Moroccan ministry now requires cosmetics to register before going to market
According to the Ministry’s website, under Circular No. 48 DMP/20, cosmetic manufacturers must now file a product registration application with the Direction du Médicament et de la Pharmacie (DMP).
The circular outlines; “To ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of cosmetics, the Ministry of Health has decided to implement registration procedures prior to their placing on the market, pending the enactment of specific legislation in this area."
Guidelines
The circular prohibits the use of “substances known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction” in cosmetics and further sets out a number of general principles very similar to those of the EU Directive 76/768/EEC, while also referring to the Annexes of this text.
Moreover, the ministry has put a Commission of Cosmetology in place to examine registration applications and to advise the Minister of Health on all matters concerning the suspension, removal or prohibition of sale of cosmetics.
Registering
Going forward, to register a cosmetic product in Morocco, manufacturers must comply with the requirements stated in the circular, particularly concerning its safety, composition and labelling.
A cosmetic manufacturer must also declare their activity and have some qualified staff in charge of quality control and of the evaluation of the products’ safety.
The registration file consists of an administrative and technical subsections. In addition to the usual elements (corporate identity, product identification, etc.), the administrative section must also include a certificate of free sale and an acknowledgement letter from the poison control and pharmacovigilance centre.
While the technical part includes the qualitative and quantitative composition of the product, the raw materials monographs and specifications, the microbiological specifications, the analytical results of the finished products, and the name and addresses of the qualified and responsible persons etc.
Once issued, the ministry says the marketing authorization is valid for 5 years. The application for renewal must be submitted three months before its expiry date.
For more information on the new registration process please click here.
