A really fair question about this issue is “Why should I care?” You might be thinking, “I’m not in the cosmetics industry. Too bad for them, but there’s nothing I can do.” OR “I don’t even wear cosmetics. This won’t impact my life.”
Bad policy sets a bad precedent for all industries. Whether you’re a business owner or employee, imagine a scenario where the regulatory agency that governs your industry gains the power to require you to report gross sales figures, names and addresses of all your suppliers, your trade secrets/formulations/recipes (or your industry’s equivalent) AND deems all of this information to be public information and nonconfidential. Then imagine a fee structure the agency imposes so that your industry can pay for this level of regulation. I think you’d agree with me that you have enough challenges in the current economic climate without this additional burden.
We’re all consumers of the “cosmetics” industry. If you use soap, deodorant, lip balm, shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, bubble bath, shower gel or a myriad of other daily-use personal care items, you’re a consumer of the “cosmetics” industry. It’s a big umbrella that covers many products we enjoy safely in this country with a wide range of choices at every pricepoint. The effect of the proposed legislation on the end consumer (that’s you) would be higher prices, fewer natural ingredients, fewer product choices, labels that are more difficult to understand and less money flowing into your local economy.
3 quick and easy action steps anyone can take today:
- Sign this petition: “We, the nation’s small cosmetics manufacturers, their customers, vendors, suppliers and other supporters, urge you to vote against HR 5786.”
- Vote “opposed” in the bill sponsor’s poll: At the time of this writing, 53 votes have been cast, only 7% in favor of the bill. Please help us grow the number of votes cast and continue the landslide opposition.
- Share this post with a friend.
Thank you for your time, interest and participation! Together we can make the voice of reason heard before this proposed legislation becomes law. Stay tuned for Part 3 where I’ll outline how FDA regulation of the cosmetic industry currently works. As always, I welcome your comments on this post.
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Tags: American Dream, FDA, H.R.5786, Micro Business, Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, Small Business
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Rachel…thanks so much for the really clear coverage on how his bill affects US – the small and mid-sized soap and cosmetics manufacturers. I loved your comment, “We’re all consumers of the “cosmetics” industry.” So much, in fact, that I quoted you in the article I have published on About. Here’s a link: http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/ideafile/i/The-Safe-Cosmetics-Act-Of-2010.htm
Rachel,
I think you have done a great follow-up post to your original one on what’s entailed in SCA 2010. Bottom line people want to know how it will affect them and that’s what you are addressing here.
Thank you for helping to spread the word that this well-intended bill is too far reaching, draconian in its reporting requirements and will make cosmetics more regulated than food (!).
In full support to stop this bill. It will not only hurt any kind of beauty company now but they will pass other laws like this that can potentially hurt them also. I think the government is pushing too far into business branches and hurting more than helping.