The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010

A Note from Emily Skin Soothers (Ipswich, MA):

"A few weeks ago, The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (HR 5786) was introduced by Congressman Ed Markey (MA) and a few other congress persons. It would likely put small cosmetics manufacturers like myself (and maybe some of your other favorite companies)out of business.

Though well meaning, the bill calls for reporting, testing and labeling requirements for Cosmetics that would be extremely burdensome, costly and prohibitive to small companies that already make clean cosmetics. The big companies that make the cheap and potentially dangerous products have the resources to comply and would be able to jump through the hoops.

The bill has been pushed by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics who are using scare tactics like the Story of Cosmetics to inflame the public's fear. They'd like to overregulate and overhaul the whole industry with no regard for companies like ours. There are simpler ways to regulate that would not harm small businesses.

I believe that if the bill passes and hurts the small, green cosmetic companies it will also have extremely negative consequences for many of the small independent health food stores that you shop at.

In Europe over 1000 harmful or suspect ingredients are banned from cosmetics. In the USA, there are less than 20 banned. Wouldn't it be easier to have a list of known harmful and banned substances and enforce it? Would more cumbersome regulations keep us safer, or just be a big waste of time?

I hope you'll consider signing this petition against the ACT here. Thanks for your time and consideration." - Mike Arsenault, founder of Emily Skin Soothers