Professional Documents
Culture Documents
II
COMMISSION
COMMISSION DECISION
of 9 February 2006
(2006/257/EC)
Having regard to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to cosmetic products (1), and in particular Article 5a(3) and Article 7(2) thereof,
After consultation of the Scientific Committee for Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended
for Consumers,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with information supplied by the industry concerned, the inventory and the common
nomenclature of ingredients employed in cosmetic products set out in the Annex to Decision
96/335/EC (2) need to be updated.
(2) Section I in the Annex to Decision 96/335/EC should be updated to ensure the scientific accuracy
and validity of some existing entries as well as of new entries, and to improve the botanical entries as
well as the definitions and classes of functions.
(3) It has been proven necessary to substantially revise the Nomenclature Conventions set out in the
Annex to Decision 96/335/EC in order to make them clearer and to adapt them to the changes in the
International nomenclature of cosmetic ingredients (INCI).
(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 169. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2005/80/EC (OJ L 303, 22.11.2005, p. 32).
(2) OJ L 132, 1.6.1996, p. 1.
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(4) The list of abbreviations set out in the Annex to Decision 96/335/EC should be adapted to take into
account the introduction of new ingredients in the inventory.
(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing
Committee on Cosmetic Products,
Sole Article
The Annex to Decision 96/335/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
ANNEX I
‘SECTION I
Introduction
This list has been prepared in particular on the basis of information provided by the European Cosmetic Industry
represented by the European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA).
The list covers all items foreseen under Article 5a of the cosmetic products Directive concerning identity, usual
function(s), and restrictions on cosmetic ingredients. The ingredients are listed in the alphabetical order of the INCI
names, which constitute together the common nomenclature for labelling throughout the EU.
1. INCI name
This refers to the common nomenclature for ingredient labelling on the packaging of cosmetic products. The
conventions used for the nomenclature are attached.
The abbreviation ‘INCI’ stands for International nomenclature for cosmetic ingredients. It refers to a new
terminology developed by COLIPA to take into account the need for a truly international approach. It should be
noted that Article 5a of the cosmetic products Directive refers to CTFA, which has been replaced by INCI as the
correct designation for the nomenclature. An INCI name may cover several chemical entities.
For cosmetic colorants, the colour index (CI) number or the name listed in Annex IV has to be used for
ingredient labelling, as indicated in Article 6(1)(g) of the cosmetic products Directive. The CI number therefore
becomes the INCI name for these ingredients.
2. INN name
This abbreviation refers to the International non-proprietary name recommended by the World Health
Organisation. It is listed where applicable.
This abbreviation refers to the name in the European pharmacopoeia. It is listed where applicable.
4. CAS number
This abbreviation refers to the code number developed by the Chemical Abstracts Service. The CAS number is a
worldwide code enabling identification of chemical substances. It is listed when available.
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5. EINECS/ELINCS number
This refers to the numerical code provided either under the European inventory of existing commercial chemical
substances (EINECS) for existing chemicals or under the European List of Notified Chemical Substances
(ELINCS) for new chemicals. It is listed where applicable.
6. Chemical/IUPAC name
This field covers the chemical name and the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) name.
It covers EINECS names, which make use of the IUPAC nomenclature, or CAS names, which clearly offer a
suitable identification of the ingredient. Both items have been combined to avoid duplication.
7. Restriction
This field refers to ingredients covered under the Annexes of the cosmetic products Directive, in an abbreviated
format. (e.g. III/1, 16 means Annex III, Part 1, No 16). The list covers all references to the Annexes up to and
including Commission Directive 2000/11/EC adapting the Annexes of the cosmetic products Directive to
technical progress. However, banned substances from the Directives 2002/34/EC, 2004/93/EC, 2005/42/EC
and 2005/80/EC have been deleted.
Regular updates of this field will be essential as the Annexes to the Directive are adapted to technical progress.
8. Function
This field refers to the usual function(s) of the ingredient as used in cosmetic products; an ingredient may have
several functions.
ABRASIVE
Removes materials from various body surfaces or aids mechanical tooth cleaning or improves gloss.
ABSORBENT
ANTICAKING
Allows free flow of solid particles and thus avoids agglomeration of powdered cosmetics into lumps or hard masses.
