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CONTACT: Brian Sansoni, (202) 662-2517 or bsansoni@cleaning101.com

SDA To Unveil Science, Sustainability Websites

BOCA RATON, FL, January 31, 2006 – The Soap and Detergent Association will launch "SDA Science," a new website showcasing the scientific, human health and environmental safety of cleaning products and their ingredients.

Separately, the Association will unveil a webpage highlighting the sustainable development and product stewardship activities of its member companies, which are leaders in the cleaning product and oleochemical industries.

SDA announced its plans at its yearly Issues Briefing, held during the 2006 Annual Meeting and Industry Convention at the Boca Raton (FL) Resort & Club.

Scheduled for a June 2006 launch, SDA Science will be available online at www.SDAscience.org. The site will serve as a repository of scientific information – reports, articles, presentations, and studies – related to cleaning products and their ingredients.

Most of these documents have been developed by various SDA committees, consortia and research associates. The emphasis will be on such products and ingredients which are subject to government or regulatory supervision, especially substances that fall under the High Production Volume (HPV) chemical heading.

"We expect SDA Science to attract a broad global audience, including professionals involved in regulatory or legislative issues, academics, scientists, students, various interest groups and lay persons," said Richard Sedlak, SDA Senior Vice President of Technical and International Affairs.

Sustainability Webpage Set for March 2006 Launch

SDA’s Sustainability webpage will be available on SDA’s main website as of March 2006.

"This webpage is an outgrowth of SDA’s Principles of Sustainable Development, which were adopted by our Board of Directors in 2004," said Ernie Rosenberg, SDA President & CEO. "SDA’s website will serve as a showcase for the longstanding and ongoing sustainability and stewardship efforts of our member companies."

The site will feature links to updated sustainable development and stewardship reports and documents issued by SDA’s member companies, a list of which is available at www.cleaning101.com/about/members.html.

Also during SDA’s Issues Briefing, senior staff from the Association reviewed accomplishments from the past year and previewed challenges and events that lie ahead:

• SDA successfully defended automatic dishwasher detergents against a series of phosphate ban proposals across the United States in 2005, including critical legislative victories in Illinois and Vermont. But SDA is currently facing a challenging regional ban proposal in the Spokane River Valley of Washington State and a state-wide ban as well. A similar plan may be forthcoming in New York State.
  
  
• SDA will work to ensure consumers continue to have access to beneficial antimicrobial products. SDA and The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association are moving forward in their coalition to provide detailed scientific and technical information to the Food and Drug Administration on topical antimicrobial product efficacy and safety. The FDA is expected to propose updated rules in the spring governing antimicrobial products used in the consumer, healthcare and food handler sectors.
  
  
• SDA will lead a coalition of other business interests in developing proposals to amend federal consumer product labeling regulations to bring them into line with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The broad adoption of the GHS would reduce the degree to which manufacturers face inconsistent labeling requirements among trading partners. Following two recent meetings with SDA, the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission has invited SDA to submit detailed proposals for the agency to consider.
  
  
• Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education, is chairing the Poison Prevention Week Council and will participate in the group’s annual news conference promoting National Poison Prevention Week in March. SDA’s leadership in the Council allows the Association to further showcase how its members work to educate consumers about proper usage and storage of cleaning products.
  
  
• SDA is cosponsoring two major industry networking and information sharing events this year: SODEOPEC 2006 (April 2-5, 2006 in Hollywood, Florida) and the World Conference on Detergents (October 9-12, 2006, in Montreux, Switzerland). SDA members can find out more information online at www.cleaning101.com/meetings.
  
  

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The Soap and Detergent Association (www.sdahq.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry^SM, representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.