Senate bill would require retailers to post notices about illegal, mercury-containing skin‑lightening products

Senate File 1481, introduced by Sen. Karin Pappas, would require retailers that sell skin‑lightening products to display a conspicuous notice telling customers that selling skin‑lightening products that contain mercury is illegal and that using such products may cause adverse health consequences.

The measure, described to the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Feb. 7, 2025, targets creams, soaps and other products used to “whiten” skin that sometimes contain pharmacologically active and toxic ingredients. “Skin lightening is the practice of using pharmacologically active ingredients for cosmetic purposes to whiten the skin,” Pappas said. She noted products commonly contain harmful ingredients such as “mercury, hydroquinoid, steroid, arsenic, kojic, glycolic, and other fruit acids,” many of which do not appear…