Did you know the last Cosmetic Regulation for the United States was in 1938?

Actually to be fair, the last cosmetic regulation passed in December of 2022. MoCRA - and this is (eventually) going to bring along some excellent (much needed) regulatory rules that before 2022 just did not exsist.

But let's dive a little deeper here. Each country has its own set of definitions and requirements for cosmetic products and drugs. Some vary greatly, but for the most part America tends to be very behind in this department.

As it stands, some products that are considered cosmetics in Europe, for instance, are regulated as "drugs" in the United States. Sunscreens for example are considered a drug in America... which in MY opinion is not ideal. Nor does America "allow" all of the approved filters used in sunscreens (such as Korean brands).

So for someone like myself, a cosmetic chemist looking to formulate to a higher standard to produce a lovely feeling, not chalky & beautiful sunscreen can be very challenging since some filters are prohibited in the United States and are not available to me.

So what exactly is MoCRA?

MoCRA stands for the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022. It is the most significant expansion of the FDA's authority to regulate cosmetics since the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act was passed in 1938.

This will bring about new authorities to help ensure the safety of cosmetic products that many consumers use on a daily basis.

This will also make mandatory recalls a thing!

MoCRA is establishing new requirements for the industry including:

• Adverse event reporting

• Facility registration

• Product listing

• Safety substantiation

MoCRA is going to further require the FDA to establish regulations for Good Manufacturing practices for facilities that manufacture or process cosmetic products, fragrance allergen labeling requirements (FINALLY!), and standardized testing methods for detecting and identifying asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products.

My resources: fda.gov