California Senate Urges U.S. Animal-Test Ban

California’s State Senate voted April 7 to approve a joint resolution supporting a federal ban on animal testing of cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients. Introduced March 24 by State Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego, the resolution urges U.S. Congress to follow the lead of the European Union, Norway, India and Israel and build on work started by California, which banned the use of animal testing when validated alternatives are available in 2000 Also see "California animal testing" - HBW Insight, 9 October, 2000.. The resolution was sponsored by NGO Cruelty Free International and advises federal legislators to establish deadlines for prohibiting animal testing and to mandate the use of alternative methods. At the federal level, the Humane Cosmetics Act introduced on March 5 by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., would enact the provisions recommended by the California resolution ([A#02140310006]).The bill has garnered 35 co-sponsors.

PCPC Launches Manufacturing Assessment Program

The Personal Care Products Council’s newly developed Personal Care Manufacturing Assessment Program “offers the industry a unique tool to verify [Good Manufacturing Practices] conformance and a means for qualifying supplier capability,” according to an April 9 release. The voluntary program is based on ISO 22716 and helps companies assess quality aspects relating to production, control, storage and shipment of cosmetic products, ingredients or packaging components, “with the objective of meeting defined specifications at all stages of product development.” Assessments are possible across six manufacturing categories – over-the-counter drug products, cosmetic products, active ingredients, excipients, cosmetic ingredients and packaging components.

FTC Finalizes L’Occitane Settlement

Following a public comment period, FTC has approved a final consent order settling charges that beauty firm L’Occitane violated the Federal Trade Commission Act with claims it made regarding two “slimming” body creams, according to an April 8 commission release. FTC preliminarily reached the $450,000 settlement with the firm in January, the same time it settled with three marketers of weight-loss products for inappropriate claims and launched its “gut check” voluntary media partnership program to help prevent dissemination of bogus claims Also see "FTC Fines L’Occitane For “Slimming” Claims, Calls For Media “Gut Check”" - HBW Insight, 13 January, 2014.. L’Occitane’s fine will be paid into a settlement fund for consumer refunds. In addition to the monetary penalties, the settlement prohibits the firm from making future false and deceptive weight-loss claims.

NAD Challenges P&G Pantene Ad

Procter & Gamble Co. will modify future advertising for Pantene Pro-V antioxidant hair care following a National Advertising Division inquiry into a print ad featuring shampoos from the line and the headline “New Hair, New You.” According to the Council of Better Business Bureaus division, which announced the decision March 27, the ad pictured five antioxidant-enriched shampoo variants and boasted “Clinically proven: healthier hair with every wash,” with a linked disclaimer stating: “Shampoo and conditioner system vs. non-conditioning shampoo.” NAD expressed concern that the disclaimer’s reference to a system was not consistent with text and imagery related to shampoos only. Going forward, P&G says advertising for the system will depict both shampoo and conditioner when featuring similar performance claims in conjunction with the challenged disclaimer, a move NAD deems “necessary and proper.”

OSHA Partners With Beauty Professionals Group

The U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration continues efforts to educate and protect salon employees working with hair-straightening products that release formaldehyde, partnering with the Georgia Concerned Beauty Professionals in Atlanta. “OSHA and other federal, state and non-U.S. government agencies have taken action to address the emerging problem of formaldehyde exposure to hair smoothing products,” says Teresa Harrison, OSHA’s acting regional administrator in Atlanta, in a recent release. “This alliance demonstrates OSHA's commitment to the safety and health of workers in this industry.” Under the agreement, signed March 31, the parties will provide hair-salon owners and workers with information, guidance and training to minimize risks associated with exposure to formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals, the release notes. OSHA’s activities in the area also have included issuing fines to manufacturers, distributors and salons for failing to protect stylists and formaldehyde-based hair-straightener users via proper training, ventilation and safety equipment Also see "OSHA Homes In On Hair Salons, Issuing Citations For Formaldehyde Exposure" - HBW Insight, 19 December, 2011..

In Brief: California Seeks Federal Animal-Test Ban; PCPC Unveils GMPs Aid; More

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