Sun protection is an essential part of our daily routine, but do you know what French and European laws actually say on the subject? As we turn to sunscreen products to protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays, it's important to understand the regulations in force and their impact on our health and our planet. In this article, we'll explore the regulatory directives governing suncare products in Europe, as well as recent legislative advances aimed at promoting environmentally-friendly practices in the cosmetics industry.
Suncare products and their effectiveness are strictly governed by European regulations.
These regulations impose safety and efficacy standards for all suncare products. Annex VI of European Regulation (EC) n°1223/2009 also imposes a list of UV filters that suncare products may contain. Suncare products marketed in Europe must pass a series of standardized tests, including: determination of the protection factor (SPF), determination of the UVA protection value and determination of the critical wavelength. For water-resistant suncare products, this parameter must also be proven by a standardized test.
Made In France " suncare products are subject to the same obligations, with the added benefits of local production: reduced environmental impact, thanks in particular to transport savings, and support for our lovely French brands.
There are no environmental regulations in Europe.
European regulations do not address environmental concerns, so measuring the impact of products on the environment is not yet mandatory. Certain regions of the world have banned certain substances in order to preserve marine ecosystems: oxybenzone and octinoxate have been banned in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands since 2021 and 2020 respectively. Here are 2 filters to look for on ingredient lists and avoid in your products.
Ongoing research into the impact of sunscreens on health is leading to changes in regulations. Octocrylene is currently the subject of controversy, and scientific studies are underway. As a precautionary measure, we have excluded it from our formulas for the past 10 years.
An anti-GreenWashing tool: the Agec law
Environmental legislation has highlighted the environmental risks of certain UV filters. This has led to the positioning of new brands such as " reef-safe" or "ocean-protective " as marketing strategies. However, the diversity of the labels and marketing claims used revealed the gaps in the regulations in this respect.
At the time, marketing strategies were based on a regulatory vacuum: what does "environmentally safe" mean, or "Reef safe" in view of the number of different organisms present in ecosystems?
It seems difficult to confirm the absence of toxicity of a product on all these populations, given all the mechanisms of substance distribution and ecotoxicity that may come into play. Sometimes marketing strategies can also lead consumers to believe that substances of natural and organic origin are, in fact, non-toxic for the environment. As explained above, this is not necessarily the case. In France, the Agec law now governs "environmentally-friendly" claims and self-declaring pictograms with the same meaning.
In conclusion, it is crucial to take into account European and French regulations when choosing a sun products. These directives aim to guarantee the safety and efficacy of products while minimizing their impact on the environment. At a time when new laws, such as the Agec law, aim to regulate environmental claims and combat greenwashing, it is essential for consumers to remain informed and aware of the issues surrounding sun protection. By opting for products that comply with regulatory standards and respect the environment, we can protect our skin while helping to preserve our planet.