Guidance for industry

Advertising Claims, CTPA Guide

CTPA has written a guideline to help advertisers understand more clearly the framework in which cosmetic claims appear and the way in which cosmetic claims may be classified. This work has been a joint endeavour involving the CTPA, as the body representing the cosmetics industry, the ASA and Clearcast as the two regulatory bodies responsible for assessing claims under their Codes. All participants in the initiative have agreed to use these guidelines to help in preparing advertisements, in supporting claims and in assessing those claims.  The Guide is split into three section: Framework of Common Understanding, Building Blocks of Claim Support, Practical Guide to Good Study Design.

Annual Report

Published annually in May each year, the CTPA's Annual Report provides a comprehensive review of CTPA work over the past twelve months (January to December) and commentary on topical issues.  A topline summary of the market value, list of members and the statutory accounts are also provided.  The report can be viewed in our ‘Annual Report' area of the site.

Competition Act 1998 - Guidance for Members

The 1998 Competition Act came into force on 1 March 2000 and UK law is now consistent with EC competition law. The CTPA has a strict compliance policy for all discussions involving its staff or carried out through its offices.

The guideline is available at all times on the premises and visitors are required to make themselves aware of its requirements which are strictly enforced.

Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP) User Manual

The CPNP is the online notification system created for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. The CPNP is accessible as from 11 January 2012 fpr responsible persons and compulsory to responsible persons and distributors from 11 July 2013.

This Regulation requires that the responsible persons and, under certain circumstances, the distributors of cosmetic products submit through the CPNP some information about the products they place or make available on the European market.

The user manual contains the frame formulations that may be used during notifications.

Cost of Microbes, The

This 20 minute training programme is presented by David Bellamy and accompanied by posters and a training booklet which complements the CTPA's MQM guidance document. It takes an entertaining but none the less informative look at microbes and their management in the cosmetic industry.

Distributors Roles and Responsibilities

This guideline outlines the specific obligations for distributors established under Article 6 of the Cosmetics Regulation and clarifies the aspects for which a distributor is not responsible.

Effective Verification and Validation of Cleaning and Sanitisation

Cleaning validation and verification are not isolated activities but an important part pf other aspects of GMP such as effective documentation of procedures and the hygienic design and installation of equipment.  This document is intended to be used alongside the CTPA guideline Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): A Practical Guide for the Cosmetic Industry.

Fragrance Demonstrators - Guidelines

The CTPA has a simple guideline for companies involved in sampling fine fragrance within the retail environment.  This is to help fragrance sales staff to act responsibly when demonstrating their products on counter and in-store.

GMP - A Practical Guide for the Cosmetic Industry 2015

This NEW and REVISED CTPA document 'GMP - A Practical Guide for the Cosmetic Industry 2015' comprises the accumulated hands-on knowledge of some of the most experienced GMP specialists, Quality Assurance Managers, Quality Systems Managers and Microbiologists in our industry. The document deals with essential systems and procedures that should be in place to ensure the effective implementation of GMP and covers the critical stages of GMP implementation throughout the design, development and production process to the final customer/consumer. This 2015 revision will be particularly useful to companies who are looking for assistance on how to achieve the level of compliance outlined in ISO 22716.

GMP Audit 1992

Auditing is a critical improvement tool and can be used to determine whether: the quality assurance system is operating effectively; products are consistently manufactured to meet their specifications; procedures are followed and records are kept. This document covers all major aspects of GMP and can be used as a means of improving internal standards and assessing external contractors and vendors. More detail on GMP auditing is available for members in the following CTPA publications: CTPA GMP 1999 A Practical Guide for the Cosmetic Industry and CTPA GMP Audit 2003 (members only).

GMP Audit 2003

This audit document is based on the 1999 GMP guidelines and provides a comprehensive list of questions designed to assist companies to review the effectiveness of their GMP system. Its primary purpose is as a continuous improvement tool - to help identify areas for improvement and to measure progress.

The audit can also be used to assess the level of GMP compliance in different manufacturing sites and/or third party manufacturers, but care should be taken to assure consistency of approach, particularly in the scoring of questions where judgement may be needed.

