Laura Deehan
State Director, Environment California
[email protected]
Statement: Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act passes key committee vote
Media Contacts
CALPIRG
SACRAMENTO — A re-introduced toxic-free cosmetics act (AB 2762) cleared a major hurdle in the California Assembly today, passing the legislature’s Committee on Environment, Safety and Toxic Materials with a 7-0 vote. If enacted, the legislation would protect consumers from toxic ingredients in personal care products,
Authored by California Assembly members Al Muratsuchi, Buffy Wicks and Bill Quirk, the act would ban a dozen of the most toxic ingredients from being used in personal care products sold in the state of California, including mercury, formaldehyde and phthalates. It would also give the state attorney general clear authority to take legal action against violators of the law. The bill is co-sponsored by CALPIRG, Environmental Working Group, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and Black Women for Wellness.
In response to the vote, CALPIRG Public Health Advocate Laura Deehan issued the following statement:
“We applaud this important committee victory for public health. Known toxic chemicals like mercury and formaldehyde have no place in products we put on our face or rub into our skin on a daily basis.
“But for too long, the cosmetics industry has sold products to all of us that contain ingredients known to cause cancer, infertility and a suppressed immune response. Despite this obvious danger, current laws fail to adequately protect public health. This is true even when the California Deptartment of Public Health has found dangerous levels of mercury in skin creams. Simply put, there is a lack of consequences for violators.
“The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act provides a strong step forward toward protecting the health of Californians. We hope the legislature continues to support strong action as the bill heads to the assembly floor. California consumers should have assurance that the ingredients in our beauty products are safe for our bodies.”
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CALPIRG is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. Visit https://calpirg.org/ for more info.
