Increased funding under debate for FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors
funding for the Office of Cosmetics and Colors; an increase that
may be much needed as products containing nanotechnology and
cosmeceuticals increase.
This is in contrast to a previously published article on CosmeticDesign based on a release from the CTFA that erroneously stated the House had approved the increase. The House debated the Bill to increase funding for the fiscal year 2008 by $1.69 billion on July 31st, however they adjourned without voting. The House will return in September; however it is not clear whether the bill will go through as it faces a veto threat by the president due to worries of excess spending. The debate comes at the same time as the release of the FDA's Nanotechology Task Force Report, which expressed concern over the agency's ability to access information on products containing nanotechnology that are not subject to pre-market testing. The Nanotech Task Force report suggested the FDA ask for the submission of information regarding product safety, whilst calling for greater co-operation between the FDA and manufacturers concerning product safety - a recommendation that will surely benefit from the increased funds. Furthermore, the increase in cosmeceutical products on the market has elicited concerns that the FDA's system of regulation may need attention in order to guarantee product safety. At present the term cosmeceutical is not recognised by the FDA, although they recognise that a product can be both a cosmetic and a drug, and if so must comply with the standards set down for both. Nevertheless, there are growing concerns from both consumers and industry professionals that the regulation of cosmeceutical products may need to be tightened; again developments that may be more likely with a better funded agency.
