CTPA unveils plans to boost UK’s beauty industry at Parliamentary reception

The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA), the voice of the cosmetics, personal care and beauty industry in the UK, launched its ‘Agenda for Government’ at a Parliamentary reception in the Palace of Westminster on December 3. The event was attended by MPs, Government representatives, regulators, industry stakeholders and senior business representatives from the cosmetics and personal care sector.

The CTPA’s ’Agenda for Government’ contains a set of proposals from the cosmetics, personal care and beauty sector that is set to help the industry grow sustainably in the next five years and beyond. The proposals build upon the Manifesto that CTPA published before the General Election and are backed up by a research conducted by Opinium [1].

Dedicated strategy

The main request of the UK industry is that the government works on a dedicated strategy for the sector, as an extension of the government’s proposed Industrial Strategy.

Since the cosmetics industry has not been included as an initial priority sector in the new Government’s Industrial Strategy, CTPA would like it to be considered as a sub-sector of the Life Sciences sector.

Regulatory stability and harmonisation with the EU

As regulatory stability and predictability is key for the industry, most of the other key points in the ‘Agenda for Government’ are related to regulatory issues.

First, the CTPA requests the government to protect the sector-specific and risk-based UK Cosmetics Regulation (UKCR). Furthermore, CTPA insists that decisions on the safe use of cosmetic ingredients and finished cosmetics and personal care products “continue to follow a robust science-led approach.”

CTPA also considers of strategic importance for the industry that the government moves fast to strengthen relations, reduce barriers to trade and increase regulatory cooperation with the EU, including for the UK REACH.

The Opinium survey showed that almost three in four UK adults (73%) support the UK Government working closely with the EU in the next few years on cosmetics and chemical safety issues. There is also support among the public for the UK to work more closely with the EU in the future to increase business, investment and trade (70% surveyed UK adults support this).

Animal-free testing methods

CTPA says the government should publish a strategy that establishes a commitment to integrate the use of animal-free methods into the safety assessment of chemicals, as was committed to by the previous government.

In this area, where there is a strong support from the public (almost three in four UK adults), the CTPA wants to build on the long-established UK and EU bans on animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients, with the goal to help the UK to become a world leader in modern animal-free scientific methods.

Co-operating on sustainability goals

On sustainability and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the industry would like to work with the new government on the design and delivery of EPR to ensure it achieves its environmental objectives.

In particular, CTPA says it supports the Government’s proposal that companies who communicate with take-back schemes that meet all of the Government’s requirements and urge consumers to use them should be able to benefit from lower EPR fees for packaging suitable for take-back.

“Our products are absolutely essential for everyday living, hygiene, self confidence and self-esteem. The sector is based on science and innovation, contains both multinational corporations and a huge number of SMEs, and is a major exporter. It is a major UK success story and we want to partner with Government on a dedicated strategy to secure the continued sustainable growth of this indispensable industry,” concluded Dr Emma Meredith, Director-General of CTPA.

Download CTPA’s Agenda for Government here.