Overview

Title

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem any sunscreen or cosmetic containing parabens to be adulterated.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 8360 wants to make sure that products like sunscreen or makeup that have parabens, which are chemicals used to keep them from going bad, are not allowed because they think parabens might not be safe. They want companies to stop using parabens in new products two years after the rule starts.

Summary AI

H. R. 8360, also known as the “No Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics Act,” aims to change the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to classify any sunscreen or cosmetic containing parabens as adulterated. Parabens are a group of chemicals often used as preservatives, and this bill lists specific types such as methylparaben and butylparaben. The introduced amendments will only apply to products entering interstate commerce two years after the bill is enacted.

Published

2024-05-10
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-05-10
Package ID: BILLS-118hr8360ih

Keywords AI

parabens federal food, drug, and cosmetic act adulterated cosmetics no toxic chemicals in cosmetics act sunscreen regulation cosmetic safety methylparaben butylparaben interstate commerce cosmetic manufacturers

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
405
Pages:
3
Sentences:
12

Language

Nouns: 127
Verbs: 39
Adjectives: 8
Adverbs: 1
Numbers: 15
Entities: 26

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.35
Average Sentence Length:
33.75
Token Entropy:
4.59
Readability (ARI):
19.13

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation, titled the "No Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics Act," aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by classifying any sunscreens or cosmetics containing parabens as adulterated. Parabens are a common group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics and personal care products to extend their shelf life. This bill introduces new provisions that would affect products introduced into interstate commerce starting two years after its enactment.

Summary of Significant Issues

One of the primary issues with this legislation is the lack of explicit reasoning or evidence provided within the text to justify why parabens are considered problematic. Parabens are widely used in cosmetics, and the absence of detailed scientific evidence or data in the bill could lead to debates regarding the necessity and validity of these regulations.

Another issue lies with the definition and listing of parabens. The bill includes a specific list of parabens, but it does not clarify how this list was curated or if it is subject to future changes. This could cause confusion among manufacturers and could be grounds for legal challenges concerning the regulation's scope and scientific justification.

The bill also does not consider exemptions for products that contain parabens below certain thresholds. Without such considerations, the regulation could be viewed as overly restrictive, imposing potentially significant financial burdens on manufacturers who would need to reformulate their products.

Additionally, while the bill specifies that the new rules apply to products entering commerce after a two-year period, it does not address how existing products that are already on the market will be treated. This lack of clarity could create uncertainty and potential disruptions for manufacturers holding current inventory.

Broad Impact on the Public

If enacted, this bill could lead to significant changes in the availability and formulation of many sunscreen and cosmetic products. Consumers might see a shift towards 'paraben-free' products, potentially increasing the variety of preservative options utilized within the industry. On the other hand, there might be temporary disruptions in product availability as manufacturers reformulate existing products to comply with the new requirements.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Manufacturers: Cosmetic and sunscreen manufacturers would likely encounter increased production costs associated with reformulating products to exclude parabens. This could be particularly burdensome for smaller companies that may lack the resources to quickly adapt to the new regulations. The lack of clarity on existing product stocks further complicates their operational planning.

Consumers: For consumers, the increased regulatory oversight could lead to a sense of increased safety regarding personal care products. However, this could come at a higher cost as manufacturers pass down the expenses related to reformulation and testing, potentially leading to increased prices for consumers.

Regulators: Regulatory agencies tasked with enforcing this legislation may face challenges due to the current absence of scientific backing presented in the bill. Ensuring compliance across a potentially wide spectrum of products could necessitate significant resources and consistent guidelines.

Public Health Advocates: Those advocating for stricter regulations on chemical use in personal care products might view this legislation positively as a step towards reducing potential exposure to harmful chemicals. However, they might also argue for a stronger scientific foundation in the legislation to withstand challenges and ensure effective implementation.

In conclusion, while the bill aims to enhance consumer safety by banning parabens in certain products, it raises significant issues and challenges that could impact various stakeholders. Comprehensive scientific validation and clear guidelines could help mitigate some of these concerns, ensuring a smoother transition for both producers and consumers.

Issues

  • The bill classifies all sunscreens and cosmetics containing parabens as adulterated but does not provide specific evidence or reasoning as to why parabens are problematic, which could lead to debates over the necessity and scientific basis of the regulation. (Section 2)

  • The definition of 'parabens' in the bill includes a specific list but lacks guidance on how the list was determined or if it is subject to change. This could lead to confusion and legal challenges from manufacturers regarding the scope and scientific validity of the regulation. (Section 2)

  • There is no mention of exemptions for products containing parabens below certain thresholds, which might be perceived as overly restrictive and could impose undue financial burden on manufacturers needing to reformulate products. This could raise concerns about fairness and economic impact. (Section 2)

  • The applicability clause specifies the amendments apply to products introduced after two years from the date of enactment, but it does not address the status of existing products on the market. This could create uncertainty and potential disruption for manufacturers with current inventory. (Section 2)

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the act provides the short title, allowing it to be referred to as the “No Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics Act.”

2. Adulterated sunscreen and cosmetics containing parabens Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section of the bill proposes amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that would classify sunscreens and cosmetics containing parabens as adulterated. This change will only apply to products introduced into interstate commerce two years after the bill is enacted.