Safe Cosmetics Act - y/n?

[amezri]

Apparently there is some controversy regarding the newly introduced H.R. 5786 - The Safe Cosmetics Act.

I'm all for safe cosmetics, but I'm not really for all the scare tactics on both sides regarding this bill. Okay, now... we all know I'm "liberal" and I don't want to sound like I'm on the side of the conservative nutbags who are currently calling the SCA a liberal whatever, but on first look, the bill does sound a bit... extreme. The overly rigorous testing of ingredients that will cause indie cosmetics companies to go out of business, the scare tactics being used so people will freak out that the tiniest trace amounts of "toxins" should be banned.

BUT. Just because there are trace amount of carcinogens in my vegetables and my cosmetics doesn't mean it's okay for my created cosmetics to contain them. Frankly, I'd much rather limit my exposure where possible since carcinogens you know, do actually cause cancer. I also am not a fan of -ethylenes and -parabens in my cosmetics because, whatever the agreed toxicity/safety of these ingredients, they make my eyes itch and my skin irritated. I also buy nail polish that is toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP (dibutyl phthalate) free.

Some of the smaller indie companies are saying that the passing of HR 5786 will mean they the testing required for ingredients will be too expensive for them to continue to be in business. I definitely see how this is a concern. I'd be concerned since I buy lots of things from indie companies.

To be honest, the bill is quite long and I haven't yet read through the whole thing. My initial reaction was "OMG NO OPPOSE IT" but now I'm not really certain. Regulating the use of toxic chemicals is something I'm a fan of, but I don't want my favorite indie companies (or any) to go out of business. I'll have to get back to you after I've read all the information regarding the bill and the opinions of those for it and against it.

Further reading:

• Text of H.R. 5786


• Annie Leonard's Story of Cosmetics video (which, admittedly, is kind of a scare tactic that provides no real factual information)


• How the Word Works critique of Annie Leonard's video (a little bit to, "chemicals are no big deal" but quotes studies)


• 5 Ways the "Safe Cosmetics Act" Will Harm Consumers


• FDA Law Blog sums up the regulation and the changes it would enact


• CosmeticsDesign.com brings up PCPC's support of regulation, but points out lack of credible science involved


• Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild sum up the bill and state why they are against it


• Time.com: Cracking Down on Toxic Makeup


• Essential U talks about the ways HR 5786 will damage small business


• Sweet Libertine Cosmetics comments on the bill and estimates it will cost them $3mil to test eyeshadows.
  

Regarding the cost of testing: I cannot find a list of actual figures anywhere.

Comments

[fyrdrakken]

What this reminds me of, is when my father first started his own medical practice in 1989, and he had a little lab room in his office where he could do some small diagnostic tests. And then some regulations were passed in the name of "patient safety" that basically added so many costs to performing lab tests that it was no longer affordable except for a large lab able to spread those costs out over lots and lots of tests. He had to start sending those little tests out, and I think it added to the costs the patients (or their insurance) were paying, and it basically just increased the business the big labs were getting and took away money from smaller practices and clinics.

[amezri.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and that's why the small companies are fighting against this bill. The large companies are fighting against a fee that will placed on business making over $1mil a year. So... this is interesting.

[fyrdrakken]

And here is the Fall vid you asked about on Twitter. (Had to go on LJ to find it, since it was through a veni_vidi_vids rec.)

[amezri.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link!

[tea-fiend.livejournal.com]

Nothing much sensible to add, except this: avoid tops with printed pictures on, and even slightly burnt toast. Both are carcinogenic, and easily avoided.

[amezri.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. Have to watch out for that cancer-causing burnt toast.