The European Union Cosmetics Directive

The European Union Cosmetics Directive sets standards for personal care products that are much more strident than those set by the FDA – A quick way to look for products that will contain a safer list of ingredients is to look for EU Compliant on the labels.  You will find this listed on labels of many products and it’s a good start.

For more information on the Directive:

http://www.european-cosmetics.info/site/index.cfm?SID=14075&SEL=14091&OBJ=14117

“In January 2003, the European Union amended the cosmetics directive (76/768/EEC) to ban the use of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. The amendment bans carcinogens, reproductive toxins and mutagens from cosmetics, and companies are required to remove these chemicals from cosmetic products sold in the EU by September 2004.

Since the EU directive requires that all cosmetic products containing toxic chemicals be reformulated for the EU market, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is asking U.S. companies to make those reformulated products readily available in every market they serve – both domestically and globally.

Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 1976-07-27 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products[2] (as amended) is the main European Union law on the safety of cosmetics. It was made under Art. 100 (ex Art. 94) of the Treaty of Rome. By agreement, it is also applicable in the EEA.[3]

The directive defines a “cosmetic product” as “any substance or preparation intended for placing in contact with the various external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips and external genital organs) or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or principally to cleaning them, perfuming them or protecting them in order to keep them in good condition, change their appearance or correct body odours.” (Art. 1.1)

The main part of the directive is the different lists of substances in the annexes:
substances that are banned from use in cosmetics (Annex II)
substances that are subject to restrictions on their use (Annex III): such substances might only be permitted for certain types of cosmetics, or in certain concentrations, or subject to warning labels, etc.
permitted colourings (Annex IV)
permitted preservatives (Annex VI)
permitted UV filters (Annex VII)
The annexes are regularly amended (57 times up until April 2008) to take account of new data on the safety of particular substances.[4]”