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Consumer association not satisfied with European Parliament’s opinion on nanomaterials in cosmetics
Published: Thursday 26 March 2009
This week’s decision by the European Parliament to approve the proposed requirements for labelling and notification of nanomaterials in cosmetics puts huge pressure on the industries and regulators. According to the European consumer association BEUC, however, the agreed provision leaves ‘loopholes’: ‘Nanomaterials used for certain specific purposes (colouring, preservatives or as a UV filter) must be evaluated for safety before they reach the market.’ BEUC, however, doubts that a simple notification would automatically guarantee that the respective products are evaluated for safety before reaching the market.
This suggestion was categorically refuted by the UK trade body CTPA: ‘All cosmetic products must undergo a rigorous safety assessment carried out by a professionally qualified safety assessor before being placed on the market. This must take into account all aspects of the product and its manufacture, including ingredients, how and where the product is to be used and this also takes into account the size of the ingredient particles - irrespective of any official definition of particle size. ‘ the CTPA told CosmeticsDesign.com.
‘This is a legal requirement now under the EU Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC) and will continue right up until the new Cosmetics Regulation comes into force which also requires that only safe products are placed on the market.’
Follow these links to read the full article on the CosmeticsDesign.com website, to find out more about the recent decision of the European Parliament, or to find out more about the NIA’s comment on nanomaterials in cosmetics.