Around the same time the USDA took action, uggthe European Union mandated that companies remove all chemicals deemed carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins from any cosmetics sold there—much tougher than any US measures. Why the discrepancy? When it comes to condemning chemicals, the EU goes by the precautionary principle—prevent harm—while the US subscribes ugg australia boots ukto the prove-harm approach, says Stacy Malkan, cofounder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of Not Just Another Pretty Face cheap ugg boots (New Society Publishers, 2007). The new EU guidelines meant global cosmetic companies were forced to either reformulate every product or create two separate lines. Malkan says many chose the latter, producing clean products for Europe and toxic stews for Americans.
