ICCR open to public?

At June 19 International Cooperation on Cosmetic Regulation meeting held in Rockville, Md., speakers proposed that future ICCR meetings be opened to the public, with ultimate goal of sharpening cosmetics oversight. Jane Houlihan, VP for research at Environmental Working Group, recommended that "a broad range of stakeholders" be included in ICCR meetings to ensure that "the interests of more than just the regulated industry are represented." Dr. Beth Jordan, medical director of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, stated: "We also need to be at the table when regulation and policy that will affect the health and well-being of our patients is being discussed." Both Houlihan and Jordan raised concerns about FDA's oversight of the cosmetics marketplace, specifically the agency's awareness of ingredients being used in personal-care products and their potential health effects. ICCR's first meeting in Brussels in September 2007 covered a range of issues including nanotechnology, good manufacturing practices and alternatives to animal testing (1"The Rose Sheet" Oct. 15, 2007, p. 4). The voluntary effort among the U.S., Canada, EU and Japan was launched with the goal of removing obstacles to international trade. Idea of opening meetings to the public will be discussed at ICCR's next meeting in Washington, DC the week of July 28...