EU cosmetics industry opened up to public scrutiny

EU consumers will be granted access to important information about what goes into their favourite cosmetics products under new rules from Brussels.

The new guidelines, agreed with the cosmetics industry, are meant to provide consumers with more information about potentially harmful ingredients used in cosmetics.

Manufacturers will be obliged to  disclose information about any undesirable effects reported for any of their product, and to give detailed information about their composition.

But they will only have to do so if requested by consumers, and will not have to add new information to product labels.

Manufacturers will also have to give quantitative information about any potentially dangerous substances used in their cosmetics.

National governments will be responsible for policing the new rules, and ensuring that the information given is accurate.

There is no limit to the type of question that consumers can ask, and there is no specific timeframe within which companies must respond.

But a European commission spokesman said it was in the interest of companies to ensure that they replied quickly and accurately to any requet for information.

And he stressed that there was no major risk to health from any cosmetic product sold in the EU, all of which had to be approved as safe for sale.

“But some people have allergic reactions to certain ingredients, and these new rules will allow them to avoid such problems,” he said.

The guidelines also establish a central public directory of all the companies that selling cosmetic products on EU market, making it easier for the public to contact them.

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