Ensuring cosmetic and personal care product quality and safety in a self-regulated industry

Cosmetic products receive little scrutiny from government agencies, particularly in the manufacture of cosmetic raw materials and approval of finished products offered to consumers. The cosmetic industry enjoys a status of "self-regulation." Manufacturers are responsible for quality and safety of products but this is more an issue of "liability" than "responsibility" since government action can take place only after product introduction to consumers. With the exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, cosmetic manufacturers may use any raw material and market the final product without government approval. The lack of control is most evident in absence of government oversight over cosmetic raw material manufacturers and the absence of pre-market approval by the government of finished products. This paper explores whether consumers are at risk in the absence of government oversight and whether it is safe for the government to allow continuation of the cosmetic industry's self-regulatory status.