Safer Consumer Products Legislation To Take Effect in California

The state legislature in California has approved Safer Consumer Products legislation that will effectively ban harmful chemicals and ingredients used in everyday consumer products. Since it was first introduced in 2007, now comes the tricky part for companies, which must comply with pages and pages of these new regulations starting as early as July 2013.

This is truly groundbreaking legislation! California is the first state to enact these types of regulations on consumer products, something that many states have been debating for years with no real solution. In the past, some products were determined to be toxic and were substituted with products that were more dangerous than the original.

So what does the Safer Consumer Products legislation mean for licensed beauty professionals in the state of California?

You could soon be seeing new, safer alternatives to popular beauty products and services that you provide for your clients. Consumer beauty products are of special concern because often times these harmful chemicals come in contact with the skin, causing irritation, allergic reactions, hair loss, and other side effects.

For instance, there’s been concern over Brazilian blowouts for the potentially hazardous levels of formaldehyde that are released during the service. Formaldehyde gas has been known to cause nosebleeds, burning eyes and throat, skin irritations, and asthma attacks. It’s believed that long-term exposure can be cancer causing. Under this new legislation, manufacturers of this hair straightening product would be required to use a safer ingredient to reduce exposure to salon workers and consumers.

The public comment period for the Safer Consumer Products legislation expired in February 2013 and is expected to become effective any day now. Here’s how the legislation will work:

1. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is expected to publish a list of approximately 1,200 “chemicals of concern” as early as July 2013.
2. Initially, the DTSC will select five “priority products” that contain these “chemicals of concern.”
3. The producers of these five products must evaluate ways to remove and replace the “chemicals of concern” or halt production entirely.
4. This process is expected to roll out to additional products that are deemed to be dangerous in following years.

What do you think of this new legislation? Is it beneficial or harmful to the beauty industry?  What products do you think might be included on the “chemicals of concern” list? Tell us your thoughts by commenting below!

Salon Success Academy offers hands-on training in cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technologyat its five locations throughout the Inland Empire of California. The school offers flexible class schedules, extensive preparation for the State Board exam, and Financial Aid to those who qualify. If you would like to learn more about training for a new beauty career with Salon Success Academy, fill out the form or call 877-987-HAIR (4247).