Organic Monitor Unravels Natural & Organic Cosmetic Standards

London – New research finds the number of natural & organic cosmetic standards is proliferating; however prospects for a global unified standard appear low.

Organic Monitor’s new Technical Insights report critically assesses the leading international natural & organic cosmetic standards. A major finding is that although standards are gaining in popularity, adoption is mostly on a national basis. Very few standards have built a regional – let alone international - presence. Furthermore, the differences between the most popular standards in each region remain wide.

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Global Natural Cosmetics Market: The Battle of the Standards Gains Pace

London –- The final version of the Cosmos standard has recently been announced. The launch comes after six years of negotiations between the leading natural & organic cosmetic certification agencies in Europe: Soil Association (UK), BDiH (Germany), Ecocert (France), Cosmebio (France), ICEA (Italy) and Ecogarantie (Belgium). Combined, these agencies provide certification to about 1,000 cosmetic companies and 10,000 products

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Introduction of Natural & Organic Cosmetic Standards to Shake-Up Industry

London – A shake-up of the natural cosmetics industry is expected to begin this year as a number of natural & organic standards are introduced. Organic Monitor (www.organicmonitor.com) sees 2008 as a defining year in which the adoption of private standards leads to a clear demarcation between pure natural / organic cosmetic and pseudo products. The growing number of certified products - clearly distinguished by logos and symbols – is expected to strengthen consumer confidence in natural & organic cosmetics.

The most important development this year will be the introduction of European standards of natural and organic cosmetics. The leading certification agencies in Europe have been working on harmonization of private standards for over a year. The European standards will be unveiled in June 2008 and be implemented by the end of the year. This development would give certified natural & organic cosmetic products uniform logos for the first time. The successful implementation of these standards could pave the way for EU regulations for natural & organic cosmetics, similar to those for organic foods. The EU introduced formal regulations for organic food production and marketing in 1992.

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Three Countries Facing EU Court Over Industry Laws

BRUSSELS, April 5 (SOAPWIRE) - Belgium, Hungary and Spain face the possibility of separate court action by the European Commission for blocking the free movement of goods within the European Union, the EU's executive arm warned on Wednesday.

The commission begun legal action against Belgium and Hungary on Wednesday, questioning their laws on the importation of biocides and pesticides. Both countries have six weeks to respond before a second and final warning is issued.

Spain received its final warning for failing to allow herbal products to be marketed fairly. Further failure to comply with the commission's wishes will see Spain brought before the European Court of Justice -- the EU's highest court.

The commission warnings come a day after it launched a barrage of legal proceedings against EU member states in energy, transport, telecommunications, tobacco advertising, gambling and other areas.

The EU executive also launched further infringement proceedings on Wednesday against Italy and Cyprus in relation to EU transport laws.

Belgium is being asked to amend its laws relating to the imports of biocides, while Hungary's licensing procedure for the imports of pesticides is "burdensome", the commission said.

Following complaints from a number of companies, the EU authorities have asked Spain to lift a law which classes products with herbal ingredients as medicines which prevents these products from being marketed more easily.

Source: Reuters

Europen Publishes Packaging Standards Guide

Europen has published a new edition of its guide to the CEN Packaging Standards – a move that aims to guide personal care manufacturers through the field of European packaging standards and regulations. It also supplies a directory of contacts and can be ordered from the Europen website.

Cropwatch Critiques the Inventory of Cosmetic Ingredients (Aromatics)

With this latest critique, Cropwatch has now made a initial investigations into four flawed SCCP reports on individual natural ingredients, and one matter of bungled EU legislation, again relating to a natural fragrance ingredient.

