Cosmetics

By Amy Ebinger, Eurofins Evic France | Cosmetics & Personal Care

March 1, 2021

Cosmetics

Since the end of the transition period on the 31st December 2020, the UK Statutory Instruments - The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 are applicable in Great Britain (GB). The Schedule 34 of this text, named the UKCR : United Kingdom Cosmetics Regulations, concerns cosmetics products, and generally mirrors the European Commission Cosmetics Regulation n°1223/2009. These new regulations do not apply to Northern Ireland.

From 1st January 2021, all cosmetic products sold on the British market have to comply with this new regulation. This includes cosmetics sold in physical stores as well as those sold in e-commerce.

To conform to these new regulations, a responsible person present on GB territory must be designated. A British portal for cosmetics products notification has been created: Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) portal, with which the British Responsible Person (RP) must create an account and notify their products. Serious Undesirable Effects (SUEs) should be notified on the new UK SUE.

The PIF, Product Information File, must be made available to local authorities electronically or in paper format at the RP’s GB address. The PIF must be in the official language of the Member State in which the product is for sale (English for the UK, French/English for France). The safety assessor must have qualifications that are recognised by the UK (i.e. a diploma in pharmacy, toxicology, medicine or another course recognised as equivalent by a Member State).

The name and address of the British RP must appear on the product label. The country of origin must also be present on the label if the product is made outside of the UK. All of the required mentions must be in English. Over-labelling will be allowed.