Managing Risk: A Practical Guide for the Cosmetics Industry

The CTPA Guide to Managing Risk offers general information as to why and how one should be addressing ‘risk’ in the manufacturing process, and highlights the many ways that Risk Assessment can be performed with the variety of processes currently available. The guideline provides an overview of those available methods, highlights additional tools and processes that can be applied to the Risk Management procedure, presents modes of monitoring to assess success and maintain such levels.  Corrective and preventative measures are also addressed.  To be of maximum practical benefit, especially for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), the guidance focuses on worked examples. 

Minimising N-nitrosamines in Cosmetic Products - Guidelines

This CTPA guideline revises previous advice on how to avoid n-nitrosamines in cosmetics products.

MQM Microbial Quality Management

This essential guidance document is intended to assist companies manufacturing cosmetics to put into place an effective programme to ensure the appropriate microbiological quality of their products. It covers all aspects of microbial quality management including product development, water treatment systems, raw materials, manufacturing, housekeeping, cleaning and disinfection and microbiological sampling etc. It also includes a section on Cosmetics Europe recommended limits and suggested methods for the microbial examination of cosmetic samples and detection of specific organisms.

Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations - Guidelines, Issue 2

CTPA Guidelines Issue 2 - Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations.

Members can request a copy via e-mail (info@ctpa.org.uk)

Patch Test Guidelines

If a consumer experiences a reaction to a cosmetic product, it may indicate that the individual has become allergic to an ingredient in the product.  Companies will investigate any reported undesirable effects as part of their Cosmetovigilance obligations. 

If a consumer has been referred to a dermatologist to investigate their reaction, they may undergo patch testing in order to determine the exact cause of their reaction and/or allergy.

In order to improve the communication and engagement between dermatologists and companies, CTPA has developed a guidance document:  ‘Patch Test Guidelines’.  It has been developed in conjunction with dermatologists from the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA).  If it is appropriate to send product or ingredient samples, the guideline explains how this should be done.  The following topics are covered:

• how and why a company may be contacted by a dermatologist;
• the information that should be exchanged between the company and the dermatologist;
• the type of materials that should and should not be provided from a company to a dermatologist;
• how companies prepare and provide these samples.

Rapid and Alternative Microbiological Methods 2015

Microbiologists can be inundated with literature advertising equipment and courses relating to ‘Rapid Microbiological Methods’ and ‘Alternative Microbiological Methods’. Often, however, the literature does not explain whether the method will work for the company’s product range, whether it is cost effective, how it should be validated, how any changes to microbiological risk are managed and if the purchase can be justified.  Intended for microbiologists this guide looks at how to make a method become a reality, possible applications and the considerations recommended when researching rapid and alternative methods.  Included in the guide is a comparison table that provides a summary of the suitable applications and any relevant advantages and disadvantages for each method.

This guide is published jointly with Pharmig.

Regulatory Online Resource (Members-Only)

At the beginning of 2018, the CTPA Online Packaging Manual has been relaunched as a new expanded regulatory online resource covering UK & EU/EEA and International in two online manuals.  

This new comprehensive online tool includes information on the regulatory frameworks in key international markets covering both registration and labelling requirements for cosmetic products. 

The UK & EU/EEA Online Manual focuses on the labelling requirements under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, weights and measures, packaging waste, transport and other products routinely sold with cosmetic products.

A twelve month subscription (paid-up members only) is based on the number of passwords required for the duel manuals:

• 1-5 passwords: £150 + VAT per annum;
• 6-10 passwords: £250 + VAT per annum;
• 11-15 passwords: £300 + VAT per annum;
• 16+ passwords: £370 + VAT per annum.

If all registered users only require either the UK & EU/EEA Manual or the International Manual then a 20% discount will be applied to your order

A special order form is available to download for this publication.

Safety Data Information CTPA Position Paper

Finished cosmetic products are exempt from the legislation requiring the provision of a 16-point Safety Data Sheet (SDS), sometimes referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).  This document provides an alternative means of exchanging relevant information within the supply chain.

Setting Up a Microbiological Control Laboratory

This guide to setting up a microbiological control system is intended to help mainly small and medium sized companies to set up the minimum facilities necessary to satisfy MQM. Issues covered include laboratory design and construction; minimum equipment and resources required; safety and staff training.

Supplying Cosmetics on the UK market? What you need to know

This guide has been written in clear everyday language to help explain, to SMEs in particular, the obligations of cosmetic companies under the EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.