P&G's Commitment to Cosmetic Safety

By law, every cosmetic available on store shelves must be safe for use. In the United States, cosmetics are regulated under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which is enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has the legal authority to regulate the safety of cosmetic products. Generally, this administration has not exerted its authority because cosmetics are composed of safe ingredients and, when necessary, the cosmetic industry has acted voluntarily to prevent safety problems.

Decisions about cosmetic safety should be made on facts not fear. P&G scientists develop cosmetics with consumer safety as a top priority, making the cosmetic products sold in the United States the safest in the world. Cosmetics are developed with science and designed for consumer confidence.

P&G Beauty wants customers to understand how important product and ingredient safety is to the company. Beyond knowing that the FDA does regulate cosmetic products, consumers can feel confident when using P&G products because:
P&G is committed to ensuring that products are safe for people and the environment under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
P&G carefully and thoroughly evaluates the safety of all products and ingredients before they go on to the market.
P&G's high standards for product safety are the same anywhere that P&G products are sold.
P&G Beauty meets and often exceeds all legal requirements around the world.
Contrary to what the EWG and other groups would have you believe, there are laws and regulations that cosmetics must comply with. For a comparison of U.S. and EU cosmetic regulations, click here >>
It's not necessary to sign a pact to prove P&G Beauty's commitment to product safety - P&G has always acted with the safety of the products and consumers as the primary concern.

Is it true that many of the ingredients used in P&G Beauty products have not been tested for safety?
No. All ingredients are thoroughly evaluated for safety prior to marketing. P&G Beauty is committed to ensuring that all products are safe for both the people and the environment when used as intended. Not only is safety a requirement for conducting responsible business, but also an essential element for building and maintaining public trust.

Has P&G Beauty reformulated its products to remove the phthalate ingredients banned in Europe?
P&G Beauty has eliminated the phthalate ingredient DBP from all products worldwide. This decision was not based upon concern over safety, but on a commitment to comply with regulations. All tests and safety reviews conducted to date have shown that there is no safety concern with this ingredient when used in cosmetics and personal care products. The phthalate ingredient DEHP, however, has never been used in P&G Beauty products.

Why hasn't P&G Beauty signed the "Compact with America," a pledge to formulate the products manufactured globally to use only ingredients that are not known or suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects (as is being required in the EU)?
P&G Beauty does not see it necessary to sign a compact to prove commitment to product safety - the organization has always acted with the safety of products and consumers as a primary concern.

The ingredients in each of the products are safe and have been approved for use in cosmetics and personal care products. Otherwise, P&G Beauty would not market these products. These high standards for product safety are the same wherever the products are sold, so P&G Beauty consumers can be reassured that the cosmetic products are safe worldwide.

Is it true that the CIR is not an independent review body and is paid by the cosmetic industry?
The CIR is an independent, non-profit scientific body formed 28 years ago to assess the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics. It conducts all deliberations in open public meetings and publishes its findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Its expert panel of world-renowned physicians and scientists must be free of any conflicts of interest, and meet the same conflict of interest requirements as outside experts to FDA. In addition to this expert panel, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Consumer Federation of America and the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association provide non-voting liaisons to the panel and are fully involved in the discussion process. P&G Beauty believes that such an open, public process is the appropriate manner to substantiate the safety of cosmetic ingredients.

For more information on the CIR, visit their website at www.cir-safety.org.