Three Democrat congressman have introduced the Safe Cosmetic Act of 2010.  The new legislation attacks laws that allow harmful chemicals to be used in products that are applied to the body.

Representatives Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc co-authored the Bill that was introduced to Congress on Wednesday.

“Harmful chemicals have no place in the products we put on our bodies or on our children’s bodies,” said Rep. Schakowsky in a prepared statement. “Our cosmetics laws are woefully out of date—manufacturers aren’t even required to disclose all their ingredients on labels, leaving Americans unknowingly exposed to harmful mystery ingredients. This bill will finally protect those consumers.”

The Bill specifically targets products that contain chemicals that are linked to birth defects, cancer, and other potentially deadly illnesses.

Janet Nudelman of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says that there is a flaw in a system that allows cancer causing chemicals in baby shampoo and mercury in skin creams.  “The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 recognizes that consumers have a right to safe personal care products, that companies have a responsibility to understand the health effects of the chemicals in their products, and that we need government to help us get there,” Nudelman said in a statement from her foundation.