Argentina updates list of colour additives permitted in cosmetics

09-Jun-2013 - Last updated on 10-Jun-2013 at 15:45 GMT

Related tags Uruguay

Argentina’s regulatory authority has updated its list of colour additives which will permit previously prohibited substances in perfumes, personal care products and cosmetics.

The Administración Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnologia Medica (ANMAT), responsible for implementing regulation standards in the country says it is necessary to update the lists to ensure the correct utilization of raw materials in the manufacture of cosmetics.

Amongst the substances now permitted are insoluble barium, strontium and zirconium, which are used in the likes of pigments dyes, providing that they are checked for insolubility through appropriate tests.

"Colorants for all types of products, except those which are applied in the eye area will now be permitted. The presence of previously prohibited ingredients in this updated list may be permitted provided that their presence is technically impossible to be avoided by good manufacturing practice and with the provison that the final product is safe."

In terms of dyes, the Authority says they must comply with the specifications of identity and purity established by the relevant international organizations and maximum permitted metal impurities in artificial organic dyes.

“This refers to dyes allowed only on non-mucosal contact in normal or foreseeable conditions of use. Substance dyes permitted only in products have short contact time with the skin and hair. This list is not intended exclusively of dyes to dye hair."

Updated list to be adopted by all member states

ANMAT’s Disposición No 1608/2013 supersedes Disposición No 2162/2011 and will be adopted by the Mercosur’s Common Market Group and put into force in all member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela) thirty days after the Mercosur’s Secretariat officially indicates the text has been transposed into each national law.

"In terms of the Ouro Preto Protocol, the standard to be incorporated by this provision shall enter into force simultaneously in States 30 days after the date of the notice issued by the Secretariat of Mercosur, reporting that the states have incorporated the norm in their respective domestic legal systems."

For a full list of those ingredients, please see here.

Earlier this year, ANMAT also prohibited the marketing of 43 perfumes of Chinese origin that were not properly registered and were imported by unregistered persons.