The Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety upholds that zinc pyrithione is safe for use in rinse-off anti-dandruff hair products at levels up to 1%. In recent years, the cosmetics industry has pushed for a 2% ceiling on ZPT content in that capacity – with considerable inroads made. Where that proposal now stands vis-à-vis the ingredient’s pending CMR 1B classification and shifting political sands is uncertain.

The European Chemicals Agency is working to develop a centralized, expedited authorization process to increase the availability of disinfectants to consumers and healthcare professionals fighting the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, the ECHA encourages companies to work with national authorities on single-market applications for derogations under the Biocidal Products Regulation to speed up production.

Companies choosing between CBD options – namely broad- or full-spectrum hemp extracts or CBD isolate – need to appreciate the differences and potential legal implications, attorneys say.

In a pause from the trade group’s 2020 annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL, PCPC senior executives spoke with HBW Insight about legislative priorities and challenges at the federal and state levels, emerging microplastic regulations and whether industry and consumers have a “trust problem.”

FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs warned Nature Essence Small Molecule Co. in Lexington, KY, and Warner Herb Co. in Crossville, TN, both single-facility businesses. They likely appeared on FDA radar as it moves from inspecting larger supplement manufacturers for compliance with the 2007 GMP final rule to also reaching small firms.

Hair finishing products and dry shampoo were already on the slab for proposed VOC cuts in California, along with designated personal fragrance products, and now it appears that temporary hair color and hair shine products are being explored for reductions as well. Industry advocates remain on alert. 

California’s Safer Consumer Products regime has been criticized for being too slow to address perceived dangerous chemicals and too reliant on manufacturer-led alternatives analyses. Washington state’s Safer Products program established in 2019 is designed to eliminate those alleged impediments.

The Evergreen State’s California-esque Safer Products for Washington program is looking at phthalates use in the beauty and personal-care sectors as one of its first proposed priority product selections, which could lead to reporting requirements or sales restrictions.

In a pause from the trade group’s 2020 annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL, PCPC senior executives spoke with HBW Insight about legislative priorities and challenges at the federal and state levels, emerging microplastic regulations and whether industry and consumers have a “trust problem.”

Approved by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on 11 March, H.R. 5279 still lacks any concrete provisions regarding federal preemption of state and local requirements, though bill author and full committee chair Frank Pallone, D-NJ, remains committed to discussions on the subject. He recognized preemption as “a major issue that I know we have to deal with.”

The bipartisan SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 would require e-commerce platforms to vet and obtain compliance commitments from third-party sellers, include their identities and business information on-site, and block continued access by repeat trademark infringers. The US House bill is backed by the Personal Care Products Council, which cites weaknesses in the current system that allow illicit trade to flourish.

Headed for its second reading in the Florida House after its counterpart passed the Senate on 29 January, HB 113 would expressly preempt local regulation of OTC drugs and cosmetics. According to House analysis documents, “This nullifies the current City of Key West ordinance” banning the sale of sunscreens containing reputed coral-killing UV filters.

Leading chemical firms, beauty and consumer health companies, even distilleries and medical marijuana cultivators are adapting operations to meet global demand for hand sanitizers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, plaintiff’s attorneys are busy with multiple class actions against Purell manufacturer GOJO Industries for alleged false advertising following a January warning letter to the firm from the US FDA.

Companies choosing between CBD options – namely broad- or full-spectrum hemp extracts or CBD isolate – need to appreciate the differences and potential legal implications, attorneys say.

In a pause from the trade group’s 2020 annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL, PCPC senior executives spoke with HBW Insight about legislative priorities and challenges at the federal and state levels, emerging microplastic regulations and whether industry and consumers have a “trust problem.”

The bipartisan SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 would require e-commerce platforms to vet and obtain compliance commitments from third-party sellers, include their identities and business information on-site, and block continued access by repeat trademark infringers. The US House bill is backed by the Personal Care Products Council, which cites weaknesses in the current system that allow illicit trade to flourish.

The FDA is focused on driving adoption of more sensitive, standardized testing methods for assessing cosmetic talc purity, which it believes would yield more consistent results across labs. This would help to inform research into the health implications of trace levels of asbestos and other elongate mineral particles in talc; in the interim it could to be damaging to companies that supply or use that talc.

The company maintains that its products are safe, but plaintiffs in proposed class actions allege it has knowingly put consumers at risk of hair loss and other injuries. DevaCurl’s troubles escalated quickly after a former brand ambassador went viral with a 31 January video urging consumers to stop using DevaCurl products and adopt safer alternatives.