Gretchen Schaefer
202.833.7311
CSPA Launches Product Ingredient Dictionary Project
WASHINGTON, DC (July 8, 2009) – The Consumer Specialty Products Association has initiated development of a Consumer Product Ingredient Dictionary that will standardize and define ingredient nomenclature for companies engaging in the industry’s voluntary Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative
“Our industry is taking this next proactive step forward toward transparency to help consumers better understand the ingredients in our products,” said Chris Cathcart, CSPA President. “The dictionary will help our members assure that consumers understand what product ingredients are being communicated by companies participating in the Initiative to begin next January.”
“The reality is that one chemical can have several names due to the differing nomenclature used for various product lines,” Cathcart continued. “The dictionary will be useful to consumers because it will help standardize chemical names so that they are more easily understood. Additionally, the dictionary will define the ingredient so that every company can determine that it is using the same ingredient as other companies.”
The project is being sponsored by several CSPA member companies that are providing leadership to develop policies and procedures, and are serving on the project’s Nomenclature Committee that will assign ingredient names.
“I would like to thank our sponsors for their support and leadership for this important industry initiative,” Cathcart said.
“Many of our members are now either participating in or setting up their systems for our voluntary Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative. As more and more companies begin to share with consumers information about the ingredients in their products through this Initiative, it will be critical that we have industry consensus on ingredient nomenclature through our dictionary project,” Cathcart said.
CSPA is currently accepting ingredient applications for the dictionary from consumer product manufacturers and/or their suppliers. More information is available on CSPA’s web site.
“We encourage wide participation in the development of the dictionary and therefore welcome as many applicants as we can possibly attract to help make this project meaningful to consumers and our industry,” Cathcart said.
CSPA initiated development of the dictionary under contract with the Personal Care Products Council to create the software and infrastructure of the project based on their International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary. Companies wishing to learn more about the dictionary or the ingredient application process can contact Doug Fratz or Nikolay Sveshnikov at 202-872-8110.
About CSPA
The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) is the premier trade association representing the interests of approximately 240 companies engaged in the manufacture, formulation, distribution and sale of approximately $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 CareSM, 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.
