A bill introduced in the California Assembly would ban the sale of antibacterial soap products and would have negative impact on consumers’ health, according to the American Cleaning Institute (ACI).

Legislation dubbed “The Safer Soap Act” makes spurious claims against the key antiseptic ingredients used in consumer antibacterial soaps that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

ACI is the trade association for the cleaning products industry, whose members include manufacturers of antibacterial soaps and chemistries. The association is supporting a multi-year, multi-million dollar effort to fund and conduct research to meet stringent FDA requirements on the safety and efficacy of antibacterial soap ingredients.

At a legislative hearing in Sacramento on March 25, ACI testified in opposition to the legislation.

“While this bill does not target use of antibacterial products used in healthcare settings, it completely ignores the fact that in-home healthcare is the modern reality for an aging population and those who are immunocompromised,” said Dr. James Kim, a toxicologist and ACI Senior Vice President, Science and Regulatory Affairs.

“Californians with weakened immune systems benefit from the assurance that antimicrobials kill bacteria that may remain on the skin after handwashing. With more healthcare practices moving to the home environment (e.g., telehealth, visiting nurses), consumer antiseptics ensure that home healthcare practitioners have access to the same hygiene products available to hospital staff.”

ACI also noted that, as written, the bill would prevent the use of antibacterial soaps used in many institutional settings such as restaurants, schools, day care centers, offices, locker rooms, cruise ships, shopping malls and dormitories.

“Rather than the doomsday scenarios drawn up by bill supporters, the real-world threats in front of us include foodborne illness, cross-contamination, and illnesses caused by harmful germs that can make us sick, or worse,” said Dr. Kim. “Taking away consumer access to products that can help protect against these threats is misguided and ill-advised.”

ACI has made information on its topical antiseptic research efforts publicly available on its website: CleaningInstitute.org/Antibacterial.