11% have been assessed for health and safety by FDA or any other government agency.
The FDA does not have the authority to review what goes into cosmetics before they are marketed, cannot compel companies to provide data - including health effects data - and cannot recall products.
Did you know that…
1/3 of all personal care products contain at least one chemical linked to cancer?
The average consumer uses 15 to 25 different personal care products, containing more than 200 different chemical compounds, each day. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, and other serious health problems. While chemicals in any one product alone are unlikely to cause harm, repeated exposures to industrial chemicals on a daily basis add up over time.Did you know that...
Labels on personal care products - and even Material Safety Data Sheets for salon products - often do not list every ingredient in the product, including potentially hazardous chemicals that make up a significant percentage of the product. Chemicals can hide under the labels of "trade secret" or fragrance or flavoring. Other chemicals may be present as known by-products of the manufacturing process, but are not listed as ingredients. Independent testing of cosmetic products have found that ingredients not listed on product labels include reproductive toxins (like phthalates) and carcinogens (like 1,4-dioxane).Resources:
Phthalates in cosmetics: "Not Too Pretty: Phthalates, Beauty Products & the FDA" - link to report
Carcinogen 1,4-dioxane found in baby wash & other cosmetics - link to press release
Skin Deep Database - link to web site
The Safe Cosmetics Act would require cosmetics companies that sell products in Washington to disclose any ingredients in their products that are linked to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm to the Washington Department of Health. It would also authorize the department to conduct i
Links to media stories about the Bill
2/20/07 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
by Lisa Stiffler
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/304334_cosmetics20.html
Blog by Lisa Stiffler of the Seattle P-I
on the bill hearing
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/111827.asp
