European Cosmetics Directive
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
European Commission proposes to recast the Cosmetics Directive from 1976 - now "a 'patchwork' of 55 amendments without coherent terminology" that is "ripe" for simplification, according to VP Günter Verheugen. A single regulation will take the place of 27 transposing national pieces of legislation representing over 3,500 pages of legal text, according to the EC, which launched a consultation soliciting stakeholder input on the process in January 2007 (1"The Rose Sheet" Jan. 22, 2007, p. 5). Proposal introduces clear minimum requirements for assessing product safety, among other measures intended to increase manufacturer responsibility for goods placed on the market. Draft also outlines rules for reporting adverse events related to product use, executing product withdrawal and coordinating enforcement programs. At the same time, simplified notification requirements for new cosmetics are expected to cut administration costs by 50%. In a Feb. 5 release, European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (Colipa) greets the simplification with open arms...