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Facts about chemicals

A new addition to the site for 2010, this section aims to answer to some of the most common questions about the chemicals in your everyday products, with information from the cosmetics industry as well as contributions from experts from other industries. Here is what the Royal Society of Chemistry has to say about this new initiative:

“The Royal Society of Chemistry is an independent learned and professional body that promotes the science of chemistry. The RSC puts considerable effort into raising awareness about the contribution of chemicals and chemistry in improving human health and protecting the environment.

The risks posed by chemicals are not always well communicated and can sometimes be misunderstood by the wider public. The Society considers that some of the concerns people have about chemicals are, indeed, well founded. However, the risks from chemicals can be adequately controlled through good practice and design, and this remains the challenge for the sector as new products and services are introduced.

It is hoped that this initiative by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association will reduce some of the confusion about chemicals so that people can make better informed decisions and choices in their daily lives with regard to the safe use of chemicals and products derived from them. The Society welcomes this initiative by CTPA in promoting awareness and understanding about chemicals by addressing common misconceptions about chemicals."

Dr Richard Pike
Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry

 

Read on to find out more facts about chemicals.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) is an association of manufacturers of cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery products, founded in 1945 to promote the interests of members, primarily with government. That remit has now extended to include the European Commission and many other regulatory bodies, national and international groups.

Members are manufacturers (full members), raw material suppliers and suppliers of services (associate members). Our Council is made up of senior industry representatives from small, medium, large and multi-national companies. Activities are funded through membership subscriptions.

The focus of our work centres on scientific, regulatory and legislative issues. We have a constant dialogue with the UK Government and this process is repeated at European level through COLIPA, the European trade body and internationally through an extensive network of national association contacts.

Visit the CTPA main website »

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) is the voice of the cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery industry in the UK. Our members vary from small and medium-sized companies to large multi-nationals and include manufacturers, raw material suppliers and service providers.

Our primary goal is to promote good working practice to ensure that consumers are provided with the very best products. To this end, we co-ordinate the industry's viewpoint on key issues such as science, innovation and safety and maintain an open dialogue with government, both at UK and European level, as well as with international regulatory authorities and key opinion formers.

CTPA recognises that the consumer has a right to understand the processes that industry and the regulatory bodies go through to ensure the safety and efficacy of cosmetic and toiletry products. Over the years we have steadily increased our focus on providing the public with direct access to the industry's perspective and progress on safety, science and innovation.

In April 2008 we launched our consumer information website, www.thefactsabout.co.uk, which provides scientific facts about common ingredients used in cosmetics and the industry's perspective on common safety questions as well as information on how products are regulated to ensure safety and efficacy.

Further information on the work of the CTPA is available from our main website www.ctpa.org.uk which also houses the full set of legislation under 'Cosmetic regulations'.