COSMETICS ON U.S. SHELVES UNSAFE WHEN USED AS DIRECTED

[Guest guest]

Environment News Service, Sept. 28, 2007

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447 COSMETICS ON U.S. SHELVES UNSAFE WHEN USED AS DIRECTED

 

Washington, D.C. (ENS) -- As officials from the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration, FDA, and the cosmetics industry traveled to Europe to

discuss regulatory obstacles to the cosmetics trade between countries,

a nonprofit research organization released the results of a new

investigation that found hundreds of cosmetics sold in the United

States contain chemicals the industry itself has determined to be

unsafe, even when used as directed.

 

Many of the cosmetic products on the shelves of U.S. stores contain

chemicals that other countries have banned, the Environmental Working

Group, EWG, report shows.

 

These banned chemicals include hydrogen peroxide in contact lens

cleaners sold in the United States, formaldehyde in mascara, selenium

in shampoo and moisturizer, and lead acetate in hair coloring.

 

The EWG was prepared to present the results of its investigation to

the meeting held Thursday in Brussels, but was excluded from that

meeting along with all public health, consumer and environmental

organizations.

 

On August 30, the FDA denied a request made by the Campaign for Safe

Cosmetics -- of which EWG is a founding member -- to attend the

Brussels meeting.

 

The agency stated that, " Everyone has agreed that we should stick with

our current Terms of Reference that provides for an industry

association-regulator dialogue. If that changes at any point, we will

certainly let you know. "

 

In a letter to Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, the head of the federal

agency, EWG Executive Director Richard Wiles says the Food and Drug

Administration " misrepresented " the Terms of Reference to exclude the

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

 

" Instead of precluding attendance by anyone but regulators and

industry representatives, " Wiles said in the letter, " the Terms of

Reference states, 'it is recognized that successful implementation

requires the input of a constructive dialogue with the cosmetics'

industry trade associations and potentially other stakeholders, " and

that the second day of the meeting can include dialogue with " in

certain cases, interested parties.' "

 

Wiles wrote, " Contrary to the exclusion asserted by FDA, the document

provides ample leeway for public health, consumer and environmental

groups to attend; the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, EWG and other

groups who research and advocate for the safety of personal care

products certainly qualify as " interested parties " and " other

stakeholders " in this process. "

 

" It's an outrage that the FDA would shut consumers out of this

important process, " said Janet Nudelman, coordinator of the Campaign

for Safe Cosmetics, " especially since they've set a place for the

cosmetics industry at the table. "

 

Cosmetics do not have to be approved as safe by the Food and Drug

Administration before they are sold. As a result, they may contain

dangerous ingredients banned in Europe and Japan or chemicals deemed

unsafe for specific uses by their own industry scientists, said Jane

Houlihan, EWG vice president for research.

 

Nearly 90 percent of ingredients in personal care products have not

been assessed for safety by anyone, so we are not sure what regulatory

obstacles the FDA and industry need to minimize, said Houlihan.

 

In its analysis of the ingredients in more than 23,000 products, EWG

discovered that 751 different products -- one of every 30 products

sold in the United States -- do not meet one or more industry or

governmental cosmetics safety standards.

 

The analysis found that 383 products contain ingredients that are

prohibited for use in cosmetics in Canada, Japan, or the European

Union.

 

The EWG found 447 products that industry safety panels have found

unsafe when used as directed.

 

Among these products are 86 that were found unsafe for all product

applications by the U.S based Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR, an

industry-funded panel, and the International Fragrance Association.

 

The FDA has no authority to require that cosmetics be tested for

safety before they are sold, although the agency does have the

authority to test drugs and food additives before sale.

 

While the Cosmetic Ingredient Review is funded by the industry and is

not a government health agency, EWG research shows that this " self-

regulated industry routinely fails to adhere to their own safety

panel's advice and to heed the health warnings in cosmetic safety

standards set in other countries, " the group said.

 

The EWG is calling on the federal agency to ensure that all personal

care products on store shelves are safe for consumers and to guarantee

that meetings regarding cosmetics safety policy are open and

accessible to the public.

 

The results of EWG's investigation are online at: http://www.ewg.or

g/node/22610.

 

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007

http://www.precaution.org/lib/07/

ht071004.htm#447_Cosmetics_on_U.S._Shelves_Unsafe_When_Used_as_Directed

Caldecott

todd

www.toddcaldecott.com

[Guest guest]

Dear

 

Thank you for sharing this updated report. It's so important that

people know what they're putting into their bodies through their skin.

 

Here's a link to a good website that rates a wide range of companies

and their products for safety.

 

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

 

We are probably preaching to the choir with this group!

 

Patti Garland

Ayurvedic Chef and LifeStyle Coach

Bliss Kitchen

http://www.BlissKitchen.com

(760) 902-7020

____________

 

The original message important for our health can be read by clicking on:

 

ayurveda/message/11456