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EU cosmetic compliance tutorial: CPSR and PIF explained

As the leading region of the cosmetics industry, the European market was worth more than US$123 billion in 2019. Affected by the epidemic, Euromonitor International, a British market analysis company, estimates that the European cosmetics market will reach US$120.2 billion in 2022. Although it is slightly lower than before the epidemic, it is still a 100 billion-dollar supermarket.

How to get a share of the 100 billion U.S. dollar cosmetics market is a question that many sellers think about. Selling cosmetics in Europe is not something you can sell if you want. You should know that the European Union has strict legal regulations for the sale of cosmetics in Europe.

On July 11, 2013, the European Union formally promulgated the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Cosmetic products must complete the CPSR Cosmetic Safety Report before they can be marketed in the European Union.

What is the CPSR Cosmetic Safety Report?

CPSR stands for Cosmetic Product Safety Report. Cosmetics sold in the EU market must meet the requirements of cosmetics regulations, including submission of CPSR.

CPSR is a report of independent cosmetic safety assessment opinion. Before entering the EU market, cosmetics must be evaluated to ensure that they are safe to use under routine and reasonably foreseeable conditions and meet the requirements of cosmetics regulations.

It should be noted that this regulation is directly implemented as a law in EU member states. Simple speaking, cosmetics are sold in the EU, and no CPSR safety report is an illegal act.

Which cosmetic products need CPSR report?

All cosmetics. According to the definition of EU cosmetics regulations, cosmetics are substances or mixtures used on any part of the human body (skin, hair, nails, lips, and vulva) or teeth and oral mucosa, mainly for cleaning, fragrance, or protection, in order to achieve the purpose of protecting good condition, beautifying or eliminating body odor.

Tattoos and cosmetic textiles also fall under this regulation, but wigs, false eyelashes, and false nails are not under the regulation of cosmetics, the glue used for this purpose falls under the definition of cosmetics.

For a detailed list, please contact us for consultation.

What is the content of CPSR report?

The CPSR cosmetic safety report consists of two parts, namely cosmetic safety information and cosmetic safety assessment.

A complete CPSR report is divided into two parts: cosmetic safety information and cosmetic safety assessment, which are:

  1. The quantitative and qualitative composition of cosmetics
  2. Physical/chemical characteristics and stability of cosmetics
  3. Microbial quality
  4. Information on impurities, trace substances and packaging materials
  5. Normal and reasonably foreseeable use
  6. Cosmetic Exposure Information
  7. Exposure of substances
  8. Toxicological research of substances
  9. Adverse reactions and serious adverse reactions
  10. Information about cosmetics

Cosmetic safety assessment is the opinion of the safety assessor on the safety of the product. It contains 4 parts, namely:

  1. Evaluation conclusion
  2. Label warnings and instructions for use
  3. Inference
  4. Qualification certificate and approval of the assessor

How long is the CPSR report valid for?

According to regulatory requirements, if any relevant research results update or regulatory upgrades have an impact on the evaluation results, the cosmetic safety report needs to be updated immediately.

According to regulatory requirements, after the last batch of products is on the market, the responsible person or manufacturer must keep a cosmetic safety report for at least ten years and make it available to the EU official authorities at any time.

You might have this question: If I sell cosmetics in the EU, I only need to have a CPSR report? NO, you also need a PIF product information file (hereinafter referred to as PIF report).

What is a PIF report?

The PIF report stands for Product Information File, is a product information document that cosmetics sold in the EU must have.

The European Union Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 stipulates that for every cosmetic sold on the EU market, the EU responsible person must hold the PIF report of the product and keep it until the 10th year after the date of the last batch of products is placed on the market. Meanwhile, the responsible person has the responsibility to update the PIF report to ensure compliance with the latest regulatory requirements.

You are interested in selling your cosmetic products into the EU and getting your cosmetic products  EU compliant? We’re glad to assist you in your cosmetic product compliance journey.