New Product Preservation Programme aims to ‘preserve the future’

Maintaining as wide a palette of preserving ingredients as possible is essential for safe, healthy and innovative cosmetics product formulation, but that is under threat as increasing numbers of ingredients are rejected by consumers or regulators, or both.

It was a focus of one session at the recent Cosmetics Europe​ Annual Conference industry knowledge-sharing event in Brussels.

The speakers were:

• Ian Watt, Global Regulatory Sciences and Product Sustainability Dow Microbial Control, Product Stewardship and Regulatory Manager, Dow Chemical Company
• Sylvie Cupferman, International Director Microbiology, L’Oréal
• Pamela Bloor, Global Regulatory Affairs Manager, Unilever

Session highlights​

Here are the key session highlights from the event, as compiled by CEAC organisers:​

During this parallel session, three speakers introduced Cosmetics Europe Preservation Programme and the need to keep a wide palette of preservatives to ensure product safety and consumers safety.

The challenges were presented from both the product manufacturers and ingredient suppliers sides, especially when it comes to future innovations for cosmetics products preservation. One of the key aspect of the discussion was the communication on the concept of Product Preservation between the different stakeholders.

This applies for the consumer; but is as equally important for internal communication in companies, where negative perceptions regarding the use of preservatives are exacerbated by the use of ‘free from’ claims.

Maintaining good industry-regulator dialogue​

In addition, the industry needs to keep a good dialogue with the European Commission to ensure the ability to maintain a wide palette of preservatives.

Some options were mentioned such as an alternative to the Annex V.

The last key point was to make sure Europe keeps a global vision on product preservation, and that the Cosmetic Industry always interacts with other industries.

In summary, communication, education and global vision are the main topics that will be key to preserve the future of preservatives and ensure continued product/consumer safety.