The House of Representatives is currently considering the Safe Cosmetics Act. What is the Safe Cosmetics Act, you say? Currently, cosmetics and personal care products are largely unregulated; companies aren't required to assess the safety of their products, ingredients that are considered "trade secrets" aren't even required on labels, and the FDA is unable to make them recall dangerous products.
The Safe Cosemtics Act is finally attempting to change this. Resentatives Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc. have introduced this piece of legislation in order to allow the FDA to regulate chemicals in cosmetics. The act would make companies phase out chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects, require complete ingredients lists, and create health and safety standards for cosmetics. Shocking that this isn't already required, right?
While this is not a complete solution to all our problems, it is an absolutely necessary first step. We are still far behind European legislation regarding the safety of personal care products. Even Canada is ahead of us. If that doesn't spur you to action...
If you want to support the Safe Cosmetics Act, it's really easy. Contact your representative and let them know. If you are interested in getting more involved, the campaign has all kinds of ways for you to jump in.
To read more about the act, check out the full text and this short and sweet summary.
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