Policy & Regulation
Cosmetics Europe welcomes the EU’s 2030 Consumer Agenda for strengthening enforcement of online product sales but argues it should do more to target intermediaries that enable counterfeit cosmetic sales, while also warning against unnecessary new rules on territorial supply constraints.
While no doubt welcome, yet another delay to the EU Deforestation Law and suggestion for another review next year could mean a “never-ending” regulatory exercise that creates uncertainty for manufacturers selling products containing or having been made using materials like palm oil, soya and wood.
The US FDA announces in a Nov. 28 Federal Register notice that it will withdraw its proposed rule under MoCRA for testing asbestos in talc-containing products, but remains committed to meeting its statutory requirements under the law.
State laws targeting the cosmetic and personal care industries have a sense of urgency, given the vacuum of action on the federal level, says the Independent Beauty Association during its Cosmetics Convergence Conference, which highlighted the new crop of laws, including a handful from California.
In what would be a blow to efforts to encourage use of read-across and other non-animal methods in cosmetic safety assessments, a proposal from a cosmetic ingredient working group suggests that animal test data is necessary to assess the safety of two prostaglandin analogues.
U.S. cosmetic and personal care companies certified to NSF Guideline 527 can largely align with EU Cosmetic Products Regulation requirements, though they must address differences in GMPs and labeling.
Congress’ reauthorization of OMUFA for five years includes measures that promote non-animal testing for sunscreen, a broadening of the evidence that can be used to support safety and additional funding for MoCRA.
The Council of the European Union stakes out its position on the Omnibus VI package, one that adopts a more precautionary approach and puts industry on edge.
Single-use packaging producers in California must navigate two different recycling definitions under the state’s EPR law (SB 54) and its greenwash labeling law (SB 343), to meet different compliance standards.
PCPC names former USP scientist Jaap Venema as chief scientist and executive VP, science, replacing Alexandra Kowcz, who retired from the role in August. Separately, FDA gives Acting Chief Scientist Steve Kozlowski a permanent role.
Consultants urge packaging producers to forecast and budget now for the fees of state EPR programs, particularly as fees from the Oregon program hit and surprise many firms and expose gaps in internal budgeting and planning. The topic was discussed at IBA’s Cosmetics Convergence 2025 conference.
But the Senate’s reduction would not be as much as the House of Representatives and President Trump proposed earlier this year, which is likely a win for the agency.
Consumer products companies have largely failed to respond to a survey that will help the California Air Resources Board develop future VOC regulations.
Gel manicure ingredient trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide was prohibited from cosmetic products on the European market due to its reclassification under packaging and labeling laws, prompting distorted news reports and reviving the hazard versus risk debate.
The US FDA’s decision to move its long-awaited cosmetic GMPs rule to ‘Long-Term Actions’ under MoCRA likely delays a final rule for at least five years, raising the risk of increased state regulation and private litigation, say attorneys speaking during the 2025 PCPC Science Symposium & Expo
Scientists at a session of the 2025 Personal Care Products Council’s Science Symposium & Expo on Oct. 28 emphasized that new approach methodologies for chemical safety testing should move beyond simple one-to-one animal test replacements toward integrated, holistic strategies.
The US Food and Drug Administration is advocating for the development of new alternative methods while specifying that animal tests are needed for sunscreen UV filters, creating uncertainty about the future of NAMs, say animal rights and industry groups.
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director George Tidmarsh emphasizes the reduction, but not necessarily the elimination, of animal tests for UV filters in an FDA Voices post, raising questions about the agency’s intentions.
Regulations likely holding consumer product firms’ attention include the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, SB 54, scheduled to become effective by 2027. “Easily the most significant, extended producer responsibility law ever to pass in the world,” says lobbyist
Cosmetic and personal care manufacturers should check their product formulas and work with fragrance suppliers to ensure formulas are in line with a fast-approaching deadline for compliance with the 51st Amendment to IFRA Standards.