This report criticises the notorious 'EU Inventory of Ingredients in Cosmetic Products II: Perfume & Aromatic Materials' (1st update). It is an easy target, which has been damned elsewhere, and normally, the bio-illiteracy, misleading chemotaxonomic information, and incorrect taxonomic botany entries would need little comment, apart from advice such as "don't even go there!". However when toxicologists/dermatologists refer and use the information, as if it were current & valid sound science, then it needs to be either corrected or scrapped. Further, some of the entries refer to hazardous materials which should not be used in perfumery under any circumstances. Others materials are listed which derive from over-exploited plants and animals. and thus would be unethical or illegal to use in cosmetics/perfumery because of restrictions on international trading (CITES listings etc) and/or appear as medicinal and aromatic plants in Annex D of EC Regulation No 338/97 (and some additionally under Annex V of the EU Habitats, Fauna and Flora Directive).

It seems obvious to Cropwatch that trade & industry, toxicologists, dermatologists, safety evaluators etc. etc. are capable of working to a higher standard than that which was approved by the SCCP in this Inventory, and the file of corrections to the EU Inventory is displayed as a living document on the Cropwatch website at www.cropwatch.org/cropwatch12.htm for experts and professionals to add any further corrections and comments. Since the EU Commission is not seemingly capable of working to 'best practice' in this respect, then, bearing in mind our 'duty of care', there is no reason why we should not.

Tony Burfield
on behalf of Cropwatch
www.cropwatch.org

Opoponax

The work goes on challenging damaging SCCP Opinions on natural aromatic materials including essential oils - please find an Objection to SCCP Opinion on Opoponax attached below, representing the third Cropwatch Objection to the Opinions of this 'expert' committee, which has the ear of the EU Commission with respect to legislation on Cosmetics.

It is good to know that so many people and trade & professional organisations are now privately backing us. The tea tree oil adverse reaction form is in its final incarnation on the Cropwatch website www.cropwatch.org, and we have had a number of replies which will ultimately be independently scientifically assessed. Please take a look!

Tony Burfield
www.cropwatch.org
Download Opoponax.doc

Cropwatch Letter to European Commission re: SCCP Opinion on Tea Tree Oil

As many of you know, Cropwatch has been active in it's criticism of the recent SCCP Opinion on Tea tree oil.

Tony Burfield has compiled and sent, on behalf of Cropwatch a letter to the European Commission where he sets out the key issues that need addressing before proposed legislative moves are finally made which would affect the Industry and tea tree oil users alike.

A copy of this letter can be viewed at www.cropwatch.org/euletter.htm

We welcome your comments, support and any coverage you can give to this issue.

Source: Kendra Kirkham; On behalf of Cropwatch

SCCP Update

The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) adopted the following opinions at their 4th plenary meeting of 21 June 2005:

Opinion on Tagetes erecta, T. minuta and T. patula Extracts and Oils
(phototoxicity only).
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_025d.pdf

Opinion on Acid Blue 62 COLIPA No. C 67
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_010.pdf

Opinion on Acid Green COLIPA No. C 178
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_009.pdf

Opinion on the use of CI 26100 (CI Solvent Red 23) as a colorant in cosmetic products
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_013.pdf

Opinion on Benzoic Acid and Sodium Benzoate
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_015.pdf

Opinion on Triclocarban For other uses than as a preservative COLIPA No. P29
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_016.pdf

Opinion on Amino Acids obtained by Hydrolysis of Human Hair
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_005.pdf

Opinion on Request for Confirmation of the SCCNFP Opinion 0474/01 on Chemical Ingredients in Cosmetic Products Classified as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Toxic to Reproduction according to Council Directive 67/548/EEC
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_00h.pdf

Opinion on Glyoxal
http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_023.pdf

Source: Maurice O. Hevey | ConvergentCosmetics.com

SCCP Opinion on Tea Tree Oil

On December 7, 2004, during their 2nd plenary meeting, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) adopted an opinion on Tea Tree Oil.

In this opinion, the EU's SCCP concluded that "[t]he sparse data available suggest that the use of undiluted Tea Tree Oil as a commercial product is not safe. The safety dossier of Tea Tree Oil is incomplete. The stability of Tea Tree Oil in cosmetic formulations is questionable. A standardized method for the specification of Tea Tree Oil is needed. Industry should develop an analytical testing method based on typical degradation products to ensure and control the stability of the material.

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