Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
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Feb 09, 2022 | referred to environmental conservation |
senate Bill S8291
Sponsored By
Samra G. Brouk
(D, WF) 55th Senate District
Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Delivered to Governor
- Signed/Vetoed by Governor
Your Voice
Actions
Co-Sponsors
Cordell Cleare
(D) 30th Senate District
Kevin Thomas
(D) 6th Senate District
S8291 (ACTIVE) - Details
- Current Committee:
- Senate Environmental Conservation
- Law Section:
- Environmental Conservation Law
- Laws Affected:
- Add §37-0118, En Con L
S8291 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S8291 SPONSOR: BROUK TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting cosmetic products and personal care products that contain mercury PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To prohibit the distribution and sale of any cosmetic, toiletries, or fragrances containing mercury in stores or through internet sales. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 of the bill amends the Environmental Conservation law by either adding a new section or new title. Section 2 of the bill presents the statement of findings that reinforce the need to ban products containing mercury as an ingredient.
S8291 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 8291 I N S E N A T E February 9, 2022 ___________ Introduced by Sen. BROUK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting cosmetic products and personal care products that contain mercury THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that mercury salts stop the production of melanin, which is a pigment that makes skin darker and is an active ingredient in skin lightening cosmet- ics and products. The Minamata Convention on mercury establishes a limit of 1 mg/kg (1ppm) for skin lightening products, but many cosmetic products have higher levels to increase lightening effect. Advertisers and marketers promote and reinforce lighter skin tones as a more desira- ble beauty standard than darker skin tones. Images of individuals with lighter and/or 'Caucasian' skin tones saturate the media as acceptable while many darker skin and/or people of color individuals are demeaned and diminished, often called derogatory names and slurs. These images reinforce to individuals that lighter skin tones are not only more beau- tiful but also acceptable. Skin lightening products prey off these images to promote and increase sales. With widespread sales, the skin lightening industry has become one of the fastest growing beauty indus- tries worldwide with an estimated increasing worth of $31.2 billion by 2024. There is growing legislation to prohibit the sale and manufacture of mercury containing products. Even with growing prohibitions, skin lightening products containing mercury is still widely available and easily obtainable, particularly through Internet sales and online promotions, often being sold through mobile apps. Skin lightening products containing mercury are available for sale through social media sites, online and brick and mortar stores. These products are manufac- tured abroad and often sold illegally and in high amounts in the United States in small shops and informal markets that target Latino, Asian, African, Indian, and Middle Eastern communities. Consumers may be unaware of the harmful effects of mercury in skin lightening products. A EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted.
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