Today Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced a landmark bill—the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2019. It is the only federal cosmetic safety legislation that would immediately ban more than a dozen of the worst toxic chemicals from cosmetics, fund research into safer alternatives, address the over-exposure of communities of color to toxic chemicals, require full fragrance ingredient disclosure, and ban most animal testing. Click here to learn more about the bill: New Federal Bill Will Be The First In The Nation To Ensure That Beauty And Personal Care Products Are Safe For All.
WE ACT for Environmental Justice supports this bill as we believe our government, at the local, state and federal levels, should pass laws and ensure the enforcement of the safe manufacturing of all products. Below are reactions to this legislation from our team:
Kerene N. Tayloe, Esq., Director of Federal Legislative Affairs
“We applaud Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s commitment to bring Food and Drug Administration guidance for the beauty and personal care market into the 21st century with the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2019. We support her effort to hold the FDA accountable to ensure that millions of women, men and children, particularly those of color, are protected from unsafe products and toxic work environments that oftentimes lead to increased risk for cancers and other endocrine disrupting ailments.”
Lubna Ahmed, MPH, Director of Environmental Health
“The Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Act of 2019 is an introduction to addressing the environmental injustice that exists within the beauty and personal care products industry. We cannot be health-conscious consumers if the only accessible and affordable products for purchase in our communities contain harmful ingredients – many of which remain undisclosed. It is the responsibility of cosmetic companies, but even more so our government, to protect the health of all people.”
Are you interested in learning more about our work to enhance understanding of consumer product toxicity and why this is an environmental justice issue? If so, Kerene and Lubna are available to talk about Beauty Inside Out – our campaign to educate communities of color on how to avoid toxic chemicals in beauty and personal care products and where to find safer alternatives. Please contact Dana Johnson at 202-548-4585 or 773-495-1677 to schedule.