They include triclosan and triclocarban.
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Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said that “we have no scientific evidence that [antibacterial soaps] are any better than plain soap and water”, and that “some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term”.
Division of Medical Devices and Cosmetics section head Hung Kuo-teng (洪國登) said that triclosan and triclocarban are among 21 antibacterial chemicals used in Taiwan, but both are still allowed to be used in hand or body wash in many European countries, as well as in Japan and China.
The antibacterial soap market is huge, making up 40 percent of the total soap market.
The Food and Drug Administration released a final ruling on Friday that bans many over-the-counter antibacterial soaps, as it has found them to be ineffective, and maybe even unsafe. Another 17 active ingredients also are included in the ban.
You may soon say “goodbye” to “antibacterial” soaps.
The FDA’s ruling specifically targets triclosan and triclocarban because of studies that show that these agents can generate drug-resistant bacteria and interfere with hormone levels, according to the agency. Dr. Michael Doldan with WNY Immediate Care said, “I think the antibacterial soap label catches the eye of some people, and they think that must be better right?” She added that the FDA had given manufacturers plenty of time to prove the effectiveness of the products.
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The new ban does not cover hand sanitizer gels or wipes, which are not used with water and often contain alcohol as the active ingredient. Technically there are three ingredients that haven’t been banned yet; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and chloroxylenol. Manufacturers were required to provide the agency with additional data on the safety and effectiveness of the 19 active ingredients addressed in the rulemaking if they wanted to continue marketing the products. All manufacturers will have one year to comply with the rulemaking by removing products from the market or reformulating (removing antibacterial active ingredients) these products. If soap and water are not available, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that an alcohol-based hand sanitizer be used that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
