The European Commission has now published a simplification review of the EU Deforestation Regulation. The stated goal is to reduce administrative burdens while keeping the regulation’s main objective intact, namely reducing the EU’s contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation. The EUDR entered into force in 2023. It requires companies placing commodities such as cocoa,...
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has clarified the regulatory status of Triheptanoin in cosmetics following the ingredient’s approval for pharmaceutical use. In an administrative notice issued on 20 April 2026, the Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau confirmed that Triheptanoin is now classified as a pharmaceutical ingredient under Japan’s Pharmaceutical and...
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has published a preliminary opinion on the safety of acetophenone (CAS No. 98-86-2), opening a new chapter in the ongoing regulatory assessment of this substance within the European cosmetics framework. Although acetophenone is not among the most widely discussed cosmetic ingredients, its recent toxicological classification and...
The European Union’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), Regulation (EU) 2023/988, represents one of the most significant updates to consumer product safety legislation in recent years. Although the regulation officially became applicable on 13 December 2024, its practical implications continue to evolve, particularly following the publication of new European Commission guidance in November 2025. For...
The European Union is advancing towards a more coordinated system for the evaluation of chemical substances. Through the “One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA)” initiative, European institutions aim to improve how scientific information on chemicals is generated, shared and assessed across different regulatory sectors. For the cosmetics industry, this development represents an important step in the...
On April 15, 2026, the China National Institute for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released two new trial technical guidelines for hair perming cosmetics: Technical Guideline for Research on Hair Perming Cosmetics (Trial) Technical Guideline for Research on Quality Control Requirements for Hair Perming Cosmetics (Trial) Together, these documents provide a clearer regulatory framework for...
Canada has introduced a new risk assessment framework for nanomaterials under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The update focuses on how nanomaterials behave, their lifecycle, and their possible impact on human health and the environment. The change is not about creating completely new rules, but about adapting existing chemical assessment systems with nano-specific considerations....
Vietnam has introduced an important regulatory change for the cosmetic industry. The country has removed the requirement for prior approval of cosmetic advertising content before publication. Under the new rules, companies no longer need to get a “Confirmation of Advertising Content” from health authorities before advertising cosmetic products in Vietnam. This reform came through Circular...
Cosmetic dupes have become one of the biggest talking points in the beauty industry lately. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram helped push the trend fast, especially among consumers looking for products that resemble premium cosmetics but cost much less. What started as a viral beauty trend is now drawing attention from regulatory and...
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has published a new scientific opinion on the use of thiomersal and phenylmercuric salts as preservatives in cosmetic products. The conclusion is clear: based on the currently available data, these substances are not considered safe at the concentration levels currently allowed for cosmetic eye products in...
