As the Commission’s proposal on simplifying chemical regulations is set to be presented to the European Parliament in late April 2026, a heated debate is raging between consumer and environmental advocacy groups and the industry. In a joint statement, Cosmetics Europe and IFRA warn against a campaign of misinformation.
As a reminder, on July 8, 2025, the European Commission published its “Omnibus VI” proposal to simplify “certain requirements and procedures applicable to chemicals.” Key provisions include amendments to the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 and the process for granting exemptions from the ban on CMRs.
This proposal has drawn fierce criticism from environmental and consumer advocates, who have consistently denounced a “deregulation” that endangers human health and the environment, as in this appeal by 36 NGOs issued on February 19, 2026.
The industry’s warning
It is against this backdrop that, in a joint statement, Cosmetics Europe and IFRA warn against “misinformation regarding cosmetics product safety in Europe.”
“In recent months, European consumers and policymakers have been increasingly exposed to misleading and inaccurate claims regarding the safety of cosmetic and fragrance products and their future regulation. These include assertions that the Omnibus VI revision would relax safety rules for carcinogenic substances, lower safety standards through regulatory simplification, or that cosmetic products pose significant health risks. Such claims are unfounded. Their growing volume risks undermining informed policymaking and public trust,” say the two industry associations.
For Alexander Mohr, President of IFRA, “Omnibus VI represents a targeted adjustment to …
