A recent collaboration between Trading Standards services across the East Midlands revealed significant non-compliance with UK cosmetic safety regulations. A total of 198 products were examined from retailers throughout the region, and 78% were found to be unsafe.
The investigation found that nearly a third of products tested from national retailers were non-compliant, while the majority of products from other traders also failed to meet safety standards. A significant number of products lacked essential responsible person details, and many contained restricted or banned ingredients. Furthermore, 35% of the examined products were seized, with none coming from national retailers.
Local authorities focused on products sold by regional traders and uncovered various issues, including missing labelling information and hazardous ingredients. Among the most concerning findings was a teeth whitening product containing 7.32% hydrogen peroxide, well above the legal limit of 0.1% for over-the-counter items.
These findings highlight the importance for businesses to adhere to cosmetic safety regulations. Trading Standards has urged consumers to check product labels, buy from reputable retailers, and avoid products labelled for professional use only.
