Labelling fragrance allergens - BEUC feedback to Commission inception impact assessment

Fragrance ingredients are known to sometimes cause skin irritations or allergic reactions. Once an allergy has developed, it is a life-long, irreversible condition with potentially disabling effects. Cosmetics manufacturers must indicate the presence of fragrances on their product using the term 'perfum' or 'aroma'. A fragrance can however be a mix of up to 100 different chemicals, with more than 2,500 ingredients used today in perfumes and other scented cosmetic products. 

Nonetheless, only 26 specific substances – or less than one per cent – need to be identified on products. Consequently, a consumer suffering an allergic reaction can in most situations not identify which fragrance ingredient may have caused it. The consumer can only identify ‘fragrance’ as the problem.

Greater transparency about fragrance allergens in cosmetic products would allow consumers to make informed choices on how to protect their health. We nonetheless emphasise that improved transparency under no circumstance should shift responsibility to the consumer for avoiding exposure. The EU urgently needs to develop a strategy on how to minimise consumer exposure to fragrance allergens and other sensitizers in consumer products, such as detergents, toys, or textiles.