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September 16, 2005
Hey Schwarzeneger, We Need You to Terminate (Veto) Bill 484
SB 484 Up for Governor's Veto on Sept. 20
California Senete Bill 484 will be up for Governor Schwarzenegger's veto on September 20th. If you support the vetoing of the bill, there are severals steps you can take to help this happen. Read more about why we think you should and how you can support the vetoing of the bill.
Why Veto?
California's SB 484 was passed in the Assembly Health Committee on June 28th, much to the disappointment of cosmetic manufacturers in the state.
The amended California bill, SB 484, which would establish the California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005, commencing January 1, 2007, would require the manufacturer of any cosmetic product subject to regulation by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is sold in the state to, with certain exceptions, on a schedule determined by the Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control within the department, provide the division with a list of its cosmetic products that are sold in the state, and to identify by product any ingredient that contains a chemical identified as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. Since a violation of the provisions applicable to the packaging, labeling, and advertising of food, drugs and cosmetics is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill is considered controversial because, according to Rebecca James Gadberry, ingredient expert and president of YG Laboriatories, "This bill 1) would require cosmetic manufacturers (ie: brands) to send lists of their products to the Department of Health Services (DHS), along with any ingredients in their products (including fragrance, flavors and trade secret materials) that have been identified as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity by various authoritative bodies worldwide; 2) give DHS the authority to require manufacturers to provide it with a broad range of additional information relating to those chemicals; and 3) would require DHS to investigate, and potentially instigate, enforcement actions against 54 cosmetics listed by the Environmental Working Group as containing ingredients that the CIR has found unsafe for the specific use indicated on the products' labels.
"This bill is unnecessary and repeats legislation that is provided by FDA and by Prop 65 in California (even though the bill states that it these actions are not repetitive). It would cost potentially billions of dollars to regulate, taking needed funds away from other state agencies whose budgets have already received drastic cuts in the state's budget. It would also put additional stress on the DHS, which is already under duress."
The bill will now be voted on by the full assembly in mid to late August.
What you can do now.
Print a draft of the veto letter on your company letterhead with the CEO or president of your company. Your company officers can send letters even if your offices are not in California.
If you would like to insert more information, either about how this bill will effect your company or you personally, please feel free to do so. Citizens of California also can send their own letters, regardless of whether they are employeed by a cosmetic company in the state.
Mail your letter: Randy Pollack Livingston & Mattesich 1201 K Street Suite 1100 Sacramento, California 95814 If you believe your letter will not arrive by September 20th in Sacramento, please fax a copy of your letter to Randy at 916-448-1709, then put your letter in the mail. Randy will assemble all the letters to the Governor and personally take them to his office next week.
Fax a copy to Karin Ross at Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Foundation (CTFA) in Washington, D.C.: 202-331-1969. If you would like more information about this bill, please call Karin Ross at 202.331.1770, or Rebecca James Gadberry at 800-999-4569, ext 235.
Posted by Pierce at September 16, 2005 11:27 PM
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