Regulatory Context

The state of California regulates cosmetic products differently than other states in the US. To be compliant when selling a cosmetic product in California, the cosmetics brand must consider both national regulations and regulations in California.

In 2005, California created its California Safe Cosmetics Program, becoming the first state in the US to have regulations regarding the safety of cosmetics ingredients. The program was designed to protect consumers and promote the safe manufacture of cosmetics products. In other words, the CSCP was developed to protect consumers while CARB was developed to protect the environment.

This regulation requires identifying cosmetic products containing ingredients that are recognized as potentially hazardous. It also requires the reporting of these ingredients, which must be continuously updated in the event of any changes to the formula composition and any chemical identified as harmful to be disclosed on product labels.

The list of chemical ingredients identifies hazardous and potentially hazardous ingredients, including substances listed under Proposition 65 and those listed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the CERHR (Center of Evaluation of Risk to Human Reproduction) and the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).

How does it work?

As explained above, the ‘California Safe Cosmetics Program’ requires that cosmetics brands marketed in California report the presence of potentially hazardous ingredients.

BIORIUS analyzes the cosmetic products to determine which ingredients are affected by this regulation.

To conduct a California Safe Cosmetics Program evaluation, BIORIUS’ experts analyze the product composition as well as each raw material in the product, the product category and all specificities to determine if the product contains any hazardous ingredients.

When the product is compliant with the California Safe Cosmetics Program, a certificate of compliance is issued, which highlights the following:

• Applicable legislation
• The concentration of hazardous ingredients
• Expert conclusions and any modifications to be implemented.