Ensuring the safety of chemicals in cosmetics

Ingredients in cosmetic products are classed as industrial chemicals, even those described as naturally occurring. To make sure these products are safe for the workers handling them, the environment and for use by consumers, the Australian Government assesses the ingredients used in the manufacture and importation of cosmetics in Australia. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) was established in 1990 to protect the health of the public, workers and the environment from the harmful effect of industrial chemicals.  The CFA consumer representative Robyn Easton is on the NICNAS Cosmetic Advisory Group.

Recently new legislation finalised the transfer of the regulation of chemical ingredients in cosmetics  to NICNAS. Consumers will be now able to find information in one place, that is at NICNAS, including the assessment of ultra-violet filters in secondary sunscreen products, which are one group of the cosmetic ingredients transferred to NICNAS under the cosmetic reforms. The Cosmetic Advisory Group is currently working on a review on the safety of UV filters. There are controls on these ingredients, under the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) requirements for primary sunscreens, for instance by setting concentration limits in sun  protection products. NICNAS will review the need for protection requirements in secondary cosmetic products. The Cosmetic Advisory Group  has been extended for 12 months to address this issue.

For more information visit http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Current_Issues/Cosmetics.asp