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Senator Ed Kennedy Goes Before Congress…Picture
Cover of Boston Globe, September, 1997
"Cosmetics Proposal Draws Fire"
Author: Associated Press Date:
Saturday, September 6, 1997 Page: A16
Section:
National/Foreign |
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Washington--A proposal
to preempt state regulation of cosmetics is emerging as a major sticking
point in a long-delayed effort to revamp the Food and Drug
Administration.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who opposes the provision, said yesterday that
it shows "a callous disregard for the health of American women"
since currently there is limited federal oversight of the $20 Billion
industry.
"The only authority we have out there is at the state level and this
bill is taking that away," Said Kennedy. "How much do we have to
yield to the greed of that industry...and why should we do it?"
Cosmetics regulation lies with the FDA, but the agency spends its
regulatory dollars in other areas. States do most of the oversight as a
result. The pending bill exempts California, where voters approved a
referendum in 1986 requiring health warnings on products with certain
toxins.
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| Sponsors say the provision would establish uniform, national labeling and
warning requirements for cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs to give
consumers the same information, regardless of what state they're in.
But states could also petition the FDA for exemptions.
"It doesn't make sense to impose up to 50 different labels in 50
different states," said Mike Petrina, vice president for legislative
relations at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.
The provision would also apply to nonprescription drugs, but Kennedy is
less concerned about its impact in that area.
Kennedy, who spent several hours criticizing the
provision yesterday, said that the nonpartisan General Accounting Office,
the investigative branch of Congress, nonpartisan General Accounting Office,
the investigative branch of Congress, had identified more that 125
ingredients available for cosmetics that are suspected of causing
cancer. Others may cause birth defects.
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| "This bill does not ignore the problem of cosmetics," countered
Senator Jim Jeffords, Republican of Vermont, a sponsor of the overhaul
bill. "For the first time, it really emphasizes that the FDA and states
should do something."
The cosmetics provision is one of a handful of issues threatening the
latest FDA overhaul bill to emerge from Congress. Lawmakers agree that
the agency needs to be quicker with its drugs and medical device approvals,
but they disagree over how to achieve that without endangering people's
lives and help.
AA0726;09/05 NKELLY;09/07,11:50 FDA06 |
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