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Launching a cosmetic product in the UK is an exciting venture, but it comes with a clear set of regulatory responsibilities to ensure consumer safety and legal compliance. If you're considering bringing a cosmetic product [...]

If you're developing or selling cosmetic products in the UK or EU, understanding your legal obligations is crucial — and one of the most important is the Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR). What Is a [...]

EU member states, along with several non-EU countries, traders, and operators, are calling for an additional year to comply with the European Union’s landmark deforestation regulation. Originally set to take effect sooner, the EU announced [...]

Following the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) final opinion on the reprotoxic classification of Tea Tree Oil, the CTPA has launched a public consultation to allow industry and other stakeholders to submit evidence to inform [...]

In the ever-evolving world of cosmetics, ensuring your products meet regulatory standards isn’t just a box to tick — it’s a vital part of building trust with your customers and protecting your brand. At Melbec [...]

These entries are based on Regulation 2024/996 and are due to come into force soon; Annex II The UV filter4-methylbenzylidene camphor is added to Annex II and therefore banned from use in cosmetic products. The placing on [...]

The Governor of California has signed the Musk Reduction Act (Assembly Bill No.60), which bans 4 musk ingredients, D4, Sodium Perborate, and several other substances already included in the Annex II of EU Cosmetic Regulation. [...]

On 6 October 2025, the Health Safety Executive (HSE) notified to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) an update to the GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling (MCL). The updated notification highlights a change to the ‘making [...]

Health Canada announced an update to the Cosmetic Notification Form in preparation for upcoming regulation changes. The key updates refer to Section 5 – Ingredients. A new checkbox titled Fragrance Allergens has been added - [...]

In this latest edition of our Meet Melbec series, we’re thrilled to introduce Liam, our Senior Technical Manager. With over three years at Melbec Microbiology, Liam is an invaluable part of the team, bringing deep [...]

On September 18, 2025, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) proposed to change hydroquinone restrictions, by removal of the Schedule 2 entry for hydroquinone. The changes mean cosmetics with hydroquinone could be prescription-only drugs regulated by TGA, [...]

On 14 September 2025, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) was requested to submit a scientific opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide, both nano and non-nano, in cosmetic products. In this mandate, the [...]

On September 12, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the launch of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Public Dashboard for Cosmetic Products, an interactive tool designed to facilitate the public’s [...]

A new version of the EU Borderline Manual has been published. Two new entries have been added into the manual: 1.10 ‘Self-Tanning Concentrates’ - Within the manual, self-tanning drops or concentrates are considered as products that [...]

What is a Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA)? A Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA) is a comprehensive safety evaluation designed for non-cosmetic products. It involves a detailed report assessing the toxicological safety of your product's ingredients and [...]

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have published an updated restriction proposal on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The key points of the restriction are as below: Ban on the manufacture, use or placing on the [...]

What is a label review? A label review is a detailed assessment of cosmetic product labels to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements set by the EU and UK. At Melbec, we thoroughly examine your [...]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released its final decision regarding the proposed mandatory classification of tea tree oil under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. In a notable shift, HSE has opted [...]

At Melbec Microbiology, our Regulatory Team plays a crucial role in ensuring that our clients’ products meet the highest standards of safety and compliance. Whether you're launching a new cosmetic product or navigating complex regulatory [...]

As of 1 August 2025, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) upheld the annulment of the classification of titanium dioxide in certain powder forms as a carcinogenic substance. This ECJ judgement will impact the CMR [...]

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs have published a draft version of the statutory instrument (SI) to ban wet wipes containing plastic in England. Based on the update, the definition of plastic has [...]

What is a Global Compliance Check (GCC)? To be sold internationally, cosmetics need to be assessed for compliance in that region. These checks form a document that proves your product is safe and legal to [...]

In the latest instalment of our ‘Meet Melbec’ series, we’re excited to revisit one of our dedicated team members, Chris! We previously featured Chris in a past ‘Meet Melbec,’ but since then, he has earned a well-deserved promotion [...]

