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09.12.2019 - Cosmetics

Increased levels of heavy metals in cosmetics in the European Rapid Alert System Safety Gate

Frequently, reports on non-marketable cosmetics due to elevated levels of heavy metals are found in the European rapid alert system (Safety Gate, formerly Rapex). Regulation EC 1223/2009 stipulates that, among other things, metals such as arsenic, antimony, lead, cadmium, and mercury must not be present in products. If they are present (due to an entry from a raw material like mica, for example), the levels must be harmless to health and technically unavoidable.

In 2016, the BVL established maximum levels of heavy metals through monitoring (www.bvl.bund.de).

Have your raw materials as well as cosmetic products that may have an entry regularly analyzed with regard to the content of heavy metals. The BAV Institute, as part of the international Tentamus laboratory group, is at your side analytically with the latest measuring techniques. If you are uncertain about which raw materials may be critical, contact us, the BAV Institute is looking forward to your message.

You can find the link to the BVL's maximum levels of heavy metals at www.bvl.bund.de.