Beautycounter’s Gregg Renfrew Testifies in Landmark House Cosmetic Reform Hearing

Beautycounter Founder and CEO Gregg Renfrew testifies as an expert witness in a congressional hearing on cosmetic reform.

Renfrew has tirelessly advocated for cosmetic reform in both Washington, D.C. and state capitols since Beautycounter launched in early 2013.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on cosmetic reform, Wednesday, December 4, 2019 entitled, “Building Consumer Confidence by Empowering FDA to Improve Cosmetic Safety.” This was a House subcommittee hearing led by Chairwoman Anna Eshoo and Ranking Member Michael Burgess to examine the important role the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) must play to protect consumers in the area of personal-care product safety.

“Today’s hearing marks a monumental day for consumers,” said Renfrew. “When I launched Beautycounter, my goal was to get safer products into the hands of everyone. After nearly seven years of advocating for better beauty laws in both Washington, D.C. and state capitols, Beautycounter is proud to share why cosmetic safety reform is so important for today’s consumer, the beauty industry, and future generations.”

This marks only the second time in the past 40 years that the House has held a hearing focused on personal-care product safety, and it represents bipartisan commitment to undertake cosmetic reform.

“It’s been over 80 years since Congress has passed comprehensive legislation that would protect consumers from harmful ingredients in personal-care and beauty products,” said Renfrew. “As the CEO of a manufacturer of products, I believe it’s our duty to use the safest ingredients possible. In today’s underregulated beauty market, however, doing so is extremely challenging. We applaud the leadership of Chairman Pallone, Ranking Member Walden and Representative Shimkus in taking steps to allow the FDA to review ingredients for safety before they make their way into beauty products.”

Despite rapid growth, the $90 billion beauty industry in the United States is largely unregulated, with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938 being the most recent major legislation governing the industry. Beautycounter supports legislation that allows the FDA to screen the ingredients of personal-care products for safety, require greater transparency and have the ability to recall products that are highly dangerous to consumers.