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New EU Packaging Requirements for Cosmetic Products

July 16, 2013

Beginning July 11, 2013 all cosmetic products on the market in the European Union (EU) must now be fully compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 2009 on cosmetic products (recast), and must have been notified on the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP). Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 harmonizes cosmetics regulations across the EU member states; simplifying procedures, streamlining terminology, and strengthening elements of the regulatory framework for cosmetics.

The new Regulation defines that the packaging of cosmetic products is a key component of the cosmetic product which must therefore meet high safety requirements in order to ensure an appropriate level of protection of human health. Containers or packaging must bear written information in indelible, easily legible and visible lettering containing:

  • The name or registered name and the address of the responsible person;
  • The country of origin for imported products;
  • The weight or volume of the content at the time of packaging;
  • A use-by date for products kept in appropriate conditions;
  • Precautions for use, including for cosmetics for professional use;
  • The batch number of manufacture or the reference for identifying the cosmetic product;
  • The list of ingredients, i.e. any substance or mixture intentionally used in the product during the process of manufacturing.
  • The language of the information shall be determined by the Member State where the product is made available to the end user.

In addition to changes in the field of labeling and declarations ("claims") made ​​on the product, the new safety assessment (Cosmetic Product Safety Report) requires manufacturers to evaluate packaging purity, the presence and the release of prohibited substances, and packaging stability and compatibility with the cosmetic product.

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