ACI Will Be “Robustly Engaged” in Gaining Passage of Federal Ingredient Communication Policy

• “We’re in this for the long haul,” says CEO Melissa Hockstad
• Also highlighted in “State of the Association” address: maximizing business growth, enhancing public confidence, trust in cleaning products

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Cleaning Institute “needs to be in the driver’s seat” to ensure eventual passage of a federal policy governing cleaning product ingredient communication, said Melissa Hockstad, ACI President & CEO, in her annual State of the Association address.

Speaking at the 2021 ACI Virtual Summit, Hockstad said ACI “will be more robustly engaged than ever in the halls of Congress to advocate on our number one policy issue.”

“Different states enacting different regulatory regimes disrupts the marketplace, for consumers, customers and manufacturers alike. That’s why a federal ingredient communication policy is paramount. This won’t be an easy lift, but we are in this for the long haul.”

Hockstad added that ACI and the cleaning product supply chain looks forward to working with the Biden Administration and the new Congress as “ACI has a history of working in a bipartisan manner with lawmakers and regulators at all levels of government.”

Among the other priorities Hockstad outlined for the year ahead:

• Enhancing and showcasing the state of the science on cleaning product safety and efficacy
• Driving impactful sustainability action
• Maximizing business growth
• Enhancing public confidence and trust in cleaning products through continuous, effective communications and outreach initiatives

“Ever since the pandemic started, cleaning products and their chemistries proved beyond the shadow of a doubt how essential they are to public health,” said Hockstad. “ACI was front-and-center for media and stakeholder audiences during the past year to provide useful, science-based information on cleaning, hygiene, disinfecting and fabric care products.

“In this new year, we need to build upon that momentum through news media and social media outreach. We will provide clarity and direction around benefits of cleaning products; reinforce and solidify the importance of smart, targeted hygiene to maintain healthy environments; and maintain and strengthen public confidence and trust in industry and the products they produce.”

ACI will continue its multi-year, multi-million-dollar research program to produce safety and efficacy data on topical antiseptic product ingredients, as required by the Food and Drug Administration.

Similarly, ACI will be proactively engaging with the Environmental Protection Agency on critical issues ensuring availability of disinfectants and their chemistries as well as ongoing implementation of the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act.

ACI will also keep working to have an impact in the federal and state arenas on the regulation of the manufacturing by-product known as 1,4-dioxane.

“In New York, we are consistently working to ensure that the implementation of a state law – which limits the amount of 1,4-dioxane in cleaning and detergent products to extraordinarily trace levels – will not lead to clearing retail shelves of safe and effective products that are used and trusted by consumers on a daily basis.”

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.