UK COSMETICS REGULATION
After Brexit, from 2021, cosmetic products placed on Great Britain must follow a new cosmetic regulation: Schedule 34 of the Product Safety and Metrology Statutory Instrument (UK Regulation). However, it is based on the same requirements as the EU regulation. Northern Ireland, according to the Northern Ireland Protocol in the EU/UK withdrawal agreement, follows the EU cosmetic regulation.
If you plan to sell your cosmetics in Great Britain, you must know that the UK regulation (same as the EU one) is one of the strictest laws in this sector in the world.
Don’t panic, knowing the right partner makes it a piece of cake and Cosmeservice makes the process easier for you.
STEPS
Formula and label revision
Formula and label revisionBefore placing a cosmetic in the British market, a formula revision will be made to confirm that the product does not contain any forbidden or restricted ingredient (according to the annexes of the UK regulation) and also a labelling revision will be performed to verify the information that must be printed on the cosmetic product label (e.g. claims, UK RP, function, warnings…).
Product Information File and Safety Assessment
Product Information File and Safety AssessmentAfter Brexit, a Product Information File it is required to have available for the UK Competent Authorities. The PIF includes important sections such as product details, its manufacturing process, proof of product efficacy and a safety assessment report confirming that the cosmetic is safe for use. It is essential to ensure compliance with the UK regulation. The Responsible Person will be liable for keeping the PIF available and up-to-date.
SCPN notification
SCPN notificationA cosmetic product intended to be sold in the Great Britain market must be submitted to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) through a notification in the SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification Portal). The information present in the portal is subject to be reviewed by the Competent Authorities and shall be updated with each change applied to the product. A notification shall only be made once the product has been evaluated as safe.
Product testing
Product testingBefore the cosmetic enters the Great Britain market, certain tests must be conducted to check the safety of the product, such as challenge, stability and compatibility (which are mandatory depending on the nature of the product and its packaging), or to check efficacy and substantiate marketing claims.
UK Responsible Person (RP)
UK Responsible Person (RP)From 2021, a company based in Great Britain that acts as legal representative should be linked to every cosmetic product sold in Great Britain verifying the compliance and safety of the product. It is indispensable to have a formal RP that is up to date with regulations and monitors the products they act for to avoid any possible problem. It represents the brand to the competent authorities when the brand is inspected and complaints are lodged by consumers, managing also the post-market surveillance (cosmetovigilance).
Formula and label revision
Before placing a cosmetic in the British market, a formula revision will be made to confirm that the product does not contain any forbidden or restricted ingredient (according to the annexes of the UK regulation) and also a labelling revision will be performed to verify the information that must be printed on the cosmetic product label (e.g. claims, UK RP, function, warnings…).
Product Information File and Safety Assessment
After Brexit, a Product Information File it is required to have available for the UK Competent Authorities. The PIF includes important sections such as product details, its manufacturing process, proof of product efficacy and a safety assessment report confirming that the cosmetic is safe for use. It is essential to ensure compliance with the UK regulation. The Responsible Person will be liable for keeping the PIF available and up-to-date.
CPNP notification
A cosmetic product intended to be sold in the Great Britain market must be submitted to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) through a notification in the SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification Portal). The information present in the portal is subject to be reviewed by the Competent Authorities and shall be updated with each change applied to the product. A notification shall only be made once the product has been evaluated as safe.
Product testing
Before the cosmetic enters the Great Britain market, certain tests must be conducted to check the safety of the product, such as challenge, stability and compatibility (which are mandatory depending on the nature of the product and its packaging), or to check efficacy and substantiate marketing claims.
EU Responsible Person (RP)
From 2021, a company based in Great Britain that acts as legal representative should be linked to every cosmetic product sold in Great Britain verifying the compliance and safety of the product. It is indispensable to have a formal RP that is up to date with regulations and monitors the products they act for to avoid any possible problem. It represents the brand to the competent authorities when the brand is inspected and complaints are lodged by consumers, managing also the post-market surveillance (cosmetovigilance).
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FAQS
The European Responsible Person (RP) is a mandatory figure in the United Kingdom (UK) cosmetic regulation. They are responsible for ensuring that cosmetic products marketed in the UK comply with the established regulations and requirements. The RP must be established in the UK and is required to fulfill a series of legal obligations, such as maintaining records and being available to the competent authorities.
The British cosmetic legislation applies to any product intended to be used on the human body for aesthetic or personal hygiene purposes, including skincare products, haircare products, nail products, perfumes, makeup, among others.
The British cosmetic legislation applies to any product intended to be used on the human body for aesthetic or personal hygiene purposes, including skincare products, haircare products, nail products, perfumes, makeup, among others.
Manufacturers and distributors of cosmetic products are responsible for ensuring that their products comply with British regulations. Additionally, UK has the obligation to oversee the market and take action in case of non-compliance.
Manufacturers or distributors who do not comply with British regulations can receive sanctions that include fines, product withdrawal from the market, and even legal actions by affected consumers. Additionally, the company’s reputation may be affected, and they may lose customers for not complying with established safety and quality standards.
As soon as you have SCPN notifications, product information file (PIF) and the corresponding distributor, they must designate Cosmetrade SL (us) as responsible person of the products by written mandate. After this moment, the products can be marketed in UK.
The product information file (PIF) has an expiry date of 10 years, after that, if the product continues in the market a new evaluation has to be done in order to update it.
