Act Today to Help Us Achieve Another Victory in Albany

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ANOTHER VICTORY IN ALBANY:
Governor Hochul Signed Our Bill Banning the Sale of Personal Care Products Containing Mercury

In case you missed the news ([link removed]) , New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Mercury Out of Cosmetics bill (S.8291A ([link removed]) /A.8630A ([link removed]) ) banning the sale – both in-store and online – of cosmetics and other personal care products that contain mercury. Despite being a persistent neurotoxin that can cause kidney damage, psychosis, and peripheral neuropathy among other adverse effects, mercury is still used as a preservative in creams designed to lighten skin color. A global industry estimated to be worth $32.1 billion by 2024, skin lighteners and whiteners are marketed almost exclusively to people of color, based on the perpetuation of racist beauty standards, and because of inconsistencies in the labeling of ingredients, many users are unaware that they are applying this
highly toxic substance directly to their skin.

“People of color are exposed to disproportionately high levels of toxics, so removing mercury as an ingredient in personal care products is a big win for environmental justice for New York,” said Sonal Jessel, MPH, Director of Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, which co-leads the JustGreen Partnership. “We thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation. We thank the bill sponsors, Senator Samra Brouk and Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, for their leadership in getting this through the state legislature. And we thank the JustGreen Partnership and the other organizations and advocates who join us in making this happen.”

In addition to banning the distribution or sale of cosmetics and other products containing mercury, this law also calls for the establishment of penalties for those who violate it as well as clearer, more consistent labeling of product ingredients for these products.

“By banning the online and in-store sale of these products in New York State, we hope this will lead manufacturers of these products to remove mercury as an ingredient,” added Jessel.
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TAKE ACTION:
Help Us Achieve Another Albany Victory Today!

We managed to get our Cumulative Impacts bill (S.8830 ([link removed]) /A.2103D ([link removed]) ) through the state legislature (learn more here ([link removed]) ). This landmark environmental justice legislation will ensure that the cumulative impacts of all sources of pollution on a community are taken into consideration in the State’s Environmental Quality Review process when potentially polluting facilities seek permits in disadvantaged communities.

The bill is currently sitting on the Governor’s desk, awaiting her signature. Governor Hochul has until midnight to sign the legislation into law, which is why we are asking for your help.

If you live in New York State, please take a moment this afternoon to call 518-474-8390 and leave a message asking her to sign the Cumulative Impacts bill (S.8830 ([link removed]) /A.2103D ([link removed]) ), ensuring we reduce pollution from existing facilities and prevent pollution from new facilities in disadvantaged communities. With your help, we can get her to sign this legislation into law today!

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