As the European Commission has been wishing for an increased standardisation in the field of cosmetics, CEN decided in 2006 to create the working group BT/WG 188 Cosmetics.

The task of this working group has been to identify the needs for European Standards in the field of cosmetics. After an in-depth analysis and several meetings, CEN members agreed to create a new CEN/TC in the field of cosmetics. With its initial objective achieved, the Working Group was disbanded.

Launch of CEN/TC 392

CEN/TC 392 was founded during an informal brainstorming meeting, on the 29th of January 2009 in London, with the objective of determining standards for the following methods:
- to quantify ingredients;
- to provide skin compatibility tests;
- to evaluate traces;
- to test cosmetic emulsion stability;
- to evaluate the efficiency of cosmetic products.

CEN has already received three EC/EFTA mandates in the field of cosmetics:
- M/375 (2005) Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics;
- M/389 (2006) Efficacy of Sunscreen Products;
- M/426 (2008) Microbiological Analysis of Cosmetic Products.

Given that CEN had no technical body in this field, it has asked ISO (through ISO/TC 217 Cosmetics) to undertake the work requested by the first two mandates. The last one (M/426) was accepted by CEN who currently expects to receive further EC/EFTA mandates in the future, following the recast of the EU Directive on cosmetics.

Importance for SMEs

The analytical methods developed in this TC must be technically and economically accessible to all companies, including SMEs.

During the first brainstorming meeting were present COLIPA, representing the cosmetics industry, and NORMAPME, representing SMEs in the cosmetics industry. NORMAPME considers as crucial to raise awareness on the real problems that SMEs and microenterprises are facing in the cosmetics sector, notably given that the outcome will presumably be a strong cosmetics regulation. It could induce increasing obligations of GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), safety of consumers, and implementation with impact on SMEs (REACH).

The first formal meeting of CEN/TC 392 Cosmetics is planned for the 17th and 18th of September 2009 in Brussels.

NORMAPME secretariat remains at your entire disposal for further information (contact person: Ms. Wennmacher ) 

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