In Health-EU Bulletin 198, the chairman of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Qasim Chaudhry, introduces his organisation to European citizens. And from GTF, we believe that this is a highly recommended reading. Especially for those of us who work in the cosmetics sector.
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), more commonly known by its English name -Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)- is an “independent committee composed of experts from different EU countries”. It is the body within the European Commission that is responsible for the safety assessment of cosmetic ingredients. This body ensures the quality and safety of cosmetic products, on the basis of Regulation 1223/2009 on Cosmetic Products.
Challenges for the SCCS: ingredient safety and compliance with the Cosmetics Regulation
The mission of the SCCS is a very broad task, which requires the members of the SCCS to keep up to date with cosmetic product legislation and safety. And it is not an easy task, as there have been many changes in the sector in recent years.
It should be remembered that since 2013, “animal testing and the marketing of products containing ingredients tested on animals” has been prohibited in the EU. For this reason, the SCCS is currently relying on other methods. Those based on cell cultures and computer models to obtain data on the safety of ingredients.
There is also another factor to take into account: through R&D&I, the cosmetics industry is continuously creating new products and formats. A good example of this is nanomaterials for the cosmetics sector. Because of their novelty, these types of products and ingredients have not yet been studied in depth.
How does the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety establish the safety of a cosmetic ingredient?
Through the above-mentioned studies, data on the ingredients are collected. Based on the results found, possible harmful effects are assessed. The latter make it possible to establish the risks for vulnerable groups of consumers.
Guidance notes are then published on the ingredients analysed, which are used by the European Commission to authorise or not the use of the ingredients in cosmetics. And, in the event that they are authorised, to define what their permitted uses should be.
Ultimately, the main objective of the SCCS is to “restrict or exclude any harmful ingredients in cosmetics”. The ingredients that are excluded tend to fall mainly into the following groups:
- Carcinogens
- Mutagens
- Toxic to reproduction
- Substances that can remain and/or accumulate in the body over time.
Hopefully, through this article you have gained a better understanding of the great importance of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. And again, we recommend that you visit Health-EU Bulletin 198, where you will find the statements of its chairman.
For more information on the safety of cosmetic products, do not hesitate to contact us. Our proposal? Solutions