U.S. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
Hearing Scheduled! Counterfeits & Online Marketplaces

Counterfeits are a major concern for our industry and can be a significant danger to consumers. A Congressional hearing "Buyer Beware: Fake and Unsafe Products On Online Marketplaces" will take place Wednesday, March 4 in Washington D.C. We want to voice the concerns of our membership to Congress. If you have a testimonial that you would like to share about counterfeits and online marketplaces, please reach out to us !

CALIFORNIA UPDATE
Prop 65 - THC Added

Effective January 3, 2020, California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has added THC to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity. What does this mean for CBD cosmetics?

AB 495 Reintroduced as AB 2762

California Assemblymember Muratsuchi has reintroduced a bill similar in nature to the recently failed AB 495. The new bill would redefine conditions for adulterated products and calls for all violations to be reported to the California Department of Justice.

ITA UPDATE
Coronavirus: Supply Chain Impacts

The International Trade Administration is looking to speak with U.S. companies sourcing materials/products from and/or exporting to China to learn how operations and sales are being impacted to help inform ways the ITA may be of assistance. If you have experienced operational impacts as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak and are interested in speaking with the ITA, please let us know .

ICMAD contact:
Meredith Petillo, Director Technical & Regulatory Services
mpetillo@icmad.org
800-334-2623 ext 110

ITA contact:
Tracy Gerstle, International Trade Specialist
Tracy.Gerstle@trade.gov
202-482-0810
FDA UPDATE
Public Meeting on Talc in Cosmetics

The Feb 4 meeting presented work that an interdepartmental task force has been deliberating over the past year. The webcast is available to view on demand in 4 parts. The webcast recordings may be of interest if you are interested in definitions for asbestos particles & EMPs, and the test methodology being looked at by FDA.

FTC UPDATE
FTC Endorsements Guide

Are you using endorsements, testimonials, consumer reviews, or influencers in the promotion of your product?
The FTC just announced a regulatory review of its Endorsement Guide.

FTC Lawsuit: Deceptive Ratings and Review Practices

Product reviews and rankings should be objective, accurate and unbiased, regardless of the industry. This latest FTC lawsuit provides clear and relevant takeaways for businesses and provides an opportune time to review internal policies and procedures on product ratings, reviews, testimonials and influencer content to ensure that current practices meet FTC's requirements.

NEW YORK UPDATE
Governor Cuomo Signs Toxic Chemicals in Children's Products Bill

The Governor of New York signed legislation (S.501B/A.6296A) which requires manufacturers of children's products (including personal care products) to disclose the use of certain chemicals; provides a list of chemicals of concern; and requires the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation to make this information public to consumers.

EPA UPDATE
TSCA Risk Evaluation Substance Selection

The US EPA has finalized its selection of 20 high-priority substances for TSCA evaluation. It is important to note that being designated as a high-priority chemical does not mean that a chemical is high risk. These chemicals will move through the process required by TSCA to evaluate any unreasonable risks they may present to human health or the environment.  

AUSTRALIA UPDATE
Guidance: Is My Product A Cosmetic?

New to the Australian Market? A user friendly tool is available from NICNAS to help companies correctly import and introduce cosmetics into the Australian market. This updated web-based questionnaire is available to help companies correctly classify whether products qualify as cosmetics. The questionnaire will also give instruction on your obligations with NICNAS and other regulatory requirements for cosmetics.

BRAZIL UPDATE
Chemical Management Bill Under Review in Brazilian Congress

A bill was presented to the Brazilian Congress to establish a chemical inventory and review process. Brazil is targeting getting a scheme in place by the end of the year. Additional updates will be made when more information is available.
What topics would you like to see covered? Would you like to submit an article to be published? Questions about tech/reg topics? Reach out!
Meredith Petillo, Director of Regulatory and Technical Services: mpetillo@icmad.org