We live in a political climate where cutting back on regulatory actions of all kinds is a prominent theme, and entire agencies are being led by people who have expressed disgust with that agency’s core mission. That’s why it’s a surprise to learn that not one, but two bills are on the Congressional to-do list that would ramp up the Food and Drug Administration’s powers over cosmetics and place more burdens on those who package and sell cosmetics.
Though FDA regulates cosmetics and also foods, drugs, medical devices and several other types of products, for decades cosmetics have been its area of least intrusion. Cosmetics regulation is fundamentally a matter of voluntary compliance by industry, with FDA available to take enforcement action when safety or consumer deception issues arise.
