Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 411/2

30 April 2013

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 323/2013

Argentina : Technical Requirements for Colorants in Personal Hygiene and Cosmetic Products and Perfumes

The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)¹ issued a Mercosur Resolution No. 16/2012 in June 2012 to approve the technical requirements for colorants in personal hygiene and cosmetic products and perfumes. CIC No. 823/2012 of 12 October 2012 was issued to inform the trade of the incorporation of the Mercosur Resolution by the Brazilian government into its national legislation. The Argentine government also issued Decree No. 1608/2013 on 13 March 2013 to incorporate Mercosur Resolution No. 16/2012 into its national legislation.

2.The Resolution No. 16/2012 sets out the technical requirements for colorants that may be applied on (i) all types of products, (ii) all types of products except those applied to the eye area, (iii) products that do not come into contact with mucous membranes under normal and foreseeable conditions, or (iv) products that come briefly into contact with skin and hair. The technical requirements also establish the maximum levels for metal impurities for artificial organic colorants, including barium soluble in 0.001 N hydrochloric acid, arsenic, lead and other heavy metals.

3.For details, traders are advised to consult their importers in Argentina and/or the above MERCOSUR Decision (in Spanish or Portuguese) or Argentine Decree (in Spanish), which are available at:

 Mercosur Resolution No. 16/2012:
http://www.mercosur.int/innovaportal/v/4151/1/secretaria/resoluciones_2012

Argentine Decree No. 1608/2013:
http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/205000-209999/209614/norma.htm.

ENQUIRIES

4.For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact Miss S Y TANG at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,

(Ms Cindy CHENG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

¹The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Note:

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.