The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has discontinued the previous practice of making specifically Norwegian recommendations regarding substances that should not be present in cosmetics
The reason for this change is that the recommendations were outdated, provided a false sense of security, and created confusion for both consumers and producers.
Removing these recommendations does not mean that cosmetic products will become less safe.'
Specifically, the discontinuation means that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has removed certain lists of substances and risk profiles that were developed between 2011 and 2014. These lists had not been updated in light of new knowledge, and in some cases, a lack of data led to substances being assessed as unsafe without sufficient information.
Continued Strict Safety Requirements
All cosmetic products are still subject to the comprehensive safety requirements imposed by regulations, which involve the evaluation of each individual ingredient.
The responsibility for ensuring that the products on the market are safe lies with the “responsible person,” who can be the manufacturer, importer, or another legal or physical person. Contact information for the responsible person must always be clearly labelled on every product.
The role of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is to manage risks and, together with the authorities in other EU/EEA countries, contribute to ensuring a robust regulatory framework based on relevant knowledge.
Ongoing Development of Consumer Information
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority closely monitors adverse reaction reports and stays updated on new research and events through close collaboration with the EU and other agencies in Norway. We inform about or warn against certain substances when necessary.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will continue to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices, and we will keep updating our cosmetic pages to help consumers.
In general, we recommend that consumers read the ingredient list carefully, especially if you have allergies. Known allergens are required to be clearly labelled so that you can easily avoid them.