Harmonization of the National Legislation on Cosmetic Products in the Context of the Standardization of the European Legislation in the Field

Abstract

Considering the concern of the European Union to implement an internal market for cosmetic products which also ensures a high level of human health protection and that cosmetics is one of the industrial activities in the EU affected by counterfeiting, which may increase the risks to human health, this article examines how European horizontal legislation is implemented in national law. This article aims to present the legal instruments created at EU level to consolidate the safety of cosmetic products and to strengthen the surveillance of the cosmetic products introduced on the market, but also to protect consumers, taking into account that in order to ensure an effective control of the market it is necessary to have a high degree of administrative cooperation between the competent authorities of the Member States. Moreover, the article aims to present the active role undertaken by the cosmetics industry in developing alternative testing methods within the Horizon 2020 Programme.