What does an EU Cosmetics Responsible Person actually do (and what they don't do)?

## What Does an EU Cosmetics Responsible Person Actually Do? Think of the EU Cosmetics RP as your **EU compliance interface** for cosmetic products. Understanding the distinction between their regulatory responsibilities and what they don't do is critical for setting proper expectations. ### Common EU Cosmetics RP Responsibilities According to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, the RP has several key responsibilities: #### 1. **Product Safety and Compliance** - **Ensuring product safety before placing on the market** - The RP must verify that products comply with EU Cosmetics Regulation before they are placed on the market - Ensuring products meet safety requirements and ingredient restrictions - Verifying that products do not contain prohibited substances #### 2. **Product Information File (PIF) Management** - **Maintaining the Product Information File (PIF)** - The RP must maintain the PIF and make it available to competent authorities upon request - The PIF must include safety information, product description, manufacturing method, and evidence of claimed effect - Ensuring PIF is kept up to date and accessible #### 3. **CPNP Notification** - **Submitting CPNP notifications** - The RP must submit notifications to the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) before products can be placed on the market - Ensuring all required information is included in CPNP notifications - Maintaining compliance with CPNP requirements #### 4. **Labeling Compliance** - **Ensuring proper labeling** - The RP must ensure products are properly labeled according to EU Cosmetics Regulation - Verifying that required information (ingredients, warnings, etc.) is present - Ensuring labeling is in appropriate languages #### 5. **Regulatory Cooperation** - **Serving as contact point** - The RP serves as the contact point for competent authorities - Responding to authority inquiries and requests for information - Cooperating with authorities on corrective actions and market surveillance #### 6. **Serious Undesirable Effects (SUE) Reporting** - **Reporting serious undesirable effects** - The RP must report serious undesirable effects to competent authorities - Maintaining records of adverse effects - Coordinating with manufacturers on SUE reporting ### What an EU Cosmetics RP Usually Is NOT #### ❌ Not Your Product Developer The RP doesn't develop or formulate your products. They ensure regulatory compliance of products you've already developed. #### ❌ Not Your Commercial Seller Unless you specifically contract them to do so, the RP is not your distributor or sales agent. Their role is regulatory, not commercial. #### ❌ Not Your Safety Assessor While the RP must ensure safety assessments are in place, they typically don't conduct safety assessments themselves. You'll need a qualified safety assessor (often a separate service). #### ❌ Not Your Quality Control Lab The RP doesn't test your products or conduct quality control. They rely on your existing testing and documentation. ### Practical Implications When selecting an EU Cosmetics RP, ask: - Do they maintain PIFs or rely on manufacturer-provided documentation? - What is their CPNP notification process and turnaround time? - How do they handle SUE reporting and authority inquiries? - What documentation and support do they provide? - Do they offer additional services (safety assessment, labeling review, etc.)? ### Next Steps 1. Evaluate EU Cosmetics RP providers based on their service model and capabilities 2. **[Compare EU Cosmetics Responsible Person providers & request quotes](https://cruxi.ai/regulatory-directories/cosmetics_rp)** - Review multiple providers to find the right fit for your needs --- *Written by **Lo H. Khamis**, Regulatory Experts. [Connect on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lo-h-khamis) for regulatory guidance.* ### Official Sources: - [Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 - Article 4, Article 5](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1223)