Blog
EU cosmetics regulation guides and resources
In-depth articles on EU cosmetics regulation, ingredients, compliance, and monitoring. Content organised by topic so you find what you need fast.
Regulatory Fundamentals
The legal framework governing cosmetics in the EU: what CosIng is, how the Annexes work, and what defines a cosmetic product.
Allowed colorants in EU cosmetics: Annex IV of Regulation 1223/2009 explained
Complete guide to Annex IV of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: the positive-list principle for colorants, the Colour Index (CI) numbering system, the salts-and-lakes rule, purity criteria, verified examples with CI numbers and conditions, the hair-colourant carve-out, and nano colorants like Carbon Black and Titanium Dioxide.
Nanomaterials in EU cosmetics: the definition, the [nano] label, Article 16 and the 2024 bans
Complete guide to nanomaterials under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: the legal definition (Art. 2(1)(k)), the dual notification duty (CPNP + the six-month Article 16 notification), the [nano] labelling rule (Art. 19(1)(g)), the authorised nano UV-filters and colorants, and the substances Regulation (EU) 2024/858 prohibited in 2025.
The EU retinol restriction (Regulation 2024/996): new Vitamin A limits, deadlines and the mandatory warning
Complete guide to the EU retinol restriction under Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/996: the new Vitamin A limits (0.05% RE in body lotion, 0.3% RE in other leave-on and rinse-off products), the 1 November 2025 and 1 May 2027 deadlines, the mandatory "Contains Vitamin A" warning, the SCCS rationale, and the other substances the same regulation restricts.
Allowed preservatives in EU cosmetics: Annex V of Regulation 1223/2009 explained
Complete guide to Annex V of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: the positive-list principle, the legal definition of preservative (Art. 2(1)(l)), verified examples with CAS numbers and concentrations (phenoxyethanol, parabens, MIT), formaldehyde releasers, the 2026/78 amendment, and the 6 most common compliance traps.
CMR substances in cosmetics: what they are, what Art. 15 prohibits, and how to verify them
What CMR classification means (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction) under the CLP Regulation, what Article 15 of Regulation 1223/2009 establishes, how the Omnibus mechanism adds new prohibitions to Annex II, and two real cases — Lilial and Zinc Pyrithione — that illustrate the difference between categories.
EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: the complete guide
Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 governs EU cosmetics: structure, responsible person, CPNP, PIF, Annexes, animal testing ban and amendment mechanism.
EU Microplastics Restriction in Cosmetics (Regulation 2023/2055): Deadlines, Definitions and Which Ingredients Apply
Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 bans intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles in cosmetics under REACH — not the Cosmetics Regulation. Phased deadlines from 2023 to 2035, the exact SPM definition, affected INCI polymers, and what formulators need to do per phase.
EU Regulation 2023/1545: every new fragrance allergen your label must declare before 31 July 2026
EU Regulation 2023/1545 expands individual fragrance allergen labelling from 24 to around 80 substances: 45 new Annex III entries covering lavender, rose, jasmine, menthol and vanillin. The 2026 and 2028 deadlines, the declaration thresholds, the complete list of new entries, what the figures 80, 81 and 82 each mean — and how to keep your ingredient database current without loading data that is not yet enforceable.
How to read the EU Cosmetics Regulation annexes: a column-by-column guide with a real example
A practical tutorial on interpreting the annex tables of the EU Cosmetics Regulation: what each column means (reference number, CAS, EC, product type, maximum concentration, conditions and warnings), how to read a real entry cell by cell, and how to verify an ingredient end to end.
Prohibited cosmetic ingredients: what EU Annex II lists and how to verify them
Guide to Annex II of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: what it is, how many substances it prohibits (1,758 entries as of June 2026), the CMR-Omnibus mechanism that keeps it growing, real examples with CAS numbers, and how to check any ingredient in real time.
Restricted cosmetic substances: how EU Annex III works and how to read its conditions
Guide to Annex III of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: the sub-entry table structure, the hydrogen peroxide teaching example, salicylic acid dual-listing, recent amendments (2023/1545, 2024/996, 2025/877), and how to check compliance for any restricted substance.
