Maryland Passes Bill Prohibiting the Use of 24 Ingredients in Cosmetics

by Raissa Havens

Maryland became the second state to prohibit harmful ingredients in cosmetic products with the passage of House Bill 643 (HB0643) on May 30, 2021. Last year, California approved Assembly Bill 2762 banning certain cosmetic ingredients. Both bills take effect Jan. 1, 2025. 

Except under specified circumstances, HB0643 bans the manufacturing and sale of cosmetic products that contain any of the following toxic chemicals:

• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
• Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
• Formaldehyde
• Paraformaldehyde
• Methylene glycol
• Quaternium-15
• Mercury
• Isobutylparaben
• Isopropylparaben
• m-Phenylenediamine and its salts
• o-Phenylenediamine and its salts
• 13 types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their salts, including PFOS and PFOA

Maryland’s House Bill 643 (HB0643) was introduced on Jan. 22, 2021. Once passed by both the House and Senate, the bill was enacted on May 30, 2021, under Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution Chapter 490. 

This list will be available in the ChemADVISOR^® Regulatory Database for the October release.

Recommended action items:

• Review your company’s cosmetic products that are being sold in Maryland and determine if your products contain ingredients that are present in this bill.
• Seek alternative ingredient(s) for those that do not comply with the new restrictions.

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONVEY LEGAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

References:

Maryland House Bill 643 
Maryland General Assembly