Rapex Report 3rd Quarter 2020

During the 3rd Quarter of 2020, the European Commission's Rapex System notified the withdrawal of a total of 416 articles from the EU market. Among them, 21 cosmetic products. Want to know how the notifications have affected the cosmetics sector? Understand why we have counted 3 more cosmetic products than those listed in the Cosmetics category of the weekly Rapex alerts? Read on!

Rapex Report 3rd Quarter 2020: The Rapex System is a tool created in 2004 by the European Commission for the authorities of all member countries to notify those products that have been withdrawn in and within their borders as unsafe. In this way, through the Rapex portal -Safety Gate- This information is made accessible to all member countries. And that has an added value: with good coordination, the authorities in the member countries will be able to stay alert and take similar decisions in the event of encountering the same unsafe product. 

Articles notified by Rapex alerts are divided by product category. And there are some twenty possible categories of non-food products: Chemicals, Decorative items,  Motor Vehicles, Electrical Appliances, Toys, Pyrotechnics, Cosmetics, Protective Equipment, Fashion and textile...

In the Rapex Report 3rd Quarter 2020 we put the emphasis mainly on cosmetics. However, we also count the tattoo ink recalls also known as permanent make-up, and we keep an eye out for permanent make-up.ny product in the self-care sector to be notified. 

Rapex Report 3rd Quarter

Total number of products withdrawn by the Rapex System

Rapex Report 3rd Quarter 2020: The Rapex System published during the 3rd quarter of 2020 a total of 13 Rapex reports -one every Friday - in which a total of 416 products were notified for withdrawal from the market.

This is a relatively low number, almost 100 times lower than in the previous quarter. And perhaps this can be explained by two reasons:

• • On the one hand, the 3rd quarter coincides with the holiday period for most European workers.The months are therefore relaxed for many sectors.
  • And on the other side, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities have had to focus their resources on health protection of citizens, sometimes leaving aside other security considerations. 
    

By monthwere carried out 211 withdrawals in July, 94 in August y 111 in September. 

Rapex Report 3rd quarter

Alerts published in the Cosmetics Category

In the cosmetics category, the Rapex System has reported a total of 18 cosmetic product alerts9 in July, 3 in August and 6 in September. All published items are, in the eyes of GTF, indeed cosmetic products. However, cosmetic products have been found within other categories. 

Rapex Report 3rd quarter 2020

Total number of cosmetics withdrawn in Rapex alerts

In addition to the 18 cosmetic products published in the category Cosmetics by Rapex System, at GTF M. Camps we have managed to find 3 cosmetic products withdrawn in other categories.

In this case the 3 additional articles have been concentrated in the month of July, and concern 3 sets of false nailswhich were published in the category of Clothing, Textiles and Fashion Items. In all cases, they were withdrawn because of errors in the composition of the nail glueand on the basis of the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009.

The glue for false nails is undoubtedly considered by the Spanish authorities as a cosmetic product.. Therefore, we believe that the classification of these 3 alerts is not correct and should be reviewed. At the same time, we are aware that the total number of withdrawn cosmetics is higher than what the European authorities have counted. 

Rapex Report 3rd quarter 2020

Withdrawn Tattoo Inks

The 3rd Quarter of 2020 has been kind to tattoo inks. Only 2 products have been recalled, both from the USA.

In the 2 cases, the tattoo inks did not comply with the Resolution ResAP(2008)1 on safety requirements and criteria for tattooing and permanent make-up by containing potentially carcinogenic ingredients.

These types of alerts are quite frequent in the Rapex System and are usually linked to 2 or 3 US manufacturing companies. 

Rapex Report 3rd quarter 2020

Typologies of recalled cosmetic products

Finally, we have tried to divide the 21 cosmetic items withdrawn by the Rapex System in the 3rd Quarter 2020 by types of products.

In the results, we can see that the types of products The most withdrawals are:

• • the tooth whitening articles (38.1% of the total)
  • on glue for false nails (14,3%)
  • the henna dyes (14,3%).

We hope you enjoyed the Rapex Report 3rd Quarter 2020. You can share our research with anyone who might find it interesting.

Stay tuned for the Rapex reports that the European Commission publishes every Friday. And do not hesitate to contact us for more information about the regulation and safety of cosmetic products in the EU.