UV filters in EU cosmetics: Annex VI of Regulation 1223/2009 and sunscreen labelling explained
Complete guide to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: 34 authorised UV filters (as of June 2026), Art. 2(1)(n) definition, Art. 14(1)(e) positive-list principle, nano UV filters and [nano] labelling, the 2022/1176, 2022/2195 and 2024/996 amendments (4-MBC removal), and Commission Recommendation 2006/647/EC on SPF categories and the UVA 1/3 rule.
What is a cosmetic product: the EU legal definition under Regulation 1223/2009 and its boundaries
EU legal definition of cosmetic product under Article 2(1)(a) of Regulation 1223/2009, its three cumulative elements, and which products fall outside.
CosIng database: what it is, what it contains, and how to use it to verify cosmetic ingredients
Complete guide to the European Commission CosIng database: what it is, what it contains, its legal value, how to search an ingredient, how to read Annexes II–VI, and why Decision 2025/1175 updates the glossary to 30,419 entries.
IFRA Standards for cosmetics: what they are, why they are not law — and why that does not let you off the hook
IFRA Standards govern the safe use of fragrance ingredients across 12 product categories. They are industry self-regulation, not EU law — but the supply chain enforces them, and they run ahead of the Cosmetics Regulation. The 51st Amendment, the 263 active Standards, the 52nd Amendment in consultation, the EU 24-to-80 allergen expansion, and how to monitor all of it without doing it by hand.
EU cosmetic regulation annexes explained: what each one bans, restricts, and allows
A practical guide to Annexes II, III, V and VI of Regulation 1223/2009 — banned substances, restricted ingredients, permitted preservatives and UV filters — with real examples for Regulatory Affairs and formulators.
How to choose a CosIng data source: seven criteria that separate a professional service from a glorified downloader
Objective framework for evaluating CosIng API alternatives: dataset freshness, incremental diffs, structured format, traceability, signed webhooks, and active regulatory support. No vendor names.
CosIng doesn't tell you when it changes — here's why that matters
No schedule. No changelog. No notification. A breakdown of how CosIng actually gets updated, why the lag costs you, and what to monitor instead.
Ingredients & Substances
Prohibited and restricted substances, preservatives, UV filters, CMR substances, microplastics, and fragrance allergens under Annexes II–VI.
Operational Compliance
CPNP, PIF, CPSR, and Responsible Person obligations: the four pillars of operational compliance in the EU.
Cosmetic PIF: what the Product Information File must contain under EU Regulation 1223/2009
Complete guide to the EU cosmetic PIF: mandatory contents under Article 11, 10-year retention period, relationship to the CPSR, and when it must be updated.
The CPSR: What the Cosmetic Product Safety Report Is, Its Two Parts, and Who Can Sign It
What the CPSR is, its two parts, who can sign it under Article 10 of EU Regulation 1223/2009, when to update it, and how it fits in the PIF.
CPNP: What the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal Is and How to Notify
What CPNP is, who must notify under Article 13 of Regulation 1223/2009, what to submit, the 6-month nanomaterial rule, and when to update.
Responsible Person obligations in EU cosmetics: the complete legal checklist under Regulation 1223/2009
A practical guide to Responsible Person liability under EU Regulation 1223/2009: PIF requirements, CPNP notification, ingredient restrictions, and cosmetovigilance obligations.
Regulatory Monitoring
How to monitor regulatory changes, select reliable data sources, and track Safety Gate/RAPEX alerts.
ECHA SVHC/CLP also feeds the monitoring pipelines — see Ingredients & Substances.
How to monitor EU cosmetic regulation changes: a practical playbook
A complete guide to EU cosmetic regulation monitoring: CosIng, SCCS, Safety Gate and EUR-Lex. What to watch, how often, and why the manual process breaks down at scale.
Safety Gate (formerly RAPEX) for cosmetics: the EU weekly recall feed you should be watching
Safety Gate is the EU's rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products — and cosmetics is its most-notified category. Here's what it notifies for cosmetics, how to access the reports, the four reasons it matters and how to monitor it without burning a workday a week.
For Developers
Technical integration guides for BD-API: HMAC signature verification, webhooks, and compliance automation.