Key Takeaways:
Following recent legal changes in the EU, industry groups are asking legislators to support the proposed EU Omnibus VI regulatory update, which simplifies regulations on chemicals while maintaining stringent safety standards for cosmetic and fragrance ingredients. The new rules stem from the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which aims to enforce safety precautions. Two leading industry organizations, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and Cosmetics Europe, have stated that misleading claims surrounding upcoming regulatory changes could undermine public trust in cosmetic safety standards. They are calling on EU legislators to support the Omnibus VI revision as a proportionate update to existing legislation that maintains Europe’s high standards of consumer protection while improving regulatory efficiency for the cosmetics and fragrance industries.
The chemicals Omnibus VI package is part of a broader effort by the European Commission to introduce targeted adjustments to several pieces of legislation, including the Classification, Labeling, and Packaging Regulations (CLP) and the EU Cosmetic Product Regulation. Rather than changing the underlying safety framework, the revisions focus on clarifying procedures, improving regulator timelines, and making certain compliance requirements more workable for industry.
In a joint statement, Cosmetics Europe and the IFRA said a growing number of claims have been circulating in recent months suggesting that proposed revisions under the EU’s Omnibus VI legislation would weaken safeguards on cosmetic and fragrance ingredients.
“Recent months have seen a concerning rise in misinformation about the proposed changes under Omnibus VI. These claims do not reflect reality,” said Alexander Mohr, President of IFRA, in a press release. “Omnibus VI represents a targeted adjustment to regulatory processes, not a change to the fundamental principles of cosmetic and fragrance safety.”
For the fragrance sector, the changes are particularly relevant because companies often manage thousands of formulations, each requiring specific safety documentation and labeling. The proposal includes measures intended to make labeling rules more practical for small fragrance vials and samples and to clarify how ingredients classified under EU chemical legislation may still be assessed for safe use in cosmetics. It also reinforces the role of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), which conducts independent scientific evaluations of cosmetic ingredients to determine whether their use in consumer products remains safe.
Suggestions that the reforms could relax rules governing carcinogenic substances or lower safety standards through regulatory simplification are unfounded, according to the two groups, and risk distorting public understanding of how cosmetic ingredients are evaluated.
The European Union’s cosmetic framework requires ingredients and finished products to undergo scientific assessment and ongoing market monitoring. Industry groups say the Omnibus VI revision is intended to refine regulatory procedures rather than alter core safety principles.
John Chave, Director-General of Cosmetic Europe, stated in a press release, “Omnibus VI does not weaken safeguards,” Chave said. “It ensures that regulatory decisions are better aligned with robust scientific evidence—making it less likely that safe ingredients will be banned while ensuring that ingredients that need to be restricted are addressed.”
The proposal is part of a broader EU effort to modernize regulatory frameworks and reduce administrative burden across industries while maintaining consumer protection for the cosmetics sector. This could help support innovation and competitiveness, particularly for small and mid-sized manufacturers navigating complex regulatory requirements.
At the same time, industry representatives warn that inaccurate claims about the Omnibus proposal and cosmetic safety could influence policymaking debates. Cosmetics Europe and IFRA said policymakers should remain vigilant against false narratives that could affect regulatory decision-making.
As debate around the EU Chemicals Omnibus VI proposal continues, industry groups say maintaining a science-led approach to regulation will be critical. In an environment where policy discussions increasingly unfold in the public sphere, they argue that clear, evidence-based legislation will be essential to maintaining trust in the systems designed to protect consumers.