Brussels, October 31, 2024 — The Europe Today: A pilot enforcement project by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has revealed that around 6% of tested cosmetic products contain hazardous substances banned under European regulations, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
The inspection, conducted by national enforcement agencies across 13 European Economic Area (EEA) member states, including Germany, involved nearly 4,500 cosmetic products. The ECHA reported that 285 of these products contained banned chemicals, marking a concerning trend in the cosmetic industry.
Authorities targeted substances prohibited or restricted under two major European regulations: the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation, which bans long-lasting toxic chemicals, and the REACH Regulation, governing the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals across Europe.
The ECHA outlined that investigators primarily relied on a straightforward inspection technique, checking the ingredients lists on product labels between November 2023 and April 2024. “This method is easily accessible to consumers, who are encouraged to be vigilant, as restricted substances were identified across various types of cosmetic products, from different vendors, and in all price categories,” the ECHA noted.
To address the violations, enforcement agencies have begun removing non-compliant products from the market. Initial steps include issuing guidance to suppliers to ensure adherence to legal standards. The ECHA confirmed that investigations remain active in approximately half of the identified cases.
This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment of European authorities to safeguarding consumer health by regulating hazardous substances in everyday products and promoting transparency in the cosmetics market.
