Australia streamlines the regulation of cosmetic ingredients
Until now the regulation of ingredients in Australia has been divided between two bodies, the Theraputic Goods Administration (TGA) and the National Industrial Chemicals Scheme (NICNAS).
The new regulation establishes that the entire ingredients regulation process will now be in the hands of the NICNAS, which will simultaneously see the transfer of any processes formerly carried out by the TGA.
Ingredients will now automatically be included in the AICS
This means that the ingredients used in finished cosmetic and personal care products will now be automatically included in the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS), and will not require further assessment by NICNAS.
This also means that the NICNAS will no longer have to issue a summary report for each individual chemical assessment,
Likewise, this side-steps the overlap in the previous law, which meant that ingredients that are already registered and approved, will no longer have to undergo a secondary registration process – providing a significant boon to industry players.
Cutting out the red tape and confusion
The old system led to a long-winded and bureaucratic process that served to confuse consumers, and provide unnecessary red tape for cosmetic manufacturers wishing to comply with the stringent but sometimes contradictory regulations.
According to Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, the new laws are welcomed because it will ‘eliminate overlapping regulation’ that has caused confusion and added work.
“This both addresses a public health gap and will reduce the regulatory burden on industry,” said King. “The passing of the new laws completes the government’s cosmetics regulatory reforms which we began in 2007.”
