Source: https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/van-tibolli-beauty-corp-09022015
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 22:21:57
Document Index: 633785834

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 321', '§ 361', '§ 362', '§ 331', '§ 361', '§ 361', '§ 362', '§ 321']

Van Tibolli Beauty Corp - 09/02/2015 | FDA
Van Tibolli Beauty Corp - 09/02/2015
Van Tibolli Beauty Corp September 02, 2015
FLA-15-31
Mr. Van Tibolli, CEO
4800 NW 15th Avenue, Unit E
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309-3781
Dear Mr. Tibolli:
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed the regulatory status of your products, the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Resistant hair smoothing products. The GK Hair Taming System Curly and Resistant products are intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, therefore these products are a cosmetic within the meaning of Section 201(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 321(i)]. As described below, the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Resistant hair smoothing products are adulterated within the meaning of Section 601(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 361(a)] and are misbranded within the meaning of Section 602(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 362(a)]. It is a violation of Section 301(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 331(a)] to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded. You can find copies of the Act and its implementing regulations through links on FDA’s home page at http://www.fda.gov.
Under Section 601(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 361(a)], a cosmetic is adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to users under the conditions of use prescribed in the labeling thereof, or, under such conditions of use as are customary or usual. The conditions of use in the product labeling fail to include instructions to: (1) use these products in a facility with adequate ventilation, (2) avoid direct eye and skin contact, and (3) avoid unnecessary repeated use.
The GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant products are adulterated cosmetics within the meaning of Section 601(a) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 361(a) because they bear or contain a deleterious substance that may render it injurious to users under the conditions of use prescribed in your labeling. Specifically, based on product labeling and FDA sample analysis, the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant products contain methylene glycol, the liquid form of formaldehyde, which, under the conditions of use prescribed in the product labeling, releases formaldehyde when hair treated with the product is heated with a blow dryer and then with a hot flat iron. Methylene glycol is a deleterious substance, under the conditions of use prescribed in the current labeling. FDA analysis of approximately 50 mg samples of the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant confirmed the presence of 3.9 % and 4.85% methylene glycol, the liquid form of formaldehyde, respectively.
FDA notes that the primary route of exposure to formaldehyde, when using the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant products under the conditions of use prescribed in the labeling, is through inhalation. Formaldehyde is a highly reactive chemical that readily reacts with biological tissues, particularly the mucous tissues lining the respiratory tract and the eyes. Formaldehyde is a recognized carcinogen. For example, adverse events have reported the following injuries associated with formaldehyde containing hair smoothers: eye disorders (irritation, increased lacrimation, blurred vision, hyperaemia); nervous system disorders (headache, burning sensation, dizziness, syncope), and respiratory tract (dyspnea, cough, nasal discomfort, epistaxis, wheezing, rhinorrhea, throat irritation, nasopharyngitis). Other reported symptoms included nausea, hypotrichosis, chest pain, chest discomfort, vomiting, and rash.
In addition, under Section 602(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 362(a)], a cosmetic is misbranded if its labeling is false or misleading in any particular. Section 201(n) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(n)] provides that, in determining whether a product's labeling or advertising is misleading “there shall be taken into account (among other things) the extent to which the labeling or advertising fails to reveal facts material with respect to consequences which may result from the use of the article to which the labeling or advertising relates under the conditions of use prescribed in the labeling or advertising thereof or under such conditions of use as are customary or usual.” Specifically, the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant products are misbranded because the product labels and labeling, including instructions for use, fail to reveal material facts with respect to consequences that may result from the use of the product.
FDA notes that the product labels for the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant declare the following:
“INSTRUCTIONS: Shampoo client’s hair twice using GKhair pH+ Shampoo. Apply, then massage product ¼ inch from the root. Comb for even distribution. Blow dry client’s hair straight and smooth until 100% dry. Flat iron to seal cuticle. For detailed instructions visit www.GKhair.com.”
“WARNING: Product releases formaldehyde. Information on the physical and health hazards, and the safety data sheet, may be obtained from Van Tibolli Beauty S.a.r.l. This product must be applied by hair professionals only. If you are nursing or pregnant do not use the product without first consulting your physician. If skin contact occurs, wash immediately. If ingestion or eye contact occurs, call a physician immediately. Salon professional and client must wear protective clothing. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool and dry place.”
Although the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant product labels bears a warning statement, the warning statement and product labeling are inadequate. Specifically, they fail to reveal facts material with respect to consequences that may result from this use of these products under the conditions of use as follows:
1. They fail to inform the user of the adverse effects that may result from the release of formaldehyde into the air during the heating process, which can have both short term and long term health effects (e.g., eye and throat irritation, headache, dizziness, burning sensations, breathing problems, nosebleeds, chest pain, skin irritation and certain cancers), particularly for those who are sensitive to formaldehyde. Long term exposure may potentially cause certain cancers.
2. They fail to inform users that concurrent uses of these products in the same facility may increase the concentration of formaldehyde in the air, which could increase the risk of adverse effects.
We also note that while the GK Hair Taming System is targeted primarily for use by salon professionals in a salon setting, the product may also be used in home salon settings as the GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant hair smoothing products are also available for purchase in beauty retail stores and via the internet by the general public. Consequently, we recommend that Van Tibolli Beauty Corp. work with its distributors to ensure that GK Hair Taming System with JUVEXIN® Curly and Resistant products are labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
The violations cited in this letter are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the violations that exist in connection with your products. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of the violations identified above and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility as a manufacturer to ensure that the products your firm markets are safe and otherwise in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. You should take prompt action to correct the violations cited in this letter. Failure to do so may result in enforcement action without further notice, including, but not limited to, seizure and/or injunction.
Please advise this office in writing within fifteen (15) working days from your receipt of this letter as to the specific steps you have taken to correct the violations noted above and to assure that similar violations do not occur in the future. Your response should include any documentation necessary to show that correction has been achieved. If you cannot complete all corrections before you respond, please explain the reason for your delay and the date by which each item will be corrected and documented.
Salvatore N. Randazzo, Compliance Officer
Refer to the Unique Identification Number 451478 when replying. If you have any questions about the content of this letter please contact: Salvatore N. Randazzo at (407) 475-4712.