Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act passes legislature

Banning the “Toxic Twelve” chemicals from personal care products is victory for public health

CALPIRG

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a landmark victory for public health, the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (AB 2762) passed the Assembly with a bipartisan 59-0 vote Sunday. Having passed the state Senate previously, the bill is now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. 

The act, authored by state Assembly members Al Muratsuchi, Buffy Wicks and Bill Quirk, will ban a dozen of the most toxic ingredients used in personal care products sold in California, including mercury, formaldehyde and phthalates. The “Toxic Twelve” chemicals include known carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and immune system suppressors. The bill is co-sponsored by CALPIRG, Environmental Working Group, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and Black Women for Wellness. 

In response to the vote, CALPIRG Public Health Associate Claudia Deeg issued the following statement:

“Every day, Californians use soaps, shampoos, makeup and other personal care products without realizing that those products could contain chemicals that present serious health risks. But thanks to the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, that reality will soon be in the past.

“It’s been more than 80 years since Congress last took action to regulate cosmetics. In the ensuing years, the industry created products containing highly toxic chemicals that weren’t covered by the increasingly outdated laws. By banning 12 of the most toxic ingredients found in modern personal care products, the California legislature is finally stepping up to demand safety protections similar to those found across the world.

“We applaud the Assembly’s decisive action today to protect public health and regulate the cosmetics industry. We urge Gov. Newsom to sign the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act immediately. Nothing we put on our bodies every day should be able to harm us for the rest of our lives.”

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CALPIRG is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. Visit https://calpirg.org/ for more info.