Henna has been used to adorn and bless women for 9000 years and in over 60 countries. It has been used by Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists as part of their social and religious customs. It is unnecessary and unfortunate that the FDA is considering banning this natural plant powder crucial to the religious and folk life of countless citizens of the United States.

The FDA has declared 100% pure henna (Lawsonia Inermis) to have such a high level of safety that it is exempted from certification for use on hair and scalp. The FDA states that certification of this color additive for the prescribed use is unnecessary for the protection of the public health and therefore batches thereof are exempt from the certification requirements of section 721(c) of the act.

See:
TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS PART 73--LISTING OF COLOR ADDITIVES EXEMPT FROM CERTIFICATION

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?
TITLE=21&PART=73&SECTION=2190&YEAR=2000TYPE=TEXT
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-818.html
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/cf732190.html
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-hdb4.html

However, the FDA has recently reversed itself, banning the import of henna (Lawsonia Inermis), in response to reports of contact dermatitis associated with temporary tattoos. These recent "black henna" injuries are NOT caused by henna (Lawsonia Inermis). They are caused by para-phenylenediamine used in place of henna, or mixed into henna, and applied directly to skin to create fast, black, temporary tattoos. These are marketed as "black henna", and this misnomer has created confusion for the consumers and medical profession trying to diagnose the injuries. Henna does NOT stain skin black! Para-phenylenediamine is known to cause injuries in many people even when used as permitted in hair dye.

When para-phenylenediamine is used to make notorious "Black Henna" temporary tattoos, it becomes a serious health concern, because the application may last for hours, rather than minutes, as is recommended for hair dye. Medical tests have proven that para-phenylenediamine is the source of the injuries, NOT henna (Lawsonia Inermis).

To view medical papers demonstrating that para-phenylenediamine, NOT HENNA, is the cause of the injuries:
"Contact dermatitus after temporary henna tattoos: an increasing phenomenon" by Stephan Lautenschlager, published in Swiss Medical Weekly, 2001; 131: 199 - 202
http://www.smw.ch/pdf200x/2001/2001-13/2001-13-351.PDF

"Allergic reactions to decorative skin paintings", Nikkels AF, Henry F, Pierard GE.
Department of Dermatopathology, University Medical Center of Liege, Belgium

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11495521&dopt=Abstract
Not one medical test has shown 100% pure henna (Lawsonia Inermis) to be the cause of any of the "temporary tattoo" injuries. Patch tests in these cases have shown that adulterants such as para-phenylenediamine to have caused ALL injuries.

Dermatologists agree that pure henna, even when applied to skin for body art has an extremely low incidence of sensitization, and reactions are very minor at worst. and conclude that the injuries are NOT being caused by henna!