Cosmetic products
must include information that explains what they are for, how to use them
safely, and how to obtain the best result. Specifically, the EU Cosmetics Regulation requires cosmetic products to provide
the following information on the label or on the packaging:
- The
name and the address of the company (Responsible Person).
- An
ingredients list, in decreasing order of weight of the ingredients. This
is mainly intended for people who have been diagnosed with an allergy so
that they may avoid ingredients to which they are allergic. The same
ingredient names are used across the European Union and most countries
worldwide so people are easily able to identify them.
- The
nominal net.
·
Any warnings that might be necessary on how
to use the product safely.
·
A “date of minimum durability” ("best
used before the end of") or a “period after opening” to show for how long
the product may be kept or used.
·
What the product is (if not obvious from its
appearance).
·
A reference (batch number) for product
identification.
·
Country of origin (for products imported into
the EU).
What appears
on the label?
To help you identify how to find this
information we have created a visual of a typical cosmetic product label:
Some of the information will be shown by use
of a symbol. Most symbols that are used on cosmetics and personal care
labelling are the same across the EU so that they are easy to understand and with
the added advantage that they do not require translation for every market.
Name and
address of the manufacturer or distributor in the EU (Responsible Person) – if you have a question or a problem with a product you should contact
the Responsible Person named on the product.
Ingredients
All ingredients used in a cosmetic, toiletry
and perfumery product must be listed on the ingredients list. This list is
mainly there for people who have been professionally diagnosed with an allergy,
so that they can avoid the ingredients to which they are allergic. To avoid
these people having to know ingredient names in many different languages, many
years ago the industry agreed on a common naming system called the
International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients, or INCI. The same
ingredient names are used in every European country and most countries
worldwide. Although the names sometimes appear complicated, this is necessary
to precisely identify each ingredient and the name is usually simpler than the
chemical or botanical name.
An ingredients list should always appear in
the same format and use the same conventions:
- It
should be headed by the word INGREDIENTS.
- Ingredients
should be listed in order of weight in the product
- Ingredient
names are from the INCI naming system
- Perfume
mixtures are labelled as "parfum" except for certain specific
perfume ingredients which are listed by INCI name
- Flavours,
such as in toothpaste, may be listed as "Aroma"
- Colours
use the Colour Index Number, or CI Number, an international naming system,
for example "CI 15580"
For colour cosmetics, such as make-up and
lipstick, which come in a range of shades, all of the colours used in the
product range are listed together at the end of the list preceded by the
"may contain" symbol which is a simple "+/-". Each
particular shaded product will use a selection of the colours listed.
Once opened,
use within/best before
Any cosmetic product that has a lifespan of
less than 30 months must show a "Best before the end of" date. This
can be shown using the "egg timer" symbol followed by the date.
For products with a lifespan longer than 30
months, cosmetic products must show a "period after opening" time.
That is, the time in months when the product will remain in good condition
after the consumer has used the product for the first time. A symbol of an open
cream jar is usually used instead of words and the time in months can be inside
the symbol or alongside it.
Some products do not require any of these
times to be shown because the product will not deteriorate in normal use.
Examples are aerosols, which are effectively sealed, perfumes, which have a
high alochol content, or single use packs.
Reference to
enclosed or attached information (symbol from the Cosmetics Regulation)
This symbol denotes that additional important
information is available with the product. It is most often used when there is
not enough space on the packaging to show all required information. The symbol
is mandatory if the supplied leaflet/label/tape/tag/card contains compulsory
information that does not fit on the package.
Nominal net
content
It is a legal requirement to state the net
contents of a product on the pack; that is, the quantity of product at the time
it is filled into the packaging. For cosmetics, it is shown in grams (g) or
millilitres (ml) for solids or liquids respectively. A contents declaration is
not required for products whose contents are below 5 g or 5 ml, for single use
packs such as sachets or capsules, or for free samples. If products are sold as
a collection of items, this should be stated; for example, 10 sachets.
The "e" mark must be shown if the
product is filled according to the "average fill system" which is
defined in weights & measures legislation. So, a typical contents marking
for a shampoo would be "200ml e"
Recycling
The most common symbol seen to reference
recycling is the "Green Dot". This is a trademark that shows
membership of a specific recycling and recovery scheme to deal with the
packaging waste of a company's products. All companies in Europe have a legal
obligation to recycle and recover packaging waste, usually via a specialist
company.
Different
product types
Sunscreen
labelling
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is
an indication of the amount of protection a product provides against UVB light.
SPF is an industry initiative that has standardised the way a product’s UVB
protection is indicated throughout Europe and much of the rest of the world. An
SPF indicates the ability of a sun protection product to filter out UVB rays.
An SPF of 15 will filter out approximately 93% of UVB rays and an SPF of 30
will filter out around 96%. An SPF of 15 is seen as the recommended minimum by
most health experts.
Also alongside the SPF number there will also
be an indication of the type of protection that products give you – i.e. low,
medium, high or very high.
The SPF numbers you are most likely to see
now are shown in the table below.
We should always choose a sunscreen that
provides both UVA and UVB protection.
The way that UVA protection is indicated to
the consumer has been harmonised. This appears as the letters “UVA” in a
circle. This logo will be used throughout Europe, and consumers will know that
their product contains at least the recommended minimum level of UVA protection
for a sunscreen.
Hair dye: allergy testing
Some people are allergic to hair dye.
Warnings and safety instructions must be provided on the outer pack and on
instruction leaflets contained inside hair colourants. The instructions must
state that an Allergy Alert Test should be carried out by all users of a
product, even if they have previously used hair colour. The instructions must
further lay out how to carry out the test, although these instructions may vary
between manufacturers.
To find out more about allergy:
Facts about Allergy from the
UK Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA)
Colour Well, Colour
Wise - industry’s information website for consumers and
professionals
Children and toothpaste: fluoride-based
toothpastes
Children’s toothpaste is labelled with a
recommended quantity and instructions for use. Swallowing a small amount of
toothpaste when brushing is safe.
Fluoride in toothpaste drastically improves
dental health, and is safe for use by children. EU Regulation stipulates
maximum levels of fluoride that may be used. For children, Member States have
issued guidelines for recommended fluoride levels in toothpastes.
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