"Commission Decision of 8 May 1996 establishing an inventory and a common nomenclature of ingredients employed in cosmetic products

(Text with EEA relevance)

(96/335/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (OJ No L 262, 27.9.1976, p.169), as amended by Commission Directive 95/34/EC (OJ No L 167, 18.7.1995, p.19), and in particular Article 5a and Article 7(2) thereof,

After consultation of the Scientific Committee on Cosmetology,

Whereas the inventory of ingredients used in cosmetic products must include a section on perfume and aromatic raw materials and a section on other substances;

Whereas this inventory must contain information on the identity of each ingredient, notably the chemical, INCI (ex-CTFA), Ph. Eur., INN and Iupac names, the Einecs/Elincs, CAS and Colour Index numbers, the common name referred to in Article 7 (2) of Directive 76/768/EEC, as well as the ingredient's functions and, where appropriate, any restrictions and conditions of use and warnings which must be printed on the label;

Whereas, in addition to providing necessary information on the ingredients used in cosmetic products, the inventory must be seen in the context of the obligation laid down by Article 6 (1) of Directive 76/768/EEC, which stipulates indication on the product and/or packaging of the function of the product and the list of ingredients as of 1 January 1997 in the case of cosmetic products placed on the market;

Whereas the proposed inventory must be sufficiently complete to allow the labelling of ingredients for cosmetic products;

Whereas it shall, however, be indicative and shall not constitute a list of substances authorized for use in cosmetic products;

Whereas it must be periodically updated;

Whereas a common ingredients nomenclature will make it possible to identify the substances by using a single name in all the Member States, with the result that consumers will easily be able to recognize substances which they have been advised to avoid (for example because of allergies), no matter where they buy cosmetic products in the Community;

Whereas the INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) names best meet these requirements, being relatively simple and, moreover, already in use at international level;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives on the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in the Cosmetic Products Sector;

DECIDES:

Article 1

The inventory of ingredients used in cosmetic products provided for in Article 5a of Directive 76/768/EEC and reproduced in the Annex is adopted.

Article 2

The INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) names contained in the inventory shall constitute the common nomenclature for the purposes of Article 7 (2) of Directive 76/768/EEC.

Done in Brussels, 8 May 1996.

For the Commission

Emma BONINO

Member of the Commission

__________"