Commission Decision (EU) 2021/1870 of 22 October 2021 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for cosmetic products and animal care products (notified under document C(2021) 7500) (Text with EEA relevance)

The product group ‘cosmetic products’ shall comprise any substance or mixture falling under the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body, or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odours. The product group ‘Cosmetic products’ shall include rinse-off and leave-on products for both private and professional use.

The product group ‘animal care products’ shall comprise any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with animal hair to clean them or to improve the condition of it, such as shampoos and conditioners for animals. Animal care products shall not cover products that are specifically marketed for disinfecting or anti-bacterial use. The product group ‘Animal care products’ shall include rinse-off products for both private and professional use.

For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply: (1) ‘leave on products’ means products marketed as not intended to be removed with water after use in normal conditions; (2) ‘rinse off products’ means products marketed as intended to be removed with water after use in normal conditions.

In order for a product to be awarded the EU Ecolabel under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 for the product group ‘cosmetic products and animal care products’, it shall fall within the definition of that product group as specified in Articles 1 and 2 of this Decision and shall comply with the criteria and related assessment and verification requirements set out in Annex I to this Decision, for cosmetic products, or in Annex II for animal care products.

The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘cosmetic products and animal care products’ and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2027.

For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group ‘cosmetic products’ shall be ‘030’. For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group ‘animal care products’ shall be ‘054’.

Decision 2014/893/EU is repealed.

1 Notwithstanding Article 7, applications submitted before the date of adoption of this Decision for the EU Ecolabel for the product group ‘rinse-off cosmetics’, as defined in Decision 2014/893/EU shall be evaluated in accordance with the conditions laid down in that Decision.

2 Applications for the EU Ecolabel for products falling within the product group ‘rinse-off cosmetics’ submitted on or within two months from the date of adoption of this Decision may be based either on the criteria set out in this Decision, or on the criteria set out in Decision 2014/893/EU. Those applications shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria on which they are based.

3 EU Ecolabel licenses awarded on the basis of an application evaluated in accordance with the criteria set out in Decision 2014/893/EU may be used for twelve months from the date of adoption of this Decision.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.