FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Sansoni, 202-662-2517 / 202-680-9327 or bsansoni@cleaning101.com

Sen. Franken Household Product Labeling Bill: Information for Consumers Already on the Way

• Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative to take effect in Jan. 2010
• Industry Will Provide More Information Than Ever Before on Product Ingredients
• SDA New Consumer Fact Sheet on Cleaning Product Ingredients Available at www.cleaning101.com/cleaning

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 29, 2009 – While legislation has been introduced in Congress to mandate labeling schemes for a variety of consumer products, a major initiative is already being implemented that will provide consumers with more information than ever before on products and their ingredients.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) have both introduced bills, dubbed “The Household Product Labeling Act,” aimed at household cleaning products and similar items found in the retail sector.

“The cleaning products industry is already well on the way to providing this information to consumers through the Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative, and we don’t believe legislation is needed,” said Douglas Troutman, Director of Government Affairs at The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA - www.cleaning101.com).

The Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative is a voluntary program – announced in 2008 by SDA and other industry associations representing cleaning and other consumer products – that will take effect in January 2010.

“The Initiative is modeled on labeling systems already in place for food, drugs and cosmetics, and will allow manufacturers to provide ingredient information to consumers in a uniform, meaningful and easy-to-understand way,” added Troutman.

Consumer Fact Sheet on Ingredients Now Available

SDA, which represents the U.S. cleaning products industry, has unveiled a new consumer fact sheet which describes what changes consumers can expect in how product information is displayed.

The SDA Product Fact Sheet, which is available at www.cleaning101.com/cleaning, provides details on the new industry initiative, information on reading product labels correctly, what changes consumers can expect on product labeling and communications, and important reminders about using and disposing of products safely.

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The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com), the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry®, represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. SDA members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. SDA and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.