On May 15, 2014 the Minnesotan legislature passed bill HF 2402 prohibiting the use of triclosan in soaps and body washes. The bill will come into force on January 2017. According to an article published May 19, 2014 by the Associated Press, Senator John Marty, stated that manufacturers are likely to phase out triclosan before then. Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent authorized for used in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) in Europe and possibly used under substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS) self-determination in the U.S.. Triclosan is estimated to be used in 75% of anti-bacterial liquid soaps and body washes in the U.S.. Minnesota is the first U.S. State to ban triclosan from hygiene products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has argued that soaps containing triclosan are no more effective than soaps not containing the chemical. Under a FDA rule proposed in December, manufacturers of anti-bacterial hand soaps and body washes throughout the U.S. would have to demonstrate that their products are more effective than conventional hand soaps and safe for daily use.
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Steve Karnowski (May 19, 2014). “Minnesota Becomes First State To Ban Antibacterial Chemical Triclosan From Soaps.” Agence Press, in Huffington Post.
