It’s been a busy week or two for the California legislature. The Golden State recently moved to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 and passed a law that will allow the state to fight rising prescription drug prices by producing its own cheap, generic drugs. Now, California has become the first state in the nation to ban two dozen toxic chemicals from cosmetics.
As reported by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act targets 24 toxic chemicals including mercury and formaldehyde that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, and other negative health impacts. The crazy thing is that while these ingredients are banned from cosmetics in the EU, they go unregulated here in the US.
“The science is clear on the harmful nature of these chemicals and AB 2762 (law) will provide Californians with the same consumer protections already provided in the European Union,” said Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi.
The new law was followed by Senate Bill 313, which mandates that cosmetics makers report any harmful fragrances or flavors to the California Department of Public Health Safe Cosmetics Program. Governor Gavin Newsom signed this bill as well, adding some much-needed regulation to an industry that has been allowed to run freely for too long.
