On July 11, 2013 the new EU Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009 of 30 November 2009) came into force with an aim to strengthen existing safety standards and better inform consumers. As of last month cosmetics' manufacturers (i.e., not only producers of perfumes or make-up products, but also toothpaste, sunscreen, etc.) need to comply with strengthened requirements for product safety control before placing the product on the market. (From today new EU Rules are combating misleading information and putting safer cosmetics on EU shelves)
PRODUCT SAFETY
Cosmetics may only be introduced to the EU market by 'responsible persons' - clearly identifiable legal or natural persons, who are responsible for keeping an information file on the product, making it available for inspections, reporting any serious undesirable effects etc. A central database has been created - Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) - to which cosmetics' manufacturers need to notify their products. Any use of colorants, preservatives and UV-filters, including nanomaterials, requires explicit authorisation. The list of cosmetics' ingredients need to clearly state which ones are nanomaterials (by adding word 'nano' in brackets after the substance).
INFORMATION DUTIES
To avoid misleading consumers with cosmetics claims, common criteria for such claims have been adopted: legal compliance, truthfulness, evidential support, honesty, fairness and informed decision-making. Any claim placed on a cosmetic will need to withstand a test against these criteria.
