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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 230/2/12

22 April 2003

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 114/2003

European Union (EU)* : Directive on Cosmetic Products

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have adopted a Directive to revise the existing control on cosmetic products. The objectives are to protect animal welfare and public health. Member States are required to bring into force their national laws to comply with the Directive before 11 September 2004. A copy of the Directive (2003/15/EC) is attached ( pdf format) to this Circular for reference.

DETAILS

  1. Under the Directive, Member States shall prohibit the marketing of cosmetic products where the final formulation or the ingredients/combinations of ingredients therein have been the subject of animal testing despite the existence of an alternative method that has been validated and adopted at Community level. Performance of such animal testing on the territories of the Member States will also be prohibited. The European Commission will publish a timetable, not later than 11 September 2004, specifying the timeframe for the implementation of the marketing ban and the prohibition of animal testing of the ingredients or combinations of ingredients in cosmetic products.
     

  2. Besides, substances that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction shall be prohibited from use in cosmetic products. The Directive also restricts the use in cosmetic products of certain substances which have been identified as likely to cause allergenic reactions. Furthermore, cosmetic products marketed in the EU as from 11 March 2005 should comply with additional labelling rules showing their durability for use and lists of ingredients.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the contents of this Circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* : The EU member states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.



  • 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.