H.R. 7685

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7685 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7685

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to specify that hair 
straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde or 
formaldehyde releasing substances will be considered adulterated, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 25, 2026

Ms. Brown (for herself, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Clarke of New 
York, Ms. Norton, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Lee of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. Crockett, Mrs. McIver, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Kelly of 
Illinois, Mrs. Beatty, and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to specify that hair 
straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde or 
formaldehyde releasing substances will be considered adulterated, and 
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Hair Act''.

SEC. 2. HAIR STRAIGHTENING OR SMOOTHING PRODUCTS CONTAINING 
FORMALDEHYDE CONSIDERED ADULTERATED.

(a) In General.--Section 601 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 361) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``(h) If it is a hair straightening or hair smoothing product 
(including a keratin treatment) and it contains any amount of 
formaldehyde or any formaldehyde releasing substance.''.
(b) Hair Straightening or Hair Smoothing Product Defined.--Section 
604 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 364) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Hair straightening or hair smoothing product.--The 
term `hair straightening or hair smoothing product' means a 
product intended to straighten, relax, smooth, or otherwise 
alter the texture of hair.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to cosmetics introduced or delivered for 
introduction into interstate commerce on or after the date that is 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. STUDY ON HEALTH IMPACTS OF EXPOSURE TO HAIR STRAIGHTENING OR 
SMOOTHING PRODUCTS CONTAINING FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER 
SUBSTANCES.

(a) In General.--The Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, shall conduct a study on the short-term 
and long-term health impacts of exposure to hair straightening or 
smoothing products containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing 
substances (or similar chemical agents that the Secretary determines 
pose comparable health risks), including--
(1) the impacts of such exposure on salon workers; and
(2) the association of such exposure with cancer, 
respiratory issues, and endocrine disruption.
(b) Reports to Congress.--The Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, shall submit to Congress an initial 
report and a final report that contain--
(1) the findings of the study under subsection (a); and
(2) the Commissioner's recommendations for regulatory 
action with respect to limiting the health impacts of exposure 
to hair straightening or smoothing products containing 
formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing substances (or similar 
chemical agents that the Secretary determines pose comparable 
health risks), enforcement of such actions, and additional 
research needed to assess such health impacts.
(c) Timing of Reports.--The Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, shall submit--
(1) the initial report referred to in subsection (b) not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act; 
and
(2) the final report referred to in such subsection not 
later than 2 years and 2 months after such date of enactment.
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