The European Parliament this week passed new rules stating that cosmetic products, including anti-aging creams and sunscreen lotions, will have to be more rigorously tested for safety before being sold in Europe as of 2012. The ruling passed 633-29 and will also streamline application procedures for testing and create a single European Union (EU)-wide register for all cosmetic products; labeling of ingredients will be mandatory as well. Green lawmaker Hiltrud Breyer said "[E]veryday cosmetic products containing nanomaterials ... will at last be subject to rules on authorization, safety testing and labeling." The EU governments backed the legislation over concerns that nanoparticles in cosmetics may be toxic. The European Cosmetics Association, an industry-backed organization, said it supported increased information to consumers. The article can be viewed online at the link below
