Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
EU cosmetics regulation: the framework, the obligations and the data behind compliance
A single entry point to Regulation 1223/2009: what it requires, how it is structured across its Annexes, the operational duties it imposes, and where the live regulatory data that keeps a product compliant actually sits.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 is the single law governing cosmetic products across the EU and EEA. It replaced Directive 76/768/EEC and unified safety, legal responsibility, notification and substance restrictions into one text. This page organises those pillars and links to the data and guides behind each one.
The structure
The substance restrictions: Annexes II–VI
The operational core of the regulation is its substance lists. The Commission maintains them in CosIng; here you can browse them with live data.
The obligations
What the regulation requires before you sell
Beyond substances, the regulation imposes operational duties: who is accountable, what documentation is kept, and how each product is notified.
High-impact changes
The areas that move compliance the most
A few categories concentrate most of the regulatory change. They are worth tracking closely.
Frequently asked questions
The essentials of the EU cosmetics regulation
What is the EU Cosmetics Regulation?+
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 is the single legal framework for cosmetic products placed on the EU and EEA market. Applicable since 11 July 2013, it replaced Council Directive 76/768/EEC and sets the rules for safety, the Responsible Person, product notification and the substances allowed in cosmetics. The complete guide to Regulation 1223/2009 →
Who has to comply with Regulation 1223/2009?+
Anyone placing a cosmetic product on the EU/EEA market: manufacturers established in the EU, importers of non-EU products, and distributors that re-label or modify a product. Each product must have a designated EU-established Responsible Person who answers to the competent authorities. What the Responsible Person role requires →
How does the regulation control which ingredients are allowed?+
Through Annexes II to VI. Annex II lists prohibited substances, Annex III restricted ones, and Annexes IV, V and VI are the positive lists of permitted colorants, preservatives and UV filters. The European Commission maintains these lists in the CosIng database and updates them by amending acts. Browse the CosIng database →
What is a cosmetic product under EU law?+
Article 2 defines a cosmetic product as any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the body — or the teeth and oral mucous membranes — exclusively or mainly to clean, perfume, change appearance, protect, keep in good condition or correct body odours. The legal definition explained →
How do you keep up with changes to the regulation?+
The substance Annexes and the supporting opinions change regularly through amending acts, SCCS opinions and Safety Gate alerts. A reformulation or a new Annex II addition can turn a compliant product non-compliant overnight, so the practical answer is continuous monitoring of CosIng and the EU regulatory sources. How to monitor EU cosmetic regulation changes →
The regulation changes. Your database should change with it.
BD-API delivers every CosIng change as a signed patch and watches SCCS, Safety Gate and EUR-Lex so compliance never depends on checking the Official Journal by hand.