Most Recent in Regulatory

FDA Warns Consumers About Side Effects from Topical Acne Actives

Jul 9, 2014

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers that over-the-counter (OTC) acne products containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can cause severe irritation or severe allergic reactions in rare instances.

FDA Issues Final Guidance on Nanomaterials

Jul 8, 2014

On June 26, 2014, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Final Guidance for Industry: Safety of Nanomaterials in Cosmetics, a final guidance document addressing the use of nanotechnology in cosmetics.

What Green Means For Cosmetics

Jul 2, 2014Pawel Leja and Robert Ross-Fichtner, Focal Point Research Inc.

The word green is a familiar term to everybody and used to describe many different things daily. From the iconic symbol of money, to the green on a golf course, as well as the world-wide signal symbolizing the right to proceed, the word green is used for various different and unrelated purposes.

Asia-Pacific Update: Hong Kong Regulations and ‘Green’ Awareness

Jul 1, 2014To Yo Be, Contributing Consultant, Penang, Malaysia

In Hong Kong, cosmetic safety assurance is viewed as being part of the product manufacturing process, and reasonable safety will result from all the necessary production processes being followed. This update is a short review of the rules for manufacturing and selling cosmetic products in Hong Kong.

ACI and PCPC Form Coalition to Promote Antibacterial Use to the FDA

Jun 17, 2014

The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), which have formed the Topical Antimicrobial Coalition, have submitted their comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its proposed rule, which they find could elliminate access to antibacterial soaps and increase foodborne illness.

Illinois Bans Microbeads in Personal Care

Jun 10, 2014

Illinois has passed a law that prohibits the manufacture of personal care products containing microbeads by the end of 2018. This may pose a new hurdle to personal care product developers, but it also paves the way for new products with an identified market need.

Regulations and Notifications for Cosmetics and Hair Spray in Vietnam

Jun 1, 2014TY Be, Contributing Consultant, Penang, Malaysia

On the Vietnamese market, cosmetics must satisfy ASEAN guidelines for the marketing of their features. Corporations or individuals selling cosmetic products bear full responsibility for product safety, efficacy and quality. Also, VOCs are not currently regulated. This update briefs manufacturers on processes specific to this growing market.

Sunscreen Regulations: Why 'Final' is Not the Right Word

May 6, 2014Robert Ross-Fichtner, Focal Point Research Inc.

Over the past 25 years, no category of “cosmetics” has seen change like sunscreens. This discussion reviews how current regulations have come to be, and looks to where they are headed.

Lead, Aluminum and Parabens: Myths in Cosmetics

May 1, 2014Chris Flower, PhD, and Emma Meredith, PhD; Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, London, UK

Cosmetic companies comply with strict ingredient regulations and stay abreast of the latest scientific studies to ensure that their products are safe and efficacious. Yet, rumors still abound about cosmetic companies intentionally including toxic chemicals. This column looks into those myths, separating fact from fiction.

PASS Coalition Supports Move to Speed Approval of New UV Filters, Looks to Canada

Apr 14, 2014

In March 2014, the PASS Coalition published its support of a proposed Act to potentially speed the FDA's approval of new UV filters. In a related blog post, PASS followers congratulated those involved, and urged Canadian regulators to do the same.

ICMAD Testifies at FDA Hearings

Mar 28, 2014Cosmetics & Toiletries editors

Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distrubutors (ICMAD) board member Craig Weiss, president of Consumer Product Testing, testified on March 25, 2014, during recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearings on modernizing over-the-counter drugs.

Importing Cosmetics into Japan, Part 2: Distributor Licensing and Sunscreens

Mar 20, 2014To Yo Be, Contributing Consultant, Penang, Malaysia

This column is the second in a two-part series on importing cosmetics into Japan. It discusses the requirements for cosmetic manufacturers and distributors in more depth than the first part, and provides a closer look at sunscreen requirements in Japan.

Sunscreen Innovation Act Introduced into Congress to Amend FDA's TEA Program

Mar 18, 2014

On Mar. 13, 2014, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Sunscreen Innovation Act (S. 2141 and H.R. 4250, respectively), which has been supported by the Public Access to SunScreen (PASS) Coalition.

FDA Closes Negotiations with ICMAD and PCPC, Prompting Industry Response

Mar 10, 2014

On Mar. 6, 2014, Michael Taylor, on behalf of th The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), responded to the Proposed Draft Legislation by the Personal Care Product's Council (PCPC) and the Independent Cosmetics Manufacturers and Distributors (ICMAD), effectively finding no common ground between the three and closing the negotiation.

Humane Cosmetics Act Bill Introduced in Congress

Mar 10, 2014

The Humane Cosmetics Act, introduced by Congressman Jim Moran, would make it unlawful for anyone to conduct or commission cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. and prohibit selling, offering for sale or transporting any cosmetics in interstate commerce if the final product or any component was developed or manufactured using animal testing.

Walmart U.S., Sam's Club Set Full Ingredient Disclosure Goals

Mar 10, 2014

The plan includes full disclosure of all ingredients including those typically protected under trade secrets such as fragrances.

FDA Publishes Opinion on Two Sunscreen TEAs and Is Urged for More Action by PASS

Mar 4, 2014

The end of February was busy for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which published two letters on the Time and Extent Applications (TEAs) for diethylhexyl butamido triazone (Uvasorb HEB) and amiloxate (Neo Heliopan E 1000), finding insufficient scientific evidence to claim either as generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) and denying their addition to the OTC Sunscreen Monograph.

Preserving with Methylisothiazolinone

Feb 21, 2014Chris Flower, PhD and Emma Meredith, PhD, The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association

Methylisothiazolinone (MI or MIT), a preservative used in cosmetics and other household products, has recently been in the news. MI was approved in Annex V as a cosmetic preservative up to 0.01%; however, after dermatologists found it to be a possible allergen, its safety was again reviewed by the SCCS.

New York State Proposes Ban of Microbeads in Cosmetics

Feb 19, 2014Katie Anderson, Cosmetics & Toiletries

New York state has sought to prohibit the production, manufacture, distribution or sale of any cosmetic product containing microbeads.

Importing Cosmetics into Japan: Part 1

Aug 1, 2013To Yo Be, Contributing Consultant, Penang, Malaysia

This column is the first in a two-part series on importing cosmetics into Japan. It discusses the general requirements for cosmetic manufacturers and distributors. The second part discusses these requirements in more depth, and provides a closer look at sunscreen requirements.

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Coloring the Cosmetic World book cover

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