Cosmetics

On March 4, 2021, Brazil deposited with the United Nations its ratification of the Nagoya Protocol (“Protocol”) (see here the announcement of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs).  This represents Brazil’s formal commitment to be bound by the Protocol.

On August 6, 2020, the Brazilian Senate passed a Decree that ratifies the Nagoya Protocol. The Protocol complements Brazil’s existing access and benefit sharing rules relating to Brazil’s genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge (“ABS Framework”).  One important effect of this ratification is that other countries parties to the Protocol will have to ensure that users of Brazilian genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge comply with the Brazilian ABS Framework.  However, the inverse is also true.  Brazil will need to ensure that Brazilian users of foreign genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge comply with the access and benefit sharing regime of the country of origin.
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On 25 November 2013, the European Commission published an Implementing Decision containing guidelines to assist responsible persons comply with their regulatory obligations under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Cosmetics Regulation).  The guidelines provide clarity on Annex I of the Cosmetics Regulation, which sets out the minimum requirements for cosmetic product safety reports.  The Implementing Decision will enter into force in mid-December 2013.

Under the Cosmetics Regulation, cosmetic products placed on the EU market must be safe for human health when used under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, taking into account, among other things, the product’s presentation and labelling.  A legal or natural person designated within the EU as the “responsible person” must ensure that each cosmetic product placed on the EU market has a cosmetic product safety report drawn up in accordance with the requirements of Annex I of the Cosmetics Regulation.  This safety report forms part of the product’s information file, which the responsible person must keep for a period of 10 years following the placing on the market of the last batch of product.Continue Reading EU Guidelines on Cosmetic Product Safety Reports