Submitted on 23 December 2025 to the French National Assembly by Léa Balage El Mariky, an environmentalist MP, this bill aims to “improve transparency on the risks associated with cosmetic products’ by introducing labelling that rates the safety of products.”
In its explanatory memorandum, the text submitted points out that cosmetics play a central role in our daily lives and that, on average, French women use sixteen products every day and children use around five.
An “unacceptable” risk
However, according to the co-signing MPs, “these products often contain ingredients that may pose short- or long-term health risks: irritants, allergens, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, heavy metals or nanoparticles.”
The argument continues by highlighting the difference between cosmetics and medicines: “cosmetic products are not intended to cure and therefore do not need to offset a risk with a therapeutic benefit. In other words, they are not subject to cost-benefit analysis and should therefore not pose any risk to the user.”
“Opaque” information
While the text then refers to the obligation to label the composition of cosmetic products as provided for in Article 19 of European Regulation 1223/2009, it also considers this measure to be insufficient, for two main reasons:
• “the complex composition and scientific names remain incomprehensible to consumers;”
• “manufacturers, viewing product safety as a selling point, overload packaging with statements and labels,” and “far from providing better information, this profusion increases confusion and further complicates consumer choice.”
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