Full agreement with Ms. Elston and Ms. Jones. I doubt that the proponents of the bill are aware that on the list of banned ingredients are totally NATURAL and SAFE phytochemicals that have been used for millenium to bring health and wellbeing to body, mind and spirit. A literal interpretation of this bill will ban, for example, pure, natural Rose Oil, Sweet Fennel Essential Oil, Holy Basil... many of the essential oils used not only in skincare, but in many holistic healing modalities. I sympathize with Representative Primavera. Sometimes deadly diseases strike (it would appear) at random, with no traceable cause. But in attempting to provide safer cosmetics and toiletries, this bill will effectively ban ALL cosmetics and toiletries. To me, it appears that Colorado is going to "throw out the baby with the bathwater." Based on the bill as I understand it, the state doesn't even intend to enforce it, but rather leave it to the citizenry to enforce it. NO small manufacturer can run the risk of a lawsuit because she offered her clients a chance to treat their bodies to pure, natural healing substances. I have already told our Colorado clients that if this bill passes we will no longer be able to ship their orders. We can not take the fiscal risk of shipping pure, natural organic essential oils that contain the banned chemicals, on the level of parts per million. YES they contain these phytochemicals, because the Creator designed them that way. I see that some organic product suppliers are jumping on the bandwagon to support this bill. However, upon reviewing said suppliers product lists, they too will be breaking the law if they sell their products in Colorado. Rather than "safe" cosmetics, what the women of CO will end up with is "NO" cosmetics. Where is the science behind each named ingredient on the list? I've searched but not found any.

I am in complete support of natural, organic skin care products that are safe. This bill however has nothing to do with that but blindly bans an outrageous number of cosmetic ingredients including organic olive oil. I doubt supporters of this bill have even read the list of proposed banned ingredients. My blogpost http://tinyurl.com/yhe6sud explains some of the ingredients that would be banned by this bill. Please understand this. Cindy Jones

While this bill may be well intended, it is fraught with problems. Here is my letter to the House Judiciary Committee who will hold a public meeting on Monday. February 26, 2010 Dear Colorado Legislator: I wish to express my opposing position regarding the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, House Bill 10-1248. I am the owner of a small company, incorporated in the state of Washington since 1990. I sell essential oils and manufacture spa and personal care products. I have customers in many states outside Washington, including Colorado. Our company believes in safe products and we diligently work to insure that we meet stringent standards in that regard. I applaud the state of Colorado in its effort to insure safe personal care products for residents of your state. I do, however, feel that HB-1248 is not the best means of accomplishing that goal and feel it will unreasonably burden Colorado businesses and those outside Colorado doing business in the state. In the current economic recession, it could also impact commerce and jobs in Colorado. However, my primary concerns lie within the bill itself. HB 10-1248 fails to consider pending federal legislation, the FDA Globalization Act of 2009, which will completely overhaul cosmetic laws if passed. This bill is a preemptory state statute that creates a costly and confusing situation. HB 10-1248 is vague and confusing; naming unspecified “authoritative bodies” that will be in charge of defining a list of carcinogens and reproductive toxins. This is ill-defined, possibly leading to abuse by consumer advocacy groups and anecdotal opinion instead of qualification by reliable science. I see this as a “zero tolerance” bill that is perhaps, while well intended, an overzealous rush headlong overstating the immediate necessity. HB 10-2348 places the burden on consumers by civil action. If this is a matter of public safety, why does not the state accept the responsibility for enforcement as it should? In a fragile economic environment, HB 10-1248 is a threat that will close many small companies’ doors because of outrageous fines for noncompliance. It is unnecessary and does not serve consumer safety nor promote healthy business in Colorado. Thank you for your consideration. Marcia Elston, President You can see my blogpost at http://tinyurl.com/y9j9q2b which includes reports and concerns from other small personal care products companies and consultants. Please inform yourselves. This is not a good bill.

Bravo! It's scary when the average woman puts over 500 synthetic chemicals onto her body every day in her beauty/grooming products. Even scarier when it's in our kid's products.

I am soo happy to hear that Primavera is taking the initiative to get this Act passed, it is much needed! I hope that it gets the necessary support that it needs to pass and that we can buy our personal care products without worrying about our health. I have also written about this issue on my blog at www.home-green.net and you can see these articles on http://home-green.net/?cat=38.