Commission Delegated Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the harmonised classification and labelling of certain substances: 22 ATP to CLP. The regulation added new harmonised [...]

The EU Omnibus Act VII, implementing Commission Regulation (EU) No 2024/197, introduces newly classified CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic) substances into Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC No 1223/2009). Effective Date: 1 September [...]

In today’s skincare world, it’s not just about what your product does—it’s about how it interacts with the skin’s natural ecosystem. The skin microbiome, a diverse community of microorganisms living on our skin, plays a [...]

In March 2025, GB proposed to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), mandatory classification and labelling of 30 hazardous chemical substances. They are as follows: perboric acid, sodium salt [1]; perboric acid, sodium salt, monohydrate [2]; [...]

It’s easy to imagine simmering test-tubes and obscure calculations on the chalkboard, but what is it really like down in the Melbec laboratories? We asked, and our busy team were more than happy to share [...]

The Spanish Government has submitted a Draft Decree to the EU Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS), proposing new labelling requirements aimed at enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities—particularly those with visual impairments. The proposed regulation [...]

What is an SDS? A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is an important document that is required for the transport and storage of cosmetic products. It contains instructions for the safe handling of a product. Does [...]

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations 2025 was adopted on 18 June 2025. The Regulation will enter into force on 18 December 2026, after which, wipes containing plastic can no longer [...]

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent global health threats of our time. As bacteria evolve to outsmart our current treatments, the need for new antibiotics has never been greater. Enter zosurabalpin—a groundbreaking antibiotic candidate [...]

🌍 It's World Environment Day 2025! 🌍 Sustainability remains one of our key considerations and something we hold dear at Melbec. Over the last 12 months we have continued to demonstrate our commitment to the [...]

Lewis is the liaison between our Regulatory clients and the safety assessor team. He keeps the Regulatory calendar up to scratch, and ensures our customers have a smooth journey through the choppy waters of Cosmetic [...]

The standard EN 14349:2012 has been updated to EN 14349:2025. EN 14349 is a quantitative surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in the veterinary area on non-porous [...]

For our next blog post, we'd like to share some thoughts from our Research Scientist, Rohith Satheesh, around the topic of antimicrobial resistance! Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to [...]

The importance of CPSRS Cosmetic Product Safety Reports (CPSRs) are a legal necessity when launching your cosmetic products in the UK and EU. They must be carried out by a qualified safety assessor. They include [...]

Kamila is a leading expert in the UK working on global compliance for cosmetic products. She has been working in regulatory compliance for over 11 years. Her expertise on international cosmetic regulation has been invaluable [...]

We're very happy to share with you the results of our Customer Satisfaction Survey! A huge thank you to our clients for another year of support!   Q1: How well do you feel that our company [...]

At Melbec, we offer more than just microbiology. We are very excited to announce the full roll-out of our regulation service! The vast experience of our safety assessors can support you through the complex world [...]

Martin is the Regulatory Manager here at Melbec, leading the way with his expert knowledge of cosmetic regulation in the UK and EU. He joined the industry in 2006 working for a small toiletries company, [...]

The European cosmetics regulation (EC) 1223/2009 requires that fragrance allergens are included in the ingredient list on packaging when their concentration exceeds 0.01% in rinse – off products and 0.001% in leave– on products. On [...]

Updates to Hotlist as released on February 28th, 2025.   NEW Prohibitions: Thioglycolic acid esters: Glyceryl thioglycolate; Isooctyl thioglycolate (CAS 30618-84-9; 25103-09-7) Risk of skin sensitization. A health protective limit could not be calculated based [...]

Over the last week, highly pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at several premises across the UK. 3km protection zones and 10km surveillance zones have been announced around these premises, [...]

On 22 January 2025, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The Regulation will enter into force on 11 February 2025 and will apply from [...]

For our next Meet Melbec blog post, please welcome our fantastic research scientist, Rohith! In the 5 months Rohith has been a part of our team, he’s contributed so much to our internal research, helping [...]

At Melbec Microbiology, we take pride in being leaders in adaptability, quality, and innovation. As the only contract testing laboratory awarded a flexible scope of UKAS accreditation for Phase 2, Step 1 biocidal suspension tests, [...]

When we founded Melbec Microbiology Ltd in 2013, our vision was to create a laboratory that would lead the way in microbiological testing for personal care and biocidal products. Over the years, we’ve worked tirelessly [...]

On December 6, 2024, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) provided revisions to California Proposition 65, mending Sections 25601, 25602, 25603, and 25607.2 of Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations and [...]

Following the departure of the UK from the EU Single Market in December 2020, the UK Cosmetics Regulation entered into force with a two-year transitional provision allowing companies to implement necessary changes, namely labelling compliance [...]

Pluralibacter gergoviae (formerly Enterobacter gergoviae) is a Gram-negative bacterium that is becoming a real concern in the cosmetics and personal care industry due to its resistance to many common preservatives and its potential to cause [...]

The sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals has been banned in Washington state, effective 1st January 2025. The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act means it is now illegal for manufacturers to sell cosmetics in Washington that [...]

On 26 December 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to establish and require standardised testing methods for detecting and identifying asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products, as mandated by the Modernisation of Cosmetics Regulation [...]

Meet Melbec: George Next in our ‘Meet Melbec’ series we would like to introduce our Senior Full Stack Engineer, George!   How did you come to work at Melbec Microbiology? I originally joined Melbec during [...]

The Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety in Consumer Products (SAG-CS) has recently published opinions on the safety of Dihydroxyacetone, Benzophenone-3 and Octocrylene in cosmetic products. It is expected that changes to the United Kingdom [...]

For our next 'Meet Melbec' post, please say hello to the lovely Helen!   How did you come to work at Melbec Microbiology? I was looking for a change of career, saw the job/role at [...]

Mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) has been declared by the WHO as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in response to the upsurge in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a [...]

Bacteria, fungi and yeast can exist as independent or planktonic entities, or they can attach to surfaces to form a biofilm. Biofilms are usually much harder to eradicate than their corresponding planktonic forms. At Melbec [...]

We are very proud to announce our new Water Activity Testing service. The purpose of the testing service is to detect the amount of unbound water in a sample. Water that is not bound to [...]

From purchasing some land in the rainforests and donating it to a conservation charity, to switching to 100% renewable energy, we are proud of the efforts we’ve made over the last few years to reduce [...]

The CDC has confirmed that two humans have been infected with H5N1 in the USA. Throughout April and May, two cases of mammal to human transmission of the HPAI A (H5N1) bird flu were confirmed [...]

Melbec Microbiology’s range of Technical Training Courses are an excellent way for customers to increase their understanding of different microbiological topics. Our courses can help your staff drive new development, research and sales, and improve [...]

We are proud to announce that we are offering testing to the BS EN 17430:2024 standard. This is a phase 2/step 2 test newly introduced in Europe and is notable in that the effectiveness of [...]

In the next instalment of our ‘Meet Melbec’ series, say hello to our fantastic Technical Manager – Training and Quality, Gemma!   How did you come to work at Melbec Microbiology? I had been working [...]

During the 2-year Microbial Tracking 1 mission, thirteen strains of Enterobacter bugandensis were isolated from various locations inside the International Space Station. Senior Research Scientist Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory studied how [...]

In response to the Defra consultation first published in October 2023 proposing the UK-wide ban of manufacturing and selling wipes containing plastic, the Government has now published an update. The press release confirms that the [...]

We're very happy to share with you the results of our Customer Satisfaction Survey! A huge thank you to our clients for another year of support!   Q1: How well do you feel that our company [...]

Melbec Microbiology are proud to announce that we now offer UKAS accredited virology testing for a range of standards. Since our creation in 2013 we have continued to expand our scope of accreditations to offer [...]

