CTFA opposes California tax on manufacturers. (Regulations).

* The California legislature plans to impose a new tax on manufacturers of paint and consumer products. Revenues, drafted as part of a "polluter pays" package, would help bridge a $30-40 billion state budget gap. The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) is lobbying to defeat this proposal. CTFA president Ed Kavanaugh insisted that, "It is unfair for the legislature to shift the cost of funding the California Air Resources Board's extensive regulatory programs to an industry that has already spent millions of dollars to reformulate its products to meet California's stringent volatile organic compound standards."

The proposal was divided by party lines with Democrats supporting the measure and Republicans opposing it.

In other news, the CTFA filed comments with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Jan. 31 supporting a Draft Guidance on labeling for cosmetic products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Published in December, it responded to a CTFA petition in June 2000 requesting a regulation for "Sun Alert" labeling for AHA products intended to function as an exfoliant. This would alert consumers to the possibility of increased sun sensitivity during AHA product use, and a week after discontinued use.

The FDA Draft Guidance suggests that the alert be placed on all AHA products regardless of formulation and intended use, according to the CTFA. However, the CTFA urged the FDA to limit the Guidance to products intended to be used as an exfoliant and products used on areas of the body normally susceptible to sunburn. The CTFA requested the exemption to products with less than 1% AHA content at pH 3.5 or more, and products demonstrating no increased sun sensitivity or susceptibility to sunburn. The CTFA also asked the FDA to modify the label statement suggested by the Draft Guidance. A final Guidance will be published later this year.

More info: CTFA, [phone]: Fax: [phone]; Website: www. ctfa.org.