CSPA Elects Officers and Directors for 2010

“Right-to-know” Bill Fails in California, Consumer Products Group Continues to Stress Balancing Transparency and IP Protections

August 12th, 2010

Washington, DC (August 12, 2010) – The Consumer Right to Know Act (Senate Bill 928) introduced in California by Senator Joe Simitian will not become law this year as it was held in committee today, according to the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA).

“Our association could not support this bill because it did not strike the appropriate balance between transparency about the ingredients in our products and the need to protect our intellectual property,” said CSPA President Chris Cathcart. “We are pleased to see that we will be able to continue our discussions with Senator Simitian and the other stakeholders on this important issue and hope to reach agreement in 2011.”

The bill would have required companies to disclose proprietary product information.

CSPA proposes that a legislative or regulatory approach to “right-to-know” could build upon a voluntary consumer product ingredient communication initiative that became effective the first of this year. In fact, the Association has for the past year been working with major non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to expand the program in an effort to reach agreement on and support such reasonable legislation in California and at the federal level. Despite that CSPA member companies compromised on many issues through its work with the NGOs and Senator Simitian, the stakeholders were unable to reach agreement on the bill.

“What our industry put on the table through our work with Senator Simitian and the NGOs would have been the most far-reaching right-to-know mandate required of any industry in the world. We need to work together so that we do not miss another opportunity in 2011,” Cathcart concluded.

Jobs-threatening “right-to-know” bill dies in California

August 17th, 2010

At no other time in my life have I lived in a more uncertain economic environment. Every day, the headlines and the airwaves reflect the frustrated mood of the American people as the unemployment numbers continue to rise due to the eroding business climate that is making it difficult, if not impossible, for companies to keep their doors open and Americans employed.

Last week in the California Assembly, the Consumer Right to Know Act (Senate Bill 928), was held in the Appropriations Committee, effectively killing it for the year. The bill would have resulted in an even worse business climate as it would have required companies to disclose intellectual property, such as product formulations. While our organization supports sharing more information about the ingredients in our products, sharing information is very different than disclosing a company’s intellectual property.

The bill in California would have been a virtual guarantee that intellectual property would be available to foreign and domestic competitors. Out the window would go a company’s incentive to invest the millions they do in research and development to help bring safe and innovative products to the marketplace. And, innovation is the cornerstone for jobs creation and retention in the United States.

The California bill is effectively dead for the year. So, why am I writing about it? Well, sharing with consumers more information about the ingredients in our products is something we support and is an issue that is not going away. In fact, two related bills were introduced in Congress this year. Neither bill is likely to move this year, but like the California bill the federal proposals fail to strike the appropriate balance between transparency and the critical need to protect proprietary product information.

We propose that a legislative or regulatory approach to “right-to-know” could build upon our industry’s voluntary consumer product ingredient communication initiative that became effective the first of this year. In fact, in 2009 we had been working with large non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to expand the program in an effort to reach agreement on and support such reasonable legislation in California and at the federal level. Despite that our member companies compromised on many issues through our work with the NGOs in California, the stakeholders were unable to reach agreement on a bill.

What our industry put on the table, however, would have been one of the most far-reaching right-to-know mandates required of any industry in the world. We are committed to sharing more information about the ingredients in our products and reaching agreement on this issue, but we will continue to draw the line if our proprietary information is at risk. We also think that the American people would agree with us that companies need the incentive to innovate and retain and help create jobs in the United States. Our ultimate goal is finding that balance of protecting intellectual property and being transparent.

We look forward to our ongoing work on this important issue and hope we do not miss another opportunity in 2011.

Chris Cathcart, CSPA President

CSPA Elects Officers and Directors for 2010

WASHINGTON, DC (December 10, 2009) Representatives of the member companies of the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) elected 2010 Officers and Directors during the business session of its 96^th Annual Meeting this week in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

“We are privileged to have this dedicated group of officers and directors to guide our industry through these extremely challenging times,” said Chris Cathcart, CSPA President. “Their expertise and deep knowledge of the issues that confront our industry provide the assurance of leadership we can count on to advance the Association’s goals at the national, state and local levels in the coming year.”

Members of the 2010 Board of Directors are:

Chairman of the Board – Adam Selisker, vice president, technology, CRC Industries, Inc.; First Vice-Chairman of the Board – John Abplanalp, president and chief executive officer, Precision;

Second Vice-Chairman of the Board – Richard Theiler, senior vice president research and development, Dial – A Henkel Company; Treasurer – William Auriemma, president and chief executive officer, Diversified CPC International, Inc.; Chris Cathcart, CSPA president; and Immediate Past Chair – Frank Jusich, president, Professional Products Group, Central Life Sciences. The Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association representative is J. Brian Prendergast, Senior Vice President of the Consumer Division of Recochem Inc.

