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Health assessment of Cosmetics

Products which come into contact with human skin must be non-hazardous to health. The BfR assesses the risks of ingredients in cosmetic products - from lipstick to tooth bleaching agents - with the support of the Cosmetics Committee.

Skin cream, toothpaste, shampoo - cosmetics not only include decorative cosmetics such as lipstick or make-up but also all substances and preparations which are exclusively or predominantly intended to be applied externally to the body or in the oral cavity. This also includes suntan lotions, soap and other personal care products. Their common feature is that they are used for cleaning, keeping the skin and body in good condition, as perfumes and scents or to change a person's appearance. For the BfR, ensuring that cosmetic products are safe for consumers to use takes top priority.

Approval and notification

Cosmetics are not subject to approval. Certain ingredients like preservatives, colorants or UV filters have to be approved.

Producers of cosmetics must guarantee that their products do not pose any risk based on safety assessments.

The European Commission operates an internet portal via which cosmetic products have to be notified before they are marketed. Among other things, manufacturers are obliged to enter the formula of their product so that the poison centres can access the details in the course of their advisory work. Information on nano-sized ingredients must also be entered.

The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety provides more information on the notification process at www.bvl.bund.de/EN.

Where necessary, the BfR assesses the ingredients of cosmetics with regard to their health safety. 

Advisory role

The BfR advises the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) on the health risk assessment of cosmetics.

Legal bases

  • German Food and Feed Code (LFGB)
  • German Product Safety Act (ProdSG)
  • Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009

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Opinion

 (25)
Date Title Size
06.08.2003
Opinion of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
UV-Filters in Sun Protection Products 115.1 KB
PDF-File
01.09.2003
Opinion of the Federal Insitute for Risk Assessment
Use of undiluted tea-tree oil as a cosmetic 80.3 KB
PDF-File
06.08.2008
BfR Opinion No. 003/2009
Lip care products should not contain any boric acid 27.2 KB
PDF-File
10.10.2008
BfR Opinion No. 019/2009
Children's cosmetics should not contain any allergenic peanut oil 27.3 KB
PDF-File
27.01.2009
BfR Opinion No. 012/2009
Requirements for the safety assessment of tattooing agents 31.6 KB
PDF-File
28.12.2009
BfR Opinion Nr. 024/2010
BfR recommends that nano-silver is not used in foods and everyday products 27.9 KB
PDF-File
18.06.2010
BfR Opinion Nr. 037/2010
Sunscreen: According to the current state of knowledge zinc oxide as UV filter is safe 28.5 KB
PDF-File
17.11.2010
BfR Opinion Nr. 045/2010
Assessment of formaldehyde-containing hair straighteners 57.3 KB
PDF-File
19.01.2011
Opinion No. 024/2011 of BfR
Henna hair dyes that contain p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) pose a health risk 28.2 KB
PDF-File
01.07.2011
BfR Opinion No. 044/2011
Some Tattoo Colours Contain Carcinogenic PAH 86.8 KB
PDF-File
22.12.2011
BfR Opinion No. 014/2012
Liquid agents for nail modelling with high methyl methacrylate contents present a health risk 31.7 KB
PDF-File
04.06.2012
BfR Opinion No. 010/2013
Proposals for the guideline on the assessment of chemical risks in the European rapid alert system RAPEX 24.7 KB
PDF-File
28.08.2012
BfR opinion No. 013/2013
Requirements for Tattoo Inks 125.7 KB
PDF-File
22.01.2013
BfR Opinion No. 020/2013
Methylisothiazolinone (MI) contained in cosmetics may cause allergies 23.6 KB
PDF-File
25.02.2013
BfR Opinion No. 007/2013
β-Arbutin in skin lighteners is a health risk 26.4 KB
PDF-File
03.01.2014
BfR opinion No. 032/2014
Polyethylene-containing microplastic particles: health risk resulting from the use of skin cleansing and dental care products is unlikely 31.8 KB
PDF-File
31.01.2014
Updated BfR opinion No. 005/2014
Vitamin A: Intake via cosmetic products should be restricted 31.0 KB
PDF-File
01.02.2014
BfR Opinion No. 017/2014
Infection Risks through Tattooing 30.3 KB
PDF-File
10.02.2014
BfR Opinion No. 015/2014
Hair colouring products: self-tests can cause allergies 46.6 KB
PDF-File
26.02.2014
BfR opinion No. 007/2014
Aluminium-containing antiperspirants contribute to aluminium intake 158.7 KB
PDF-File
27.02.2018
Updated BfR Opinion No. 008/2018
Highly refined mineral oils in cosmetics: Health risks are not to be expected according to current knowledge 167.6 KB
PDF-File
18.11.2019
BfR Opinion No 045/2019
Reducing aluminium intake can minimise potential health risks 174.3 KB
PDF-File
07.09.2020
Updated BfR Opinion No 038/2020
Skin creams, make-up and shampoos should be free from Pluralibacter 194.4 KB
PDF-File
08.09.2020
BfR Opinion No. 039/2020
Tattoo inks: risk assessment for Pigment Blue 15:3 and Pigment Green 7 199.6 KB
PDF-File
14.10.2021
BfR Opinion No. 031/2021
Tattoo inks: minimum requirements and test methods 1012.6 KB
PDF-File

