Non-Hygiene Personal Care ‘Essential’ In California … For Now; COVID-19 Event Impacts; Cosmetics News In Brief

According to a 2 April update from Lezlee Westine, president and CEO of the Personal Care Products Council, the trade group’s members will produce more than 20m units of hand sanitizer to donate to hospitals, clinics, first responders and employees over the next weeks and months to help address shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The exec also highlights PCPC’s role in advocating for the US FDA’s recent guidance temporarily relaxing rules on the manufacture of hand sanitizer, which now permits non-traditional companies to produce the items in accordance with specified criteria. (Also see "Purell Battling Class Actions Over Disease Claims While World Scrambles To Increase Hand Sanitizer Supplies" - HBW Insight, 31 March, 2020.) The trade association additionally pushed for states including New York and California to characterize personal care and hygiene firms as “essential" businesses so they can maintain operations under broad shutdown policies.

Westine touches on new loan programs available to small businesses under the US’ recently enacted coronavirus relief legislation and points to a new COVID-19 section of PCPC’s website that provides additional information. (Also see "US Pandemic Relief Package Delivers OTC Industry Regulatory Wishes, Supplement Business Hopes" - HBW Insight, 27 March, 2020