(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today released the below statement following the introduction of H.R.3686, the SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing the regulatory process for sunscreen active ingredients in the United States. The bill recognizes the critical role sunscreens play in skin cancer prevention and aims to expand the range of safe, effective options available to U.S. consumers by streamlining the path for UV filters.
"This is a smart, targeted solution that will open the door to sun protection products that have long been used safely and effectively around the world, giving Americans even greater options to protect themselves against skin cancer. CHPA commends the co-chairs of the Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus—Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02)—for their leadership in advancing legislation that takes an important step in helping ensure Americans have access to the best sun protection available."
Background:
Despite sunscreen’s well-documented role in reducing the risk of skin cancer, the most diagnosed form of cancer in the U.S., no new sunscreen filters have been approved for use since 1999. While the sunscreens currently available in the U.S. contain ingredients that are safe, effective, and backed by decades of science and real-world evidence, more can be done to ensure Americans have access to the latest innovations.
Consumers in Europe and Asia, particularly countries like South Korea, already benefit from a broader array of filters. The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act would address this gap by amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act to create and improve the process for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review new sunscreen ingredients, as well as improvements for additional information requested by FDA on existing sunscreen ingredients. This bipartisan legislation was introduced on June 3 by the co-chairs of the Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus: Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02).
