July 21, 2010, marked an important day in cosmetic history. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (H.R.5786). The bill is giving FDA the authority to regulate ingredients used in personal care products and makeup, possibly creating tighter reigns on the usage of toxic ingredients and the concerning carcinogens that are commonly used in cosmetics. As reported by MedPageToday.com, in addition to requiring cosmetic manufacturers to use alterative testing methods than the pervasive use of animals, they would also be required to report any adverse health effects that occurred as a result of their product(s) to the federal government. Currently, FDA can't require personal care companies to conduct safety assessments or product recalls. More importantly, personal care and cosmetic companies would need to register with the federal government; and in order the regulation to be enforced, larger companies will be required to pay user fees.
Something many in the cosmetics industry have been advocating for years is the need to list all ingredients on the label, even though there are some regulations already in place regarding ingredient labeling. The bill would also set-up a two-year timeframe for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a list of prohibited and restricted ingredients.