Cosmetics Directive
Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products was the main European Union law on the safety of cosmetics. It was made under Art. 100 of the Treaty of Rome. By agreement, it was also applicable in the European Economic Area.
The directive defined a "cosmetic product" as "any substance or preparation intended for placing in contact with the various external parts of the human body or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or principally to cleaning them, perfuming them or protecting them in order to keep them in good condition, change their appearance or correct body odours."
It was repealed by EC Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetics with effect from 11 July 2013, with the exception of Article 4b which was repealed with effect from 1 December 2010.
Main parts
The main part of the directive was the different lists of substances in the annexes:- substances that are banned from use in cosmetics
- substances that are subject to restrictions on their use : such substances might only be permitted for certain types of cosmetics, or in certain concentrations, or subject to warning labels, etc.
- permitted colourings
- permitted preservatives
- permitted UV filters