ANTICORROSIVE
ANTIDANDRUFF
ANTIFOAMING
Suppresses foam during manufacturing or reduces the tendency of finished products to generate foam.
ANTIMICROBIAL
ANTIOXIDANT
Inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
ANTIPERSPIRANT
Reduces perspiration.
ANTIPLAQUE
Helps protect against plaque.
ANTISEBORRHOEIC
Helps control sebum production.
ANTISTATIC
Reduces static electricity by neutralising electrical charge on a surface.
ASTRINGENT
Contracts the skin.
BINDING
Provides cohesion in cosmetics.
BLEACHING
Lightens the shade of hair or skin.
BUFFERING
Stabilises the pH of cosmetics.
BULKING
Reduces bulk density of cosmetics.
CHELATING
Reacts and forms complexes with metal ions which could affect the stability and/or appearance of cosmetics.
CLEANSING
Helps to keep the body surface clean.
COSMETIC COLORANT
Colours cosmetics and/or imparts colour to the skin and/or its appendages. All colours listed are substances on the
positive list of colorants (Annex IV to the Cosmetics Directive).
DENATURANT
Renders cosmetics unpalatable. Mostly added to cosmetics containing ethyl alcohol.
DEODORANT
Reduces or masks unpleasant body odours.
DEPILATORY
Removes unwanted body hair.
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DETANGLING
Reduces or eliminates hair intertwining due to hair surface alteration or damage and, thus, helps combing.
EMOLLIENT
EMULSIFYING
Promotes the formation of intimate mixtures of non-miscible liquids by altering the interfacial tension.
EMULSION STABILISING
Helps the process of emulsification and improves emulsion stability and shelf-life.
FILM FORMING
FOAMING
Traps numerous small bubbles of air or other gas within a small volume of liquid by modifying the surface tension of
the liquid.
FOAM BOOSTING
Improves the quality of the foam produced by a system by increasing one or more of the following properties:
volume, texture and/or stability.
GEL FORMING
Gives the consistency of a gel (a semi-solid preparation with some elasticity) to a liquid preparation.
HAIR CONDITIONING
Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparts volume, lightness, gloss, etc.
HAIR DYEING
Colours hair.
HAIR FIXING
Modifies the chemical structure of the hair, allowing it to be set in the style required.
HUMECTANT
HYDROTROPE
KERATOLYTIC
MASKING
MOISTURISING
Increases the water content of the skin and helps keep it soft and smooth.
NAIL CONDITIONING
OPACIFYING
ORAL CARE
Provides cosmetic effects to the oral cavity, e.g. cleansing, deodorising, protecting.
OXIDISING
Changes the chemical nature of another substance by adding oxygen or removing hydrogen.
PEARLESCENT
PLASTICISER
Softens and makes supple another substance that otherwise could not be easily deformed, spread or worked out.
PRESERVATIVE
Inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics. All preservatives listed are substances on the
positive list of preservatives (Annex VI to the cosmetics Directive).
PROPELLANT
Generates pressure in an aerosol pack, expelling contents when the valve is opened. Some liquefied propellants can
act as solvents.
REDUCING
Changes the chemical nature of another substance by adding hydrogen or removing oxygen.
REFATTING
Replenishes the lipids of the hair or of the top layers of the skin.
REFRESHING
SKIN CONDITIONING
SKIN PROTECTING
SMOOTHING
Seeks to achieve an even skin surface by decreasing roughness or irregularities.
SOLVENT
Dissolves other substances.
SOOTHING
Helps lightening discomfort of the skin or of the scalp.
STABILISING
Improves ingredients or formulation stability and shelf-life.
SURFACTANT
Lowers the surface tension of cosmetics as well as aids the even distribution of the product when used.
TANNING
Darkens the skin with or without exposure to UV.
TONIC
Produces a feeling of well-being on skin and hair.
UV ABSORBER
Protects the cosmetic product from the effects of UV light.
UV FILTER
Filters certain UV rays in order to protect the skin or the hair from harmful effects of these rays. All UV filters listed
are substances on the positive list of UV filters (Annex VII to the Cosmetics Directive).
VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetics.