Brussels, 3 July 2025 – Today, the European cosmetics, fragrance, and essential oils industries reaffirmed their steadfast dedication to consumer safety and balanced regulation, in anticipation of the European Commission’s upcoming Omnibus proposal on chemicals.
“Our industry is totally committed to the safety of our consumers. The Cosmetic Products Regulation (CPR) as it currently stands remains the international regulatory benchmark for consumer safety. Under these rules, our industry needs to ensure that our products are safe. This principle is sacrosanct” – said John Chave, Director General of Cosmetics Europe.
“Simplification is about streamlining processes and improving the regulatory framework in such a way that provides more clarity and certainty to businesses. What we have been advocating for is adjustments to the regulation that would address in the short term some well-known and identified problems that – without tangible benefit for consumers – create burdens for the industry and divert resources that could otherwise be used to drive forward innovation and enhance competitiveness.” – he added.
“As it stands today, hazard-based classification of substances as CMR under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation leads to an automatic ban under the Cosmetic Products Regulation, unless an exemption is granted. However, the current derogation process for CMR category 1 does not always allow the industry to demonstrate safety, for example because of vague criteria, or unrealistic deadlines. This can stop us from using substances which have been scientifically assessed as perfectly safe for use in cosmetics”.
“We have been calling on the policymakers for smart solutions such as establishing fixed periods for submitting derogation requests, introducing transitional periods for compliance, refining derogation criteria with no compromise on safety, and clarifying the approach to natural complex substances. Allowing risk-based derogations following assessments by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) would also be critical to ensure continued high consumer protection while reducing administrative and compliance burdens on businesses”.
“Another extremely important area that needs to be addressed is pre-notification requirements for products containing nanomaterials. Cosmetics Europe urges the policymakers to review them with the aim of eliminating burdensome duplication with other notification requirements under the CPR”.
“We will continue to engage in a constructive dialogue with EU policy makers to ensure the highest level of safety for consumers is maintained in the regulatory environment that truly fosters innovation and competitiveness.“
Background information:
About Cosmetics Europe
Cosmetics Europe is the European trade association for the cosmetics and personal care industry. For more than 60 years, Cosmetics Europe has been the voice of the cosmetics and personal care industry in Europe. Our members include cosmetics and personal care manufacturers as well as associations representing our industry at national level, right across Europe. For more information, please consult: Cosmetics Europe website.
Media questions
Media representatives should address their questions to media@cosmeticseurope.eu.