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A laser focus… The PCPC stays committed to modernizing personal care regulations in the U.S. and abroad. Since 1894, the Personal Care Products Council 10 Spray June 2013 (the Council) has been committed to ensuring its members have the ability to innovate and produce the safe, quality products that consumers rely on every day. Our more than 600 small, medium and large-sized companies represent the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care. Under the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act (FD&C), our industry is regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and is considered one of the safest product categories under FDA’s purview. However, over the years, the landscape has changed. Consumers are more curious about what ingredients are used in their products and why, and are demanding more transparency as they make purchasing decisions for themselves and their families. Lawmakers too are asking companies to provide more information about their products as well as their business practices. Our mission remains a laser focus on sound science as the cornerstone for everything that we do, with a commitment to modernizing government policies and ensuring that our companies can conduct their businesses around the world. We recognize that modernizing the FD&C Act, enacted in 1938, is our first order of business. We believe that an updated FDA regulatory approach will help U.S. companies compete in the global marketplace. With a renewed commitment to modernizing the FD&C Act, we face a number of challenges at the state level. In the past four months, more than 40 cosmetic-related bills have been proposed nationwide with a focus on children’s products, even though formulas in their current state do not pose safety concerns. Regulation of cosmetics and personal care products at the state level is under consideration in states not traditionally focused on cosmetics, such as Texas, Alaska and Hawaii. The Council is closely tracking legislation in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Washington, Maine and Minnesota. California leads the nation in the area of Green Chemistry and is expected to finalize its Green Chemistry regulations in late 2013. Following this issue continues to be a priority for our organization—our members take their support of Green Chemistry very seriously. In addition to legislative activity at the state level, federal legislation was recently introduced aiming By Lezlee Westine, President & CEO, The Personal Care Products Council to modernize certain provisions of the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Safe Cosmetics & Personal Care Products Act of 2013 (H.R. 1385). Congressman Leonard Lance (R-NJ) introduced the Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012 (H.R. 4395), which would also modernize cosmetics regulation with an emphasis on decision making based on sound science. The Council supported the Lance bill and is working with Members of Congress. It is also in discussions with FDA to propose changes to the law that will make meaningful enhancements to cosmetics regulation without overburdening the Agency or imposing costly and unnecessary restrictions on U.S. businesses. We hope a bi-partisan cosmetics bill is introduced this year. Of course, any reform effort must recognize the breadth and diversity of our industry, which ripples out widely into the economy from the manufacturing efforts of global corporations to smaller, entrepreneurial businesses. This is reflected in the membership of the Safe Cosmetics Alliance (SCA), a national coalition comprised of leading beauty and personal care product and services industry groups representing manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retail owners, salon/spa owners and licensed beauty professionals. They all have a vested interest in science-based legislative and regulatory policies that enhance consumer and product safety standards. The Council is an SCA member, along with the Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers & Distributors, Professional Beauty Association, Direct Selling Association and International Fragrance Association North America. Finally, it would be remiss not to mention the Council’s work in the global arena. We are collaborating more closely with other trade associations around the world in recognition of the global nature of our business and continue our strong commitment to global harmonization of cosmetics regulation. We also believe that communication is essential in highlighting all that we are doing as an organization and what our companies are doing to contribute to the economic and social growth of our nation. As a result, we are actively engaged with news outlets (such as Spray), as well as using social media platforms to communicate to consumers, the media and other stakeholders about our efforts. Readers can follow us on Twitter (@CouncilRep) and watch our informational videos on the Council’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/PersonalCareCouncil). We know we have an ambitious agenda for 2013 and we are committed to continuing to serve our members and inform the public about this industry and all it has to offer. SPRAY


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