EU Proposes Updates to the Glossary of Common Ingredient Names

On March 13, 2025, EU notified WTO of a draft Commission Decision to update the Glossary of Common Ingredient Names (the Glossary), aiming to standardize labelling and improve the identification of cosmetic ingredients. The draft is open for comments until May 12, 2025, with adoption anticipated in the second quarter of 2025.¹

The Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (the Cosmetics Regulation) requires cosmetic product labels to include an ingredient list using names from the Glossary. Compiled and updated by the European Commission, the Glossary incorporates internationally recognized nomenclatures, such as the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) and the Colour Index (CI) nomenclature. For perfume and aromatic ingredients without an INCI name, previously used perfuming names are also included. It is important to note that the Glossary is intended solely for labelling purposes, and does not indicate whether an ingredient is safe for use. The ingredient annexes to the Cosmetics Regulation remain the authoritative source for regulatory status.

The current consolidated version of the Glossary, introduced by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/677, has been effective since April 29, 2023. Since then, a large number of new ingredient names have been used in cosmetic products placed on the EU market. The Commission has therefore prepared this draft Commission Decision. Compared to the version currently in force, the updated Glossary will increase the total entries from 30,070 to 30,418. Specifically, it:

Includes new INCI names published by the Personal Care Product Council;
Corrects existing ingredient names that were erroneously reported or omitted;
Removes outdated ingredient names or those replaced by INCI names.

According to the draft, the updated Glossary will be implemented 12 months following its publication in the Official Journal. Economic operators, however, can choose to apply it immediately for cosmetic product labelling.

EU Proposes Updates to the Glossary of Common Ingredient Names

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