Throughout September 2019, the EU’s Rapex consumer alert system withdrew 14 cosmetic products from the EU market. However, only 6 alerts have been published in the cosmetics category. Would you like to know why our figures and those of Rapex do not match?Read more!
Report 6 September 2019
Rapex Report, September 2019 – In the first week of September, national authorities across the EU issued 27 alerts regarding products posing a risk to consumers. Of these, one concerned the recall of a cosmetic product. A glue for false nails, which contained 26.8% by weight of chloroform.
Quite apart from the high proportion of this ingredient – which obviously does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009– We were surprised to see this product classified under the cosmetics category. In Spain, the authorities consider that adhesives for false nails are indeed a cosmetic product and should be regulated as such.
However, over the years we have been compiling this report, we have realised something: in some eurozone countries, the authorities do not classify these products as cosmetics, nor do they justify this on the basis of the Cosmetics Regulation, but rather classify them under the ‘Chemicals’ category, justifying this on the basis of the REACH Regulation. And in some cases, they are even listed under the ‘Clothing, textiles and accessories’ category, even though the nail set is being returned because of the glue).
On this occasion, we are pleasantly surprised that the Cypriot authorities have classified, in our view correctly, false nail glue as a cosmetic product.
Rapex Report 13 September 2019
In the second week of September, 31 products were withdrawn from the EU market. There were two notifications in the cosmetics category. However, According to our records, up to 10 cosmetic products were banned.
What has Rapex reported?
In one of the alerts, Rapex reported the recall of a hyaluronic acid gel because it contained the preservative MI. In the other, a henna dye was recalled; this actually comprised two different products, each with its own packaging and serial number.
And where do the remaining seven cosmetics come from?
From the Rapex category ‘Clothing, textiles and fashion items’, in which the Romanian authorities have notified the recall of seven items of false nails. The reason for the recall is that the adhesive did not comply with Cosmetics Regulation.
In the latter case, they were published as separate alerts.
Rapex Report 20 September 2019
Rapex Report, September 2019 – On Friday 29 September, there were 32 alerts concerning products posing a risk to European consumers. None of them concerned the cosmetics sector.
However, there have been alerts with a significant impact on the self-care sector and beauty products: nail dryers, hair dryers, paraffin wax heaters…
Report 27 September 2019
On the last Friday in September, there was a large number of alerts on Rapex. Of the 55 products reported, only three were from the cosmetics sector. All three were primer sprays, manufactured by the Turkish company Prep & Perfect, which the Irish authorities have decided to recall after finding that these products were contaminated with mesophilic aerobic bacteria y Pseudomonas.
When cosmetic products become contaminated, using them can cause irritation and even infections in people with sensitive skin or minor cuts.
Other news about the Rapex System
Would you like to find out more about the Rapex System’s weekly alerts? Have a look! A new report is published every Friday on its website.
Would you prefer to read other articles by GTF M. Camps, featuring summaries of Rapex alerts, on our blog? Here it is!