With the ever-increasing need for effective disinfection and hygiene practices, it is crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest testing standards for disinfectants and antiseptics. At Melbec, we hold accreditation to BS EN 13697:2015+A1:2019 test [...]

As we mentioned early in the year we are working to highlight a member of the Melbec Team every so often in a blog post. For this 'Meet Melbec' post, we are focusing on our [...]

Melbec Microbiology was set up in 2013 by Dawn Mellors, an experienced microbiologist who has spent her working life in biocidal, cosmetic, and contract laboratories. Melbec offer a complete range of testing for these markets, [...]

As we mentioned early in the year when we posted our first 'Meet Melbec' blog post about our Founder and Technical Director, Dawn Mellors, we are working to highlight a member of the Melbec Team [...]

Since November last year we have been on a journey to reduce the waste associated with a key element of our testing process, our in-house neutraliser. We have created this blog post to detail how [...]

What is Avian Flu? Avian Flu, also known as H5N1, is a type of influenza that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds. Human cases of Avian Flu (H5N1) occur infrequently, and it [...]

What is Candida auris? Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast. This means that it is resistant to many antifungal antibiotics that are commonly used to treat Candida infections. Some strains are resistant to all 3 (currently [...]

We have been out visiting clients over the past year, something that we have really missed doing during the lockdowns and restrictions, and we have loved getting to see our clients, both new and old [...]

This International Women’s Day, we have decided to highlight Henrietta Lacks and the impact she has had on medical science over the past 70+ years. For those of you who might not know who Henrietta [...]

We have had a lot of great feedback from our clients about the Microbiology Advent Calendar we ran on social media in December so we have uploaded all of the images and details below for [...]

It's that time of year again where we have got the results back from our Customer Satisfaction Survey! We have been releasing the results to the questions we asked, one by one on social media [...]

We will be highlighting a member of the Melbec Team every so often in a 'Meet Melbec' blog post. For our first one, we felt it was only right to start with our Founder and [...]

Melbec Microbiology are excited to announce a new set of testing focused on looking at how personal care and cosmetics products affect the skin microbiome. The human skin microbiota is a complex and evolving area [...]

For many years Melbec have been testing UV machines, basing testing protocols on similar, relevant standards along with real-life scenarios of how the machine would be used. However, all labs that were testing these UV [...]

It's World Quality Week and this year's theme is "Quality conscience: doing the right thing". Along with improving the quality of our service, something we work on every day, we are keen to look at [...]

Over the last couple of weeks, we have finally managed to get solar panels installed on the roof of our labs in Rossendale, Lancashire. Although we already used 100% renewable energy for both our labs [...]

Did you know that we were the first laboratory to be UKAS accredited and Vegan Society certified for both our QC / Batch release testing (ISO 21149 / ISO 16212) and our PET / Challenge [...]

According to several recent news articles, Poliovirus has been found in a higher-than-average number of London sewage samples, but what is it, why is it there and what can we do to be safe? What [...]

The many variables of climate change including temperature, humidity, UV radiation, and air pollution, all influence our skin, our outermost protective barrier against such environmental factors. As well as our skin cells, the cutaneous barrier [...]

Burkholderia cepacia has been in the news recently as it was thought to have contaminated up to 180 bottles of hair product, causing the production company to voluntarily recall the product. What is it? Burkholderia [...]

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can occur in certain animals, including humans. The monkeypox virus is an enveloped virus from the orthopoxvirus genus in the family poxviridae. The orthopoxvirus [...]

Antimicrobial finished on textiles have generated a lot of interest in recent years in both the medical and textiles clothing industry. Here at Melbec, we have seen the industry and demand for the appropriate micro [...]

Testing cosmetic products is essential for anyone wanting to produce and sell cosmetics in the EU, it is required by law and applies to all; big manufacturers and small or independent brands. Products must be [...]