CTFA stands by nanoparticles

The US Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) has filed comments with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the science and regulation of nanoparticles in personal care products. The comments address issues raised in a petition filed with the FDA earlier this year, relating in particular to sunscreen products.

“Nanoparticles in sunscreens are very small particles that have been reviewed and approved by FDA. They have been used safely and effectively by consumers for decades to protect from harmful UV rays and to prevent skin cancer,” said John Bailey, executive vp for science at the CTFA and a former FDA official. “These ingredients have properties that provide a greater degree of protection from the sun, are transparent when applied and are aesthetically pleasing, and therefore encourage greater consumer acceptance.”

The CTFA says the nanoparticles in sunscreens - titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - are established, efficacious sunscreen filters that have been on the market for decades.

“Nanoparticle ingredients in personal care products sit on top of the skin, are used in small amounts and are not absorbed into the body. The general scientific consensus is that there is no risk to human health. But we don’t rest on this knowledge alone,” Bailey said. “We take the science of safety very seriously, and that is why we review the latest and most comprehensive scientific research, including nanotech research, before bringing a product to market.”