Letter to the Hon. Norman Sharpless, Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration - Schumer: New Studies Show Certain Ingredients in Sunscreen Might Pose Unknown Harm to Kids & Adults; Schumer Demands Expedited Review of All Additives in Sunscreen to Determine if Any Are Unsafe Before Ink on New Rules Is Dry

Letter

Acting Commissioner Sharpless:

I write today amidst your agency's rewrite on the rules for sunscreen, which are set to be completed in November of 2019. I also write on the heels of new findings that detailed concerns with active ingredients in the product and their absorption into the human bloodstream.

Specifically, as it concerns the proposed rule changes for sunscreen ingredients, I applaud your agency's work in determining that two foundational additives are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE). I further applaud your agency's work in determining that another separate two chemicals lack the standards to be classified as GRASE, and I support the FDA's intent to remove these ingredients from the manufacturing process.

However, as it concerns the remaining twelve anchor ingredients used across the industry, there is no time to waste in getting to the bottom of several questions as soon as possible, particularly on bloodstream absorption. While we do not want to discourage the use of sunscreen, armed with the best available science and data, we are compelled to act and research ways to make the product safer for the millions of children and adults who apply it daily.

The recent findings on bloodstream absorption left consumers and lawmakers with more questions than answers. We want sunscreen to be an over-the-counter product that saves lives with zero side effects. The technology of today encourages us, and suggests, that we can meet this challenge. Coupled with cooperation from industry, I believe your agency can expedite the review of the chemicals in question and deliver unclouded information on sunscreen to the public. I encourage the FDA to do all it can to achieve this directive before the new rules are finalized in November.

Under former Commissioner Gottlieb, the work on this front had been aggressive: from packaging to protection and ingredients. I again urge your agency to expedite the review of all sunscreen ingredients and invite you to call upon me at any point should legislative or other action be required to more swiftly compel the timely cooperation of industry along the way.

Sincerely,

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