In a recent post on the website “Greenwala,” Danika Carter suggests that the Safe Cosmetics Alliance (SCA) is an industry “front group” trying to confuse consumers into thinking that it is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, an actual front group for the Environmental Working Group and other environmental activists.

The Safe Cosmetics Alliance is not the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. To the contrary, SCA is a coalition of large and small cosmetic companies, direct sellers, beauty consultants, salon owners and numerous others working in the industry that believe science, not scare tactics, should guide decisions on how these products are regulated. They believe in transparency for consumers about the science and safety of the ingredients used in those products.

We support sound, science-based regulations enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the federal level and requirements that all cosmetic companies register with the FDA. These registration requirements will give the FDA a complete database on where products are manufactured and what ingredients are being put into those products, a position the agency supports.

The whole idea behind having all manufacturers register with the FDA is so that concerns expressed to the FDA could be acted on in a timely fashion and based on a complete database of where products are made and what is in them. Allowing any manufacturer to remain outside the database cripples the FDA’s ability to enforce federal law and protect consumers.

Unfortunately, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics supports federal legislation that would undermine the FDA’s authority to enforce regulations by limiting the mandatory information given to the FDA by the cosmetics industry.

And, they support multiple state laws controlling how products are formulated and where they could be sold. These various state restrictions on cosmetics could be based on nothing more than the whim of a state administrator who would not need to scientifically justify his or her decision on banning an ingredient or a product from their state. Ultimately, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is about limiting consumer choice.

The Safe Cosmetics Alliance supports federal legislation, H.R. 4395 “The Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012,” which would increase FDA oversight over the cosmetic industry. It would also provide to any stakeholder (including Ms. Carter!) the right to petition the FDA to review the safety of any ingredient or product and determine the safety of that product for consumers within a specified period of time, approximately 18 months.

Let’s not confuse the Safe Cosmetics Alliance – a group supporting legislation that will protect consumers and strengthen our economy – with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics – a group supporting legislation that would undermine the FDA’s efforts to ensure safety and promote public health.

The Safe Cosmetics Alliance represents the men and women working in the personal care product and services industry committed to providing the highest quality and safest products – from manufacturers to your local salon owner. We support science-based legislative and regulatory policies that enhance current consumer safeguards and strengthen FDA oversight of cosmetic and personal care products to ensure continued product safety.