A new online database created by the European Commission will feature more than 15,000 ingredients used in the production of cosmetics. The database, CosIng (COSmetic INGredients), will supply information previously spread across a number of sources in a more accessible, consolidated and regularly updated form.

The user-friendly catalogue displays:

  • Both the chemical and internationally recognised names of the various ingredients, so as to enable correct labelling of products.

  • The existence and type of EU regulation in place for any particular ingredient.

  • Hyperlinks to Opinions of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP).

The database will not only show the current regulation in place but also how that substance has been regulated since 1976, giving a complete historical picture of the regulation of various cosmetic products.

Cosmetic companies replace or modify around 25% of their products annually and the previous time-consuming process of gaining ingredient information failed to meet the needs of a cosmetics industry that shows high levels of innovation and dynamism. The Commission hopes that CosIng will ease the process of ensuring that reformulations are regulation compliant and will in doing so will be less costly and less time intensive.

The database will also assist competent authorities with market surveillance and in turn should contribute towards improving and ensuring product safety.

However, the database should not be seen as a comprehensive list of authorised and banned substances. Whilst the database does provide an indication of the restrictions various ingredients are subject to, for exact details of the restrictions reference will still have to be made to the detail of Annex II and III of the Cosmetics Directive 76/768/EEC.

The CosIng database can be accessed here.

This article was written for Law-Now, CMS Cameron McKenna's free online information service. To register for Law-Now, please go to www.law-now.com/law-now/mondaq

Law-Now information is for general purposes and guidance only. The information and opinions expressed in all Law-Now articles are not necessarily comprehensive and do not purport to give professional or legal advice. All Law-Now information relates to circumstances prevailing at the date of its original publication and may not have been updated to reflect subsequent developments.

The original publication date for this article was 28/07/2008.