Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Mid-year 2021: ACI making ‘critical connections’ with regulators on priority industry issues
Throughout 2021, the American Cleaning Institute has focused significantly on enhancing ‘critical’ regulatory connections with the new leadership to ensure the ACI is out in front on priority policy issues impacting the cleaning product supply chain.
Speaking at her State of the Association address at ACI's Mid-Year Meeting, Melissa Hockstad, ACI president & CEO, said:
"We know that cleaning is critical and there continues to be a high need and demand for our products and our industry.
“So far this year, ACI has met with or contacted top officials at the Environmental Protection Agency, Food & Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Consumer Product Safety Commission on a myriad of topics important to cleaning product manufacturers and chemical producers.
“ACI met virtually with EPA leaders to discuss the availability of disinfectants and their chemistries, the status of TSCA risk evaluations and to indicate ACI's strong support of the Safer Choice Program.
“Following the issuance of updated CDC guidance in April on how to clean and disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of Covid-19, ACI met with both CDC and EPA leadership to share concerns, raise important questions and offer our willingness to be a resource for the agencies as they work on other updates to cleaning and disinfecting guidelines.
“ACI has also stepped up its engagement and connection with FDA, urging them to withdraw their temporary guidance on hand sanitiser manufacturing, issued during the early stages of Covid-19 to address product shortages.
"The hand sanitiser product supply has stabilised to meet demand, and the market has now become oversaturated with hand sanitisers manufactured under FDA's temporary policy that are leading to quality and safety concerns. This has to be addressed.
“ACI met with CPSC officials, including acting chairman Robert Adler, to discuss industry's support for renewal of a voluntary safety standard for liquid laundry detergent packets and highlight ACI's Packets Up! program, which promotes safety messages to parents and caregivers.
“ACI continues its long-standing working relationship with CDC through the Healthy Schools, Healthy People program, focused on promoting handwashing and cleaning practices for the school community at-large, which will have a new website launch in the coming weeks.
“ACI is engaged in the halls of Congress to advocate on our number one policy issue, the need for a federal ingredient communication policy.
"A growing patchwork of disparate state policies is overly burdensome for our members and can lead to consumer confusion in the marketplace. That is why we are laying the groundwork so policymakers can understand the necessity for a federal policy governing the marketplace."
Among the other priorities Melissa Hockstad outlined for the year ahead, included:
* Enhancing and showcasing the state of the science on cleaning product safety and efficacy
* Driving impactful sustainability action
* Maximising business growth
* Enhancing public confidence and trust in cleaning products through continuous, effective communications and other initiatives.
Watch the State of the Association address at:
17th June 2021