Independent Beauty Association president Ken Marenus discusses the trade group’s vision for modern, proportionate cosmetics regulation and forces at work that could undermine progress and endanger small businesses.

In an open letter to the European Commission, Parliament and Council presidents, more than 400 cosmetics companies and animal-rights groups accuse the European Chemicals Agency of effectively “shredding” the animal testing ban on cosmetics by requiring testing for certain chemicals under REACH.

The proposed bill in the US Senate could be seen as slightly friendlier to the cosmetics industry when it comes to continued use of animal testing data in limited, exempted contexts, compared with similar state laws enacted of late. But the federal bill includes stiffer penalties, addresses “cruelty free” labeling, and seeks to spur FDA acceptance of alternative test methods, a key objective for stakeholders overall.