If signed, first-ever invoice would be the strongest state regulation within the nation regulating poisonous chemical compounds in cosmetics and private care merchandise

OLYMPIA, WA—As we speak, the Poisonous-Free Cosmetics Act (HB 1047)—sponsored by Washington State Consultant Sharlett Mena (twenty ninth Legislative District)— handed within the Washington State Senate with a vote of 28-20-1. The laws bans PFAS, lead, phthalates, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers, and different dangerous chemical compounds in cosmetics and private care merchandise. The invoice handed within the Washington State Home of Representatives on March 1, 2023 with a vote of 55-41. It now heads again to the Home of Representatives for a concurrence vote earlier than shifting to the Governor’s desk. If signed, this regulation will turn out to be the strongest within the nation regulating poisonous chemical compounds in magnificence and private care merchandise and establishing incentives for safer merchandise. 

“You shouldn’t must be a toxicologist to buy your cosmetics. After we go to the shop, we assume {that a} product on the shelf is protected, however that isn’t at all times the reality. After we discover these toxics in sure cosmetics, it doesn’t imply that everyone is getting just a bit little bit of publicity. Numerous us return to the identical merchandise and the identical manufacturers, so functionally, a few of us are getting extra publicity than others,” mentioned Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma). “What the Washington Division of Ecology discovered is that most of the merchandise that include probably the most dangerous poisonous chemical compounds are those which might be focused in direction of ladies of colour. I’m proud that Washington is taking a stand and main the nation by banning these dangerous merchandise. This invoice will be sure that the merchandise that we use again and again usually are not harming us or the surroundings.”

“We’re thrilled that the Senate handed this invoice, which brings us one other step nearer in direction of safer cosmetics and private care merchandise for Washington state and past,” mentioned Laurie Valeriano, government director, Poisonous-Free Future. “It’s outrageous that we now have to fret about PFAS and different hazardous chemical compounds in merchandise we apply to our our bodies which might be then washed down the drain and wind up in our waterways. This invoice will set a nationwide precedent in defending us from pointless exposures to harmful chemical compounds like PFAS, lead, and formaldehyde, and can improve the supply of safer merchandise. We’re grateful for the management of Reps. Mena, Doglio, and Fitzgibbon, and Senators Nguyen, Trudeau, Rolfes and Saldaña to get this essential invoice handed. We urge the Home of Representatives to concur and ship this essential public well being measure to Governor Inslee for his signature.”

BACKGROUND ON WASHINGTON’S TOXIC-FREE COSMETICS ACT

Earlier this yr, the Washington State Division of Ecology examined 50 merchandise marketed to or utilized by individuals of colour and located excessive ranges of formaldehyde, a recognized carcinogen, in sure hair merchandise, lotions, and lotions. The Division of Ecology’s checks additionally discovered lead at concentrations higher than 1 ppm in two dark-tint powder foundations and one lipstick, regardless of there being no protected quantity of lead in accordance with each the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) and World Well being Group (WHO). The report additionally describes the usage of chemical compounds which might be largely unregulated in pores and skin lotions, hair conditioning remedies and styling gels, lip and eye make-up, and deodorant, together with some linked to most cancers, hormone disruption, and developmental and reproductive hurt. 

Research have proven that girls of colour are disproportionately uncovered to dangerous chemical compounds in cosmetics. A current research by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology discusses the environmental justice impacts of magnificence and states that folks of colour use extra magnificence merchandise and are disproportionately uncovered to poisonous chemical compounds as in comparison with white shoppers, with Black shoppers buying 9 occasions extra ethnic hair and wonder merchandise than different teams. 

The laws comes at a time when retailers are more and more adopting insurance policies to part out and ban poisonous chemical compounds in magnificence and private care merchandise, in accordance with the Retailer Report Card. Retailers together with Credo Magnificence, CVS Well being, Ceremony Help, Sephora, Goal, Ulta Magnificence, Walgreens, Walmart, and Complete Meals Market have been working to cut back and get rid of dangerous chemical compounds equivalent to phthalates, parabens, PFAS, and/or formaldehyde releasers in magnificence and private care merchandise. Extra lately, some main retailers have reported substantive progress in addressing dangerous chemical compounds in magnificence merchandise. Sephora lately reported it has achieved a 39.5% discount in brand-name magnificence merchandise with a number of poisonous chemical compounds. Walmart has lowered precedence chemical compounds by 37 million kilos in key product classes equivalent to cosmetics, private care, family cleaners, and formulated child care merchandise.

For extra info on Washington State’s Poisonous-Free Cosmetics Act, go to: https://toxicfreefuture.org/2023-washington-state-cosmetics-bill/ 

TOXIC-FREE FUTURE

Poisonous-Free Future (TFF) is a nationwide chief in environmental well being analysis and advocacy. By means of the ability of science, schooling, and activism, Poisonous-Free Future drives robust legal guidelines and company accountability that protects the well being of all individuals and the planet.

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