Held v. Jordana Cosmetics Corporation

In the enforcement action Held v. Jordana Cosmetics Corporation, et al., the parties executed an agreement on August 27, 2013, which resolved citizen enforcer Anthony E. Held, Ph.D., P.E.’s allegations that the defendant Jordana Cosmetics Corporation (“Jordana”) sold cosmetic bags containing the phthalate chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (“DEHP”) in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings. 

As part of the settlement, Jordana agreed not to sell any cosmetic bags in California after September 6, 2013, unless the products contain no more than 1,000 parts per million (0.1%) of DEHP in any accessible component that may be touched or handled during reasonably foreseeable use when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies or Proposition 65 warnings are provided.  Should Jordana provide written certification that all of its cosmetic bags qualify as reformulated by December 1, 2013, Held agreed to waive a portion of the civil fine that would otherwise be applied.    

The Consent Judgment requires settlement payments of $72,500, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Held and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.