WR, in collaboration with The Personal Care Products Council, spearheaded an urgent initiative earlier this month. In light of a 2023 legislative mandate that restricted certain chemicals, including lead content in cosmetics and personal care products to an unprecedented 1 part per million (ppm), WR mobilized to address the potential repercussions of this stringent limit.
This regulation, while well-intended, fails to account for the natural occurrence of lead in various materials, including those used for cosmetic coloring. Consequently, trace levels of lead are unavoidable, even in safe, high-quality products. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration limits lead (when present as an impurity) in color additives to 10-20 PPM.
Crystal Leatherman, WR’s State & Local Government Affairs Manager, co-led this effort with PCPC, successfully garnering signatories from numerous businesses as well as state and national associations for a letter urging the Department of Ecology (DOE) to consider a more reasonable lead limit. WR called on the business community to join this collective effort to influence the final decision and mitigate the economic impact on the retail industry.
WR aims to protect the retail industry and ensure the continued availability of a wide range of cosmetic products in Washington.
