Whats in your product?

The European Comm-ission says consumers now have the right to ask manufacturers exactly what’s in a product and in what quantities. Under newly published guidelines, cosmetic producers also have to tell consumers whether or not any undesirable effects have been reported to them in connection with their products. Such effects would include irritant and allergic effects, cosmetic acne, phototoxic effects, photosensitivity, anaphylactic shock and itching, but would not include effects resulting from abuse or misuse of the product or which are related to associated items such as packaging.

To help identify and make contact with cosmetic companies, Colipa, the European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, has set up a central public directory of companies at: http://www.european-cosmetics.

Sebastian Marx, director of communications for Colipa said the association’s members accepted the disclosure requirements two years ago and had no problem with them.

Brussels said the ingredients did not have to be included on the actual labels but companies had to disclose, if requested, “dangerous” substances that it said were those which could be “explosive, oxidising, easily flammable, toxic, harmful, corrosive or irritant”.