Selling Cosmetic Products
The following is for general information purposes only. All further queries regarding this information should be directed to the competent authority listed below.
Competent Authority
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority for the regulation of cosmetic products in Ireland.
Their aim is to ensure all cosmetics on the Irish market are safe and compliant with legal requirements. They identify and address cosmetic product safety issues, in conjunction with the HSE, so that a cosmetic product will not compromise the health and safety of the consumer or the user of a product.
A guide for retailers selling cosmetic products in Ireland
On 11 July 2013, new laws came into force impacting everyone who sells cosmetic products in Ireland. This EU law is Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 (On Cosmetic Products).
All retailers who sell cosmetic products should be aware of these new laws and the legal requirements now in place.
There must be a designated responsible person (RP) nominated for each cosmetic product placed on the market within the EEA.
The guidance document ‘Guide to Cosmetic Products for Responsible Persons’ provides some detail of the key obligations of the responsible person.
What are cosmetic products?
They are products generally intended to cleanse or beautify a person. Some examples include
deodorants, shampoos and soaps, hair dyes, toothpaste and make-up.
What do the new laws mean for me as a retailer?
As a result of the new laws, a retailer is now required to:
• Confirm that certain important information has been included on the label of a cosmetic product;
• Take due care and avoid any unnecessary risks in the purchase of cosmetic products from suppliers;
• Take steps to make a product safe if there is a safety concern;
• Inform suppliers and/or the HPRA if a customer experiences an undesirable effect (adverse reaction) after using a cosmetic product;
• Ensure products are stored and transported properly to avoid any negative impact on the safety of the products (while they are your responsibility)
What do I need to check on the product label?
• That the text on the label is in English, in Irish or both.
• That the best before date, where this is relevant to the product, has not passed.
• That the information below is present on the label:
–– An ingredient list
–– A batch number or reference ID
–– A European address
In the case of soap, bath ball or any other small product where it is not possible to list the ingredients, this information should appear on a notice immediately beside the product.
What checks must I carry out if I purchase a cosmetic product over the internet for sale in my premises?
If you are buying a cosmetic product over the internet you must carry out the same checks listed previously.
What records do I need to keep?
Retailers should keep records of all their suppliers of cosmetic products. Invoices and/or delivery dockets should be kept for three years.
What actions should I take during a product recall?
In the event that an unsafe product is placed on the Irish market, a retailer is required to cooperate with their supplier and with the HPRA in recalling the product from the market. This is when keeping records become very important.
What do I do if a customer experiences an undesirable effect?
An undesirable effect is an adverse effect on human health that occurs from the normal or reasonably expected use of a cosmetic product. An undesirable effect is sometimes referred to as an adverse reaction. Examples of undesirable effects include irritant and allergic effects, sensitivity to light and itching.
A serious undesirable effect means an undesirable effect which results in temporary or permanent inability to function as normal, a disability, hospitalisation, birth defects, and an immediate risk to life or death.
In the event of a serious undesirable effect occurring on the Irish market, the retailer must, without delay, contact the HPRA and the company at the European address on the label. You should report the following details:
• The name of the relevant cosmetic product so it can be identified;
• All serious undesirable effects that you are aware of related to this product;
• Any corrective action taken. This might include stopping a product from being sold.
Report forms can be downloaded from the cosmetics section of the HPRA website
Relevant legislation applicable
The requirements for retailers selling cosmetic products in Ireland are set out in the following Irish legislation.
S.I. No. 440 of 2013, European Union (Cosmetic Products) Regulations transposed the national implementing provisions from Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 (as amended).
Further information
For further information regarding the procedures required for selling cosmetic products in Ireland, the following guidance documents are available from the cosmetics section of www.hpra.ie:
- Guide to Cosmetics
- Selling Cosmetic Products in Ireland
- Guide to Cosmetic Products for Distributors
- Guide to Cosmetics for responsible persons.
Contact details
Please find the contact details below for the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
Health Products Regulatory Authority
Kevin O’Malley House
Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Phone: +353 1 676 4971
E-mail: cosmetics@hpra.ie