Cosmetics and personal care products are applied to the human body for the purposes of cleaning, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or changing its appearance.

Ranging from antiperspirants, fragrances, make-up and shampoos, to soaps, sunscreens and toothpastes, cosmetics and personal care products play an essential role in in all stages of our life.

Specifically, there are seven categories of cosmetics and personal care products – oral care, skin care, sun care, hair care, decorative cosmetics, body care and perfumes.

Before being placed on the European market, all cosmetics products must be listed on a centralised database, the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP), managed by the European Commission. When a product has been notified in the CPNP, there is no need for any further notification at national level.