NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A11360
SPONSOR: Rules (Lee) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the labeling of
baby cosmetic products
PURPOSE:
This bill requires manufacturers to label ingredients on the package of
infant cosmetic products.
SUMMARY:
Section one amends the general business law by adding a new section 399-
aaaaaaa:
Subdivision 1- provides definitions for "infant cosmetic product",
"manufacturer", "carcinogen", "ingredient", and "intentionally added
ingredient."
Subdivision 2- requires the manufacturer of any infant cosmetic product
to disclose ingredients in the order of predominance.
Subdivision 3- requires the manufacturer of any infant cosmetic product
to disclose if it contains a carcinogen and provides a conspicuous
label.
Subdivision 4- establishes Manufacturers are responsible for disclosure
requirements.
Subdivision 5- establishes enforcement with the attorney general and set
civil penalties.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York infants and children continue to face serious exposure to toxic
chemicals found in lotions and other cosmetic products. Infants and
children are vulnerable to chemical exposure due to their developing
immune systems, thinner skin barriers, and daily use of lotions. Requir-
ing ingredient disclosures allows consumers to make informed decisions
about products that may contain substances linked to health or environ-
mental concerns.
The most commonly used ingredients in baby lotion are preservatives,
dimethicone, fragrance, and carbomer which create concerns related to
health and environmental safety. Preservatives are often used in infant
cosmetic products to increase shelf-life, but they can create a product
called 1,4- dioxane which is linked to several types of cancer or other
adverse health effects. Dimethicone and carbomers are commonly used
ingredients that do not break down easily and pose environmental
concerns. Fragrances which are often not disclosed by companies due to
trade secrets and are often linked to cancer, allergies, and environ-
mental problems. This bill would establish necessary disclosure require-
ments for infant cosmetic products, strengthen consumer protection, and
promote greater transparency by manufacturers.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after it
shall have become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
11360
IN ASSEMBLY
May 13, 2026
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Lee) -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the labeling of
baby cosmetic products
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 399-aaaaaaa to read as follows:
3 § 399-aaaaaaa. Baby cosmetic product. 1. For purposes of this section:
4 (a) "Carcinogen" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined
5 in section three hundred ninety-one-x of this article.
6 (b) "Ingredient" shall mean an intentionally added substance present
7 in an infant cosmetic product.
8 (c) "Infant cosmetic product" means any lotion, cream, moisturizer,
9 ointment, oil, or similar product marketed for use on infants or young
10 children.
11 (d) "Intentionally added ingredient" shall mean any element or
12 compound that a manufacturer has intentionally added to an infant
13 cosmetic product, and which has a functional or technical effect in the
14 finished product, including, but not limited to, the components of
15 intentionally added fragrance, flavoring and colorants, and the inten-
16 tional breakdown products of an added element or compound that also has
17 a functional or technical effect on the finished product.
18 (e) "Manufacturer" shall mean any person, firm, corporation, or asso-
19 ciation engaged in the manufacturing, processing, or packing infant
20 cosmetic products for sale or distribution in this state.
21 2. Any infant cosmetic product offered for sale in the state of New
22 York that contains any ingredients shall provide a clear and conspicuous
23 list of such ingredients which shall be listed in order of predominance.
24 Such label shall be displayed on the packaging or affixed thereto and
25 shall be printed in type no less than size twelve-point font.
26 3. Any infant cosmetic product offered for sale in the state of New
27 York that contains a carcinogen shall provide a clear and conspicuous
28 warning label displayed on the packaging or product itself, which shall
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15875-01-6
A. 11360 2
1 be printed in type no less than size twelve-point font, that notifies
2 the consumer at the time of the sale that such infant cosmetic product
3 contains such chemicals. The warning label shall state "This product
4 contains a chemical known to cause cancer".
5 4. Manufacturers shall be responsible for ensuring that all infant
6 cosmetic products display the warning label as required by subdivisions
7 two and three of this section.
8 5. Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, an application
9 may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the
10 state of New York to a court or justice having jurisdiction by a special
11 proceeding to issue an injunction, and upon notice to the defendant of
12 not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of such
13 violation; and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or
14 justice that the defendant has, in fact, violated this section, an
15 injunction may be issued by such court or justice, enjoining and
16 restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any
17 person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. Whenever the court
18 shall determine that a violation of this section has occurred, the court
19 may impose a civil penalty up to two hundred fifty dollars per violation
20 for the first offense and up to five hundred dollars per violation for
21 each subsequent offense. In connection with any such proposed applica-
22 tion, the attorney general is authorized to take proof and make a deter-
23 mination of the relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with
24 the civil practice law and rules.
25 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
26 it shall have become a law.
