Although this change does not introduce new restrictions on cosmetic ingredients or alter safety requirements, it has important implications for how ingredients are identified and declared on cosmetic product labels throughout the European Union. For manufacturers, importers, and responsible persons, ensuring compliance with the updated glossary is an essential part of meeting the labelling requirements established by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
What is the European Cosmetic Ingredients Glossary?
The European Cosmetic Ingredients Glossary is the official reference that standardizes the names of ingredients used in cosmetic products marketed within the European Union. It provides harmonized ingredient names—primarily the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) names—as well as information on cosmetic functions and, where applicable, common names for fragrances and plant-derived ingredients.
The glossary supports one of the key objectives of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: ensuring that cosmetic product labels provide clear, consistent, and comparable information to consumers across all Member States.
It is important to note that the glossary is not a positive list of permitted ingredients, nor does it constitute a safety assessment. Instead, it serves as the official reference for ingredient nomenclature used in the ingredient list that appears on cosmetic packaging.
Why has the glossary been updated?
The cosmetic industry is constantly evolving. New raw materials are developed, botanical ingredients are reclassified, biotechnology introduces innovative substances, and international nomenclature continues to expand. To reflect these developments, the European Commission periodically updates the glossary.
The latest revision incorporates numerous new ingredient names, corrects existing entries, updates botanical nomenclature, and aligns terminology with internationally recognized INCI standards. These changes improve consistency between manufacturers, suppliers, regulators, and consumers while reducing ambiguity in ingredient identification.
Although many of the modifications are editorial or nomenclature-related, they are significant because ingredient names appearing on cosmetic labels must correspond to the official terminology.
What became mandatory on 30 July 2026?
From 30 July 2026, cosmetic products placed on the European Union market must use the updated ingredient names where applicable.
This means that companies should have reviewed their product portfolios to identify any ingredients affected by the revision and update product labels, artwork, packaging specifications, product information files, and related technical documentation where necessary.
Products labelled using obsolete ingredient names may no longer comply with the labelling requirements established under Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 if the updated glossary provides a new official designation.
Does this affect product formulations?
In most cases, no.
The glossary update generally concerns the way ingredients are named, not the ingredients themselves. Manufacturers are not usually required to reformulate products simply because the glossary has changed.
However, businesses should verify whether any ingredient names used in their formulations have been modified. Even when the chemical substance remains exactly the same, the official name appearing on the label may need to be updated.
This distinction is important: the regulatory obligation relates primarily to accurate ingredient declaration rather than to the composition of the cosmetic product.
Why is compliance important?
Accurate ingredient labelling is more than an administrative requirement. It supports several fundamental objectives of European cosmetic legislation.
First, it enables consumers—including those with allergies or specific ingredient preferences—to identify product contents more easily. Second, it facilitates market surveillance by competent authorities across the European Union. Finally, harmonized nomenclature improves communication throughout the cosmetic supply chain, from raw material suppliers to finished product manufacturers and distributors.
Using standardized ingredient names also helps avoid confusion caused by multiple names referring to the same substance.
What should cosmetic manufacturers do?
Manufacturers, responsible persons, and brand owners should ensure that they have assessed the impact of the updated glossary on their product portfolio. This typically includes reviewing ingredient declarations, confirming that suppliers are using the latest nomenclature, updating artwork where necessary, and verifying that technical documentation remains consistent with the new terminology.
For companies managing large product ranges, this review may require coordination between regulatory affairs, quality assurance, purchasing, packaging, and marketing teams to ensure that all documentation reflects the same ingredient names.