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Other documents

 (2)
Date Title Size
20.11.2006
Consumers vote on nanotechnology
BfR Consumer Conference on Nanotechnology in Foods, Cosmetics and Textiles 130.3 KB
PDF-File
28.05.2010
BfR Information 023/2010
Import of cosmetic products 28.9 KB
PDF-File

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Press releases

 (23)
Date Title Keywords
10.11.2021
44/2021
For safe tattoo inks: BfR event promotes exchange between scientists, lawmakers and manufacturers risk communication , tattoo
28.05.2020
17/2020
Sun cream protects, but are there health risks? cosmetics , sun protection product(s) , UV filter
18.11.2019
45/2019
Reducing aluminium intake can minimise potential health risks aluminium , cosmetics , product safety
27.08.2019
33/2019
Allergy risk: Metal particles from tattoo needles detected in the skin for the first time allergies, cosmetics , tattoo
17.10.2018
32/2018
From antiperspirants containing aluminium to zinc salts in toothpaste: 50 years of the Cosmetics Committee committee of experts , cosmetics
13.08.2015
21/2015
Tattoos: even parting with them is not without risks 1,2-benzene dicarbonitrile, benzene , benzonitrile, cosmetics , hydrogen cyanide, tattoo
24.11.2014
32/2014
Aluminium in everyday life: a health risk? aluminium , food safety , product safety
27.02.2012
08/2012
Nanosilver: progress in the sphere of analysis, gaps in toxicology and exposure nanomaterials
01.08.2011
26/2011
Risks, which get under the skin
18.07.2011
22/2011
Depilatory creams not to be applied extensively
12.04.2011
10/2011
Safety of nano silver in consumer products: many questions remain open nanomaterials
03.12.2010
16/2010
Hair straightening products with formaldehyde are harmful
10.06.2010
08/2010
Nanosilver has no place in food, textiles or cosmetics
28.10.2009
27/2009
Hair dyeing without any risk - is that possible?
30.04.2009
06/2009
Tattoo inks become safer
05.08.2008
14/2008
Allergies caused by inhaling fragrances?
10.03.2008
05/2008
Consumer products - Safety despite diversity
07.03.2008
A/2008
Safety of Consumer Products
20.12.2007
24/2007
Consumers may take in larger amounts of coumarin from cosmetics, too
18.07.2007
14/2007
BfR repeats its warning about henna tattoos
17.07.2007
13/2007
Always ensure you are well protected from the sun!
06.04.2006
09/2006
Nanotechnology - Applications, Trends and Risks
06.10.2005
32/2005
Always use enough sun protection!

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