Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released a statement today following new press reports detailing the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) last-minute decision against banning the use of formaldehyde in hair straightening products after agency scientists detected high-levels of the substance in their formulas:
“The circumstances surrounding this report are deeply concerning. FDA is responsible for ensuring that cosmetic products are safe for consumer use and it defies logic that the agency has failed to ban a known carcinogen from use in hair products, including Brazilian Blowout, that continue to be sold today.
“I will be requesting a comprehensive explanation from FDA as well as a complete record of the internal documents detailing the seemingly sudden decision to reverse course on banning these dangerous products from the market.
“This situation further underscores the need for Congress to come together to pass my bipartisan legislation to update our cosmetic safety laws, which have not been updated in more than 80 years. We must equip FDA with the tools, resources and authority to effectively ensure the safety of cosmetic ingredients in the personal care products that Americans use every day."
