How do you guarantee a cosmetic product's compliance on the European market?

Europe is one of the main drivers of the cosmetics industry, both because of its high consumption of cosmetic products and because of its large export capacity. On a planet with a panoply of resources and in an era where the innovation potential is ever greater, the demands associated with cosmetic products are growing to guarantee that the end consumer can enjoy these products most effectively and safely.

A cosmetic product is defined as ‘any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair and hair systems, nails, lips and external genital organs) or with the teeth and mucous membranes of the mouth, with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning, perfuming, modifying their appearance, protecting, maintaining them in good condition or correcting body odours.

The Responsible Person of these same products must ensure that, before they are sold, they undergo a specialised assessment to guarantee their safety. This assessment is based on the interpretation of two main regulations:

- Regulation (EC) Nº 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products;

- Commission Regulation (EU) Nº 655/2013 of 10 July 2013 laying down common criteria for the justification of claims used in relation to cosmetic products;

The interpretation of these regulations focuses mainly on assessing the safety of the ingredients used, the correct presentation of the labelling, among other parameters.

The Responsible Person must also ensure that no animal testing is carried out on their cosmetic product and that it is manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Once this assessment has been completed and the cosmetic product is guaranteed to comply with the regulations in force, a notification is made on the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal, thus allowing the product to be sold and distributed.

Pharmilab, as a company specialising in providing these consultancy services, provides all the necessary support to ensure that products are registered in the best possible way. If you have any questions, we are at your service.