Cosmetic Testing

Products all need to be safe to use and since in many cases the public might stick fingers into the product with the resulting ingress of bacteria or yeasts and moulds….so this means that the product will need to be preserved in some way.

To test this we will undertake a Microbiological Challenge Test…in short it’s a controlled experiment in a specialist lab where they throw bugs at it and check results over time …

In doing this they are checking if the preservative system chosen by your formulator is robust enough to ensure nothing that could be dangerous is allowed to grow

Cosmetic Stability and Compatibility Testing

These two tests and somewhat self explanatory …but there are timings involved

Stability is putting the product on test at 3 or more temperatures over a period of 90 days so it’s basically chilled, heated up and left at room temperature.

It should also be done in the container of choice ….this ensures that the product is neither too thick nor too thin to come out, doesn’t leak or fade or react in any way with the packaging material.

The product needs to hold together and not fall apart or degrade and its consistency needs to remain where it is to start with during this period

These tests are undertaken in house at our labs and should give the Toxicologist insight into their safety over the shelf life of the product (generally but not always 3 years)

If the products are already on sale in another country and have been for some time without issue this may count towards proof of Stability

EU Labelling and Packaging Compliance

There are defined clear instructions over what should or should not be on the labelling

The print size of the product weight and where it should be on the product, the wording used, again and where, the marketing claims made are all checked before passing

We have a check list available that we can share so that you may see what needs to be on the Primary and what on the Secondary Packaging

We will also need certification from the supplier of the container as to the material used and its conformity with standards

We need to see copy that you either wish to use or have used if the product is in existence to ensure again that it fulfils the current criteria

I have mentioned so far all the data that we need for you to gain your EU compliance through us

So in short that is:-

The full formula

All the SDS’s (Safety data sheets) and C of A’s/specification for each material used

The Challenge Test results (if needed)

The Stability Test Results and the Compatibility Results

The copy on all pieces of packaging and any certification for it

All of this we gather together in a virtual on line PIF (Product Information File) which then goes in front of our Toxicologist to produce the CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report)

The Cosmetic Product Notification Portal is the virtual place within the EU where technical data about all the products either sold or given away is stored

Each Brand must be registered and provide contact information for the person responsible for the brand. (Responsible Person or RP). Data relating to the formulation of the product is stored in the one place. This can be the full formulation with percentages, a stock formulation or preferably it can be a banded formulation showing all ingredients within a range of 10%. E.g. ‘from’ and ‘to’ so between 1% and 10% for example).

A CPSR (Cosmtic Product Safety Report which includes test results such as full Microbiological Tests, Compatibility with Packaging, Stability over time and the full toxicological review must be available on demand. Data such as the copy used, the specification on the packaging must also be held

It is essential that everything is included as this site needs to be accessed by the poisons agencies of the EU so that they can evaluate what may or may not be a problem if someone has misused the product and/or had an allergic reaction Allingham Beck Associates Ltd. provide a service collating and uploading all this data, setting your company up on the portal and monitoring changes

We can offer the total management solution for this legal requirement.

Allingham Beck Associates undertake International Compliance for Brands within the UK/ EU but we also look after some brands from outside the EU wishing to sell in the EU marketplace

Some are Brands which are manufactured in China or the USA for example which are brought into the EU/UK by residents to sell

The degree of Compliance already undertaken on these is hugely relevant and since this also involves the Brand/Manufacturer releasing the full formulation (OR AT LEAST A BANDED FORMULATION WITHIN 10%) amongst other things this can be quite a challenge

We ask that the importer undertake the liaison with their principle and provide us with the necessary documentation for us to complete the paperwork required

We can support them through this operation providing them with a checklist that they can tick off as received

We monitor the FDA and other bodies for changes to legislation or warnings as to materials that may be no longer allowed or are being questioned as to future inclusion

We monitor changes in acceptable levels of fragrance materials recommended by IFRA (INTERNATIONAL FRAGRANCE ASSOCIATION) whose recommendations are generally accepted as a compliance must.

We also are aware of, and have a working knowledge of a number of countries requirements outside of the EU and can assist with many, although not all of these countries.

Clients are advised to check with us where they wish to sell to or buy from before assuming they are covered or that we will know what’s required

EU Compliance is probably the most widely accepted set of standards in the world with many countries outside the EU adopting it as their own and expecting imported brands to reach this standard. However having EU Compliance does not mean your products are suited to sell everywhere for example labelling requirements vary from country to country.

The regulation states that there must be a Responsible Person assigned to every cosmetic product intended for marketing in the UK, EU including NI. 

This includes every area of marketing and selling and / or giving away for free (i.e. as samples or prizes) from a small stand at a local fair, a marketplace, online and from a retail outlet/shop.

Our sister company TRP offer full responsible person services