The American Cleaning Institute (ACI), Consumer Brands Association (Consumer Brands), and Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) submitted comments to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) regarding waiver guidance pertaining to a law that limits the amount of 1,4-dioxane that can be present in household cleansing products sold or offered for sale in New York State.
In the comments, the associations specifically asked NYSDEC to consider the COVID-19 pandemic in the waiver process timeline in order to avoid significant disruptions in the availability of cleaning products in New York as consumers fight this public health crisis.
The comments also asked NYSDEC to include a common sense sell-through provision to ensure that consumer access is not disrupted as manufacturers phase in new products.
“We appreciate the opportunity to submit comments to NYSDEC regarding the implementation of the 1,4-dioxane statute and we look forward to continued engagement with the Agency,” representatives from ACI, Consumer Brands, and HCPA. “We believe that including these items, especially making sure the public continues to have access to cleaning products during the pandemic, are critical to implementing a productive law.”
1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of the manufacturing process for cleaning products and detergents and is not an intentionally added ingredient. Companies continue to work diligently to adjust manufacturing processes to remove the trace amounts that have been found in these products.
The comments submitted to NYSDEC can be found in full here.
The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.
About Consumer Brands (https://consumerbrandsassociation.org)
The Consumer Brands Association champions the industry whose products Americans depend on every day, representing nearly 2,000 iconic brands. From household and personal care to food and beverage products, the consumer packaged goods industry plays a vital role in powering the U.S. economy, contributing $2 trillion to U.S. GDP and supporting more than 20 million American jobs.
About HCPA (www.thehcpa.org)
The Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) is the premier trade association representing companies that manufacture and sell $180 billion annually of trusted and familiar products used for cleaning, protecting, maintaining, and disinfecting homes and commercial environments. HCPA member companies employ 200,000 people in the U.S. whose work helps consumers and workers to create cleaner, healthier, and more productive lives.