Re: UsFDA

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Posted by Umesh Arora (Divya Products) on July 7, 2001 at 19:20:10:

In reply to: Re: UsFDA posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on July 7, 2001 at 13:07:34:

: Henna is not approved for use on skin by the FDA. That does not
mean
: that it is illegal for use on skin, it simply means that it is not
: approved. Henna body art is a grey area for the FDA. Until
: regulations are changed or clarified, it will remain so. It is, as
: far as I can tell, doubtful whether the FDA can or would be
inclined
: to rule on henna's safety for use on skin. Approval is a lengthy
: expensive process, and would probably harm the art more than help
it.
: (It would open the way for the major cosmetic industries to take
: over!)
:
: Presently, there is no particular problem with a person purchasing
: plain bulk henna, mixing it herself, according to her own recipe,
and
: applying it to clients and friends. There is no particular problem
: with importing plain 100% pure henna, as long as the package is
marked
: "henna for hair". Henna is FDA approved for use on hair.
:
: The legal issues come up when there is a pre-made paste
manufactured
: for purchase to be used in body art, and especially when there are
: unlisted (or improperly listed) colorants added to the paste.
:
: It is ILLEGAL to add unlisted, or improperly listed colorants to a
: manufactured henna paste for skin and sell sell it. It is
absolutely
: illegal to add PPD to henna paste to be applied to skin. These
: products will be siezed at customs (if they're paying attention.)
:
: Henna paste with the vague labeling "pigments" or "colorants"
will
: be siezed. That is insufficient. Very few cosmetic colorants are
: approved for use on skin. FDA requires that labeling be absolutely
: specific, so that people do not inadvertantly use a product that
has
: something they are allergic to, and that manufacturers are held to
a
: standard of reliability and accountability.
:
: Increasingly, tubes of henna paste with colorants will be siezed at
: customs. Some will get through, of course, because customs really
has
: far more dangerous things to sort through, like illegal drugs,
: endangered species, tainted food products, infested agricultural
: products, ... and time and budget has its limits. But, if I were
: running a US henna business that depended on import and export, I
: would simply chuck colored henna out because the hassle of
shipments
: getting siezed would be too much of a pain.
:
: Just because people think they want colored henna products doesn't
: mean they have to have them. People want lots of things that may
be
: bad for them, or are sort of useless to begin with. People can be
: educated to appreciate the beauty of natural henna!
:
: IMHO, the best thing for henna is to get the information into
people's
: hands of how to get beautiful dark stains with natural harmless
: ingredients and techniques, just mixing their own pastes ... and
: concentrate on getting the freshest, finest quality pure henna in
: their hands to work with!

Dear catherine, As per My hope i received your prompt response.
Thanks
Regards
UMESH ARORA

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: : Henna is not approved for use on skin by the FDA. That does not : mean : : that it is illegal for use on skin, it simply means that it is not : : approved. Henna body art is a grey area for the FDA. Until : : regulations are changed or clarified, it will remain so. It is, as : : far as I can tell, doubtful whether the FDA can or would be : inclined : : to rule on henna's safety for use on skin. Approval is a lengthy : : expensive process, and would probably harm the art more than help : it. : : (It would open the way for the major cosmetic industries to take : : over!) : : : : Presently, there is no particular problem with a person purchasing : : plain bulk henna, mixing it herself, according to her own recipe, : and : : applying it to clients and friends. There is no particular problem : : with importing plain 100% pure henna, as long as the package is : marked : : "henna for hair". Henna is FDA approved for use on hair. : : : : The legal issues come up when there is a pre-made paste : manufactured : : for purchase to be used in body art, and especially when there are : : unlisted (or improperly listed) colorants added to the paste. : : : : It is ILLEGAL to add unlisted, or improperly listed colorants to a : : manufactured henna paste for skin and sell sell it. It is : absolutely : : illegal to add PPD to henna paste to be applied to skin. These : : products will be siezed at customs (if they're paying attention.) : : : : Henna paste with the vague labeling "pigments" or "colorants" : will : : be siezed. That is insufficient. Very few cosmetic colorants are : : approved for use on skin. FDA requires that labeling be absolutely : : specific, so that people do not inadvertantly use a product that : has : : something they are allergic to, and that manufacturers are held to : a : : standard of reliability and accountability. : : : : Increasingly, tubes of henna paste with colorants will be siezed at : : customs. Some will get through, of course, because customs really : has : : far more dangerous things to sort through, like illegal drugs, : : endangered species, tainted food products, infested agricultural : : products, ... and time and budget has its limits. But, if I were : : running a US henna business that depended on import and export, I : : would simply chuck colored henna out because the hassle of : shipments : : getting siezed would be too much of a pain. : : : : Just because people think they want colored henna products doesn't : : mean they have to have them. People want lots of things that may : be : : bad for them, or are sort of useless to begin with. People can be : : educated to appreciate the beauty of natural henna! : : : : IMHO, the best thing for henna is to get the information into : people's : : hands of how to get beautiful dark stains with natural harmless : : ingredients and techniques, just mixing their own pastes ... and : : concentrate on getting the freshest, finest quality pure henna in : : their hands to work with! : : : Dear catherine, As per My hope i received your prompt response. : Thanks : Regards : UMESH ARORA
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