Definition
Cosmetic products are intended to be applied externally to the human body or the mucous membrane to cleanse, to care for, to protect, alter appearance or influence body odor.
Speciality
Cosmetic products are often difficult to diffentiate from other product categories, such as pharmaceuticals. While pharcaceuticals require a complex approval process, the responsibility for the safety and effectiveness of cosmetic products lies with the manufacturer. This means that compliance of legal requirements starts during the development phase.
Manufacturers must conduct a comprehensive safety assessment, which must be documented in a safety report. Additionally, a product information file must be created, containing all relevant information about ingredients, manufacturing and labeling. In Germany and other EU member states, there are also specific requirements for labeling and registration of cosmetic products.