Commission changes TTIP position on cosmetics

The European Commission has made changes to the latest version of its position on cosmetics in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the United States.

In March, the executive published a new version of its position paper on cosmetics as part of the TTIP talks.

In contrast to the earlier version published in May last year, the paper no longer contains a reference to “mutual recognition” of banned and authorised substances in cosmetics.

Instead, the Commission is now calling for a "collaboration in scientific safety assessment methods."

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) welcomed the change in a blog post, writing that allowing mutual recognition of systems would mean that the EU would accept banned chemicals in cosmetics, which would significantly risk lowering safety standards in the EU. More than 1,300 substances are prohibited in cosmetics in the EU, while only 11 are in the US, the BEUC noted.

"Therefore, any integration of the mutual recognition principle in negotiations on cosmetics was unanimously highlighted by public interest organisations as a major threat to the EU’s cosmetic safety regulatory framework. Acknowledging and acting on this concern in the new text is a welcome step by the Commission," the BEUC wrote.

However, there are many battles still to be fought in order to protect consumer interests under TTIP, BEUC's Director General, Monique Goyens, told EURACTIV. Nevertheless, the European Commission’s move to withdraw mutual recognition of prohibited cosmetic substances from the position paper on cosmetics is a step in the right direction.

"Many critics have claimed transparency would hurt the TTIP negotiations. This development is proof that the opposite is true," the BEUC's Director General Monique Goyens told EURACTIV.

"Thanks to access to documents and engagement with civil society, negotiators have the chance to improve what is on the table. Increased transparency in the TTIP negotiations is a win-win situation for all," Goyens said.

>> Read: Cosmetics boss: Banned ingredients won't creep back into Europe via TTIP

EURACTIV requested a comment from Cosmetics Europe, but industry representatives declined.

Last year, Cosmetics Europe's former director general, Bertil Heerink, told EURACTIV that the European and American cosmetics industries had developed a joint proposal on TTIP, calling for mutual recognition of tests, protocols and how risk assessment is conducted.