Eurofins | Newsletter - January 2018 | Cosmetics 

Report of the European Commission on Product Claims

In the conclusion of the report of the European Commission on product claims based on common criteria in the field of cosmetic products (COM/2016/580 final), 90% of the claims for cosmetic products analysed were found to comply with the common criteria established by Regulation (EU) No 655/2013.

Most of the claims found non-compliant were misleading claims about the function or effects of the cosmetic product.

In addition, among the difficulties encountered during the testing of the claims, the fate of "hypoallergenic" and "without/free-from [authorized ingredient]" was undecided. Such claims are considered derogatory, since they give the consumer a negative image of authorized ingredients whose safety has been scientifically proven. All Member States contributing to this report agreed that the "free from" and "hypoallergenic" claims should be clarified. These two points could be addressed within the existing "Allegations" sub-working group, using ad hoc technical documentation.

Click here to get the report.

Risk Assessment of Professionals in Care and Decoration of the Nails by ANSES.

ANSES publishes the results of its expertise on the assessment of the health risks of professionals exposed to products used in the care and decoration of the nails. In view of the large number of substances to which professionals are exposed, the Agency issues a series of recommendations for the various actors concerned: marketers, industry professionals, public authorities, research institutions and organizations, and of prevention. These recommendations cover both prevention and protection measures to be implemented, the chemical safety of cosmetic products and the assessment of exposure of professionals, as well as measures relating to training and information.

The Agency recommends, among others, to marketers of cosmetic products for nail care and decoration, to implement in the short and medium term the development and / or replacement of products in order to eliminate exposure sources of various dangerous chemical agents, in particular polymerizable (meth) acrylic monomers, toluene, acetaldehyde, ...; as second-line, to develop products / techniques with which the professional would not come into contact ("no-touch") in cases where the substitution of the dangerous agent could not be technically possible.

Click here to read the report (in French)

Draft Guidance About Gluten in Drug Products

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) published the draft guidance on Gluten in Drug Products. This guidance has been prepared to human drug products that pass through the small intestine. Of importance for the Cosmetic business is that it does refer, within others, to topical products applied to or near the lips (e.g. lip sunscreens) (This includes topical drug products that are also cosmetics, such as lipsticks that are also sunscreens) This Guidance is a recommendation for those who sell or import these kind of products in the US. It is important to indicate that this guidance does not apply to food (including dietary supplements) or products regulated solely as cosmetics (according to the US legislation).

Click here to get the draft guidance