Class action complaints in New Jersey federal court against Firmenich, Givaudan, IFF, and Symrise follow an investigation announced in March into potential violations of cartel law and raids orchestrated by the European Commission, US Department of Justice, UK Competition and Markets Authority, and others.

The mega-retailer is defending a proposed class action in Minnesota federal court over its ‘Target Clean’ marketing and label, which it has awarded "independently" to around 4,000 products in its stores. Consumer plaintiffs allege some offerings contain ingredients on the program's “formulated without” list, as well as other hazardous substances that ought not be in clean products. Pending litigation against Sephora stands to be influential.

FDA introduces Cosmetics Direct for registering manufacturing facilities and listing products, a little more than three months from registration deadlines set by new cosmetics regulations, and provides looks at the forms companies will need to submit. For now at least, the 29 December deadlines stand, notwithstanding stakeholder pressure for extensions or enforcement discretion.