Members elected to serve terms expiring in December 2010 are: Lisa Alexander, vice president, counsel to the Americas and corporate secretary, Firmenich Incorporated; Joseph Franckowiak, vice president, sales and marketing, household chemical packaging, Berry Plastics Corporation; Tom Mazurek, senior vice president, technical services, Beauty Avenue/Limited Brands; William Metzger, vice president, regulatory and government affairs, United Industries Corporation; Jeff Pinkham, vice president, global regulatory affairs, The Scotts Company; Ron E. Shuck, vice president of research and development, Diversified Brands Division, The Sherwin-Williams Company; Patricia Verduin, vice president-global research and development, Colgate-Palmolive Company; and Stanley R. Weller, chief technical officer, research and development, ZEP Inc.

Members elected to serve terms expiring in December 2011 are: Greg Adamson, global vice president, regulatory affairs and product safety, Givaudan Fragrances Corporation; Michael L. Freeman, division president of the Americas, WD-40 Company; Alan Howarth, vice president-custom packaging, Chase Products Company; Carleen Kreider, executive vice president and general manager-NA, SeaquistPerfect Dispensing; Alexander Lacik, general manager marketing US household, Reckitt Benckiser; Simon D. Medley, group vice president, care chemicals and formulators-NA, BASF Corporation; Paul Siracusa, vice president, global research and development, Church & Dwight Co., Inc.; and Dick Straathof, vice president, research and development, global home care and P&G professional, The Procter & Gamble Company.

Members elected to serve terms expiring in December 2012 are: David Beaham, president, Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Company; Michael W. Feldser, president, metal food and household products – America, Ball Corporation; Frank Pacholec, vice president, research and development, Stepan Company; Reza Rahaman, vice president, global stewardship, The Clorox Company; Bob Scharf, president and chief executive officer, Sergeant’s Pet Care Products, Inc.; Kelly Semrau, vice president, global public affairs and communication, S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.; and James A. Westerhaus, vice president, government relations, Ecolab Inc.

Division Executive Board Chairs for 2010 are: Aerosol Products Division – John Ferring, IV, president, Plaze, Inc.; Air Care Division – Steve Tanner, president, Arylessence, Inc.; Antimicrobial Products Division – Joseph Robinson, vice president, regulatory services, Lonza, Inc.; Cleaning Products Division – Eric J. Hansen, director, chemical development, Bissell Home Care Inc.; Industrial and Automotive Specialty Chemicals Division – Ed Piszynski, vice president, laboratory services, Bridgeview Aerosol LLC; Pest Management Products Division – Nasser Assaf, regulatory manager, Valent BioSciences Corporation; Polishes and Floor Maintenance Division, Stuart Hughes, vice president, technical service, Hillyard Industries, Inc.

About CSPA

The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) is the premier trade association representing the interests of some 240 companies engaged in the manufacture, formulation, distribution and sale of $80 billion annually in the U.S. of hundreds of familiar consumer products that help household, institutional and industrial customers create cleaner and healthier environments. Our products include disinfectants that kill germs in homes, hospitals and restaurants; candles, fragrances and air fresheners that eliminate odors; pest management products for home, garden and pets; cleaning products for use throughout the home; products used to protect and improve the performance and appearance of automobiles; and a host of other products used every day. Through its product stewardship program Product Care^®, scientific and business-to-business endeavors, CSPA provides its members a platform to effectively address issues regarding the health, safety, sustainability and environmental impacts of their products. For more information, please visit www.cspa.org.

	Air Care Facts www.aboutaircare.com
	Germs and Antimicrobials www.aboutgerms.com
	Cleaning ProductsThemes www.aboutcleaningproducts.com
	Pesticides www.aboutbugs.com
	Industry and Automotive Products Link
	Polishes and Floor Maintenance Link
	Aerosol Products www.aboutaerosols.com
	Product Stewardship www.productcare.com

	Air Care Facts www.aboutaircare.com
	Germs and Antimicrobials www.aboutgerms.com
	Cleaning ProductsThemes www.aboutcleaningproducts.com
	Pesticides www.aboutbugs.com
	Industry and Automotive Products Link
	Polishes and Floor Maintenance Link
	Aerosol Products www.aboutaerosols.com
	Product Stewardship www.productcare.com

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