Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 19 U.K. Labelling

1. Without prejudice to other provisions in this Article, cosmetic products shall be made available on the market only where the container and packaging of cosmetic products bear the following information in indelible, easily legible and visible lettering:

(a) the name or registered name and the address of the responsible person. Such information may be abbreviated in so far as the abbreviation makes it possible to identify that person and [F1 their] address. If several addresses are indicated, the one where the responsible person makes readily available the product information file shall be highlighted. The country of origin shall be specified for imported cosmetic products;

[F2 (ab) for a period of [F3 seven years] beginning on the day after the day on which IP completion day falls, point (a) is to be treated as satisfied where the requirements of Article 19(1)(a) of the EU Regulation (pre-exit) are complied with;]

(b) the nominal content at the time of packaging, given by weight or by volume, except in the case of packaging containing less than five grams or five millilitres, free samples and single-application packs; for pre-packages normally sold as a number of items, for which details of weight or volume are not significant, the content need not be given provided the number of items appears on the packaging. This information need not be given if the number of items is easy to see from the outside or if the product is normally only sold individually;

(c) the date until which the cosmetic product, stored under appropriate conditions, will continue to fulfil its initial function and, in particular, will remain in conformity with Article 3 (‘date of minimum durability’).

The date itself or details of where it appears on the packaging shall be preceded by the symbol shown in point 3 of Annex VII or the words: ‘best used before the end of’.

The date of minimum durability shall be clearly expressed and shall consist of either the month and year or the day, month and year, in that order. If necessary, this information shall be supplemented by an indication of the conditions which must be satisfied to guarantee the stated durability.

Indication of the date of minimum durability shall not be mandatory for cosmetic products with a minimum durability of more than 30 months. For such products, there shall be an indication of the period of time after opening for which the product is safe and can be used without any harm to the consumer. This information shall be indicated, except where the concept of durability after opening is not relevant, by the symbol shown in point 2 of Annex VII followed by the period (in months and/or years);

(d) particular precautions to be observed in use, and at least those listed in Annexes III to VI and any special precautionary information on cosmetic products for professional use;

(e) the batch number of manufacture or the reference for identifying the cosmetic product. Where this is impossible for practical reasons because the cosmetic products are too small, such information need appear only on the packaging;

(f) the function of the cosmetic product, unless it is clear from its presentation;

(g) a list of ingredients. This information may be indicated on the packaging alone. The list shall be preceded by the term ‘ingredients’.

For the purpose of this Article, an ingredient means any substance or mixture intentionally used in the cosmetic product during the process of manufacturing. The following shall not, however, be regarded as ingredients:

(i)

impurities in the raw materials used;

(ii)

subsidiary technical materials used in the mixture but not present in the final product.

Perfume and aromatic compositions and their raw materials shall be referred to by the terms ‘parfum’ or ‘aroma’. Moreover, the presence of substances, the mention of which is required under the column ‘Other’ in Annex III, shall be indicated in the list of ingredients in addition to the terms parfum or aroma.

The list of ingredients shall be established in descending order of weight of the ingredients at the time they are added to the cosmetic product. Ingredients in concentrations of less than 1 % may be listed in any order after those in concentrations of more than 1 %.

All ingredients present in the form of nanomaterials shall be clearly indicated in the list of ingredients. The names of such ingredients shall be followed by the word ‘nano’ in brackets.

Colorants other than colorants intended to colour the hair may be listed in any order after the other cosmetic ingredients. For decorative cosmetic products marketed in several colour shades, all colorants other than colorants intended to colour the hair used in the range may be listed, provided that the words ‘may contain’ or the symbol ‘+/-’ are added. The CI (Colour Index) nomenclature shall be used, where applicable.

2. Where it is impossible for practical reasons to label the information mentioned in points (d) and (g) of paragraph 1 as provided, the following applies:

• the information shall be mentioned on an enclosed or attached leaflet, label, tape, tag or card;

• unless impracticable, this information shall be referred to by abbreviated information or the symbol given in point 1 of Annex VII, which must appear on the container or packaging for the information referred in point (d) of paragraph 1 and on packaging for the information referred in point (g) of paragraph 1.

3. In the case of soap, bath balls and other small products where it is impossible for practical reasons for the information referred to in point (g) of paragraph 1 to appear on a label, tag, tape or card or in an enclosed leaflet, this information shall appear on a notice in immediate proximity to the container in which the cosmetic product is exposed for sale.

4. For cosmetic products that are not pre-packaged, are packaged at the point of sale at the purchaser's request, or are pre-packaged for immediate sale, [F4 the requirements of regulation 5(1) and (2) of the Enforcement Regulations apply] for indication of the information referred to in paragraph 1.

5. The language of the information mentioned in points (b), (c), (d) and (f) of paragraph 1 and in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) [F5 must meet the requirements of regulation 5(3) of the Enforcement Regulations].

6. The information mentioned in point (g) of paragraph 1 shall be expressed by using the common ingredient name set out in the glossary [F6 referred to] in Article 33. In the absence of a common ingredient name, a term as contained in a generally accepted nomenclature shall be used.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in Art. 19(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 34 para. 18(a) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Art. 19(1)(ab) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 34 para. 18(b) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3 and S.I. 2020/852, regs. 2(2), 4(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(t)(vi)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Words in Art. 19(1)(ab) substituted (E.W.S.) (31.12.2022) by The Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1393), regs. 1(1), 7

F4 Words in Art. 19(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 34 para. 18(c) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Words in Art. 19(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 34 para. 18(d) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Words in Art. 19(6) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 34 para. 18(e) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)