UK trade body Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) has launched its first ever manifesto ahead of this year’s expected general election.
The manifesto calls on the next UK government to develop a strategy for the cosmetics and personal care industry to secure the continued sustainable growth of the sector.
CTPA sets out 12 key asks underpinned by the pillars of essentiality, regulation, science, sustainability and business.
The individual asks under each pillar represent the most important things government can do to help ensure the continued growth and success of the sector.
These include protecting the existing high standards of consumer safety provided by the sector-specific, risk-based framework of the UK Cosmetics Regulation (UKCR).
The ongoing OPSS Product Safety Review must not change or undermine the fundamental safety principles of the UKCR nor create an uneven playing field for UK businesses, it says.
In addition, UK REACH while protecting human health and the environment also needs to be feasible and not too burdensome for business.
There must also be consistent implementation of new rules within the UK internal market across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The CTPA also wants a formal UK/EU cooperation structure for the cosmetics and personal care industry needs to be created to facilitate trade, regulatory cooperation on UK and EU REACH, intra-company transfers and scientific cooperation.
It also calls for a UK government strategy to integrate animal-free methods into the safety assessment of chemicals, including occupational health and safety and environmental assessments.
In addition, CTPA requests the return of tax-free shopping in the UK to boost tourism spending in stores and at airports in the spring budget on 6 March.
“To date, the cosmetics and personal care industry has not had a dedicated government strategy focused on this vital sector,” said Director-General Emma Meredith.
“CTPA would like to work with the UK government after the general election on a strategy recognising the essentiality of the industry’s products and services by maintaining the strict risk-based safety legislation, protecting science-led decision-making whilst providing a framework for growth with sustainability at its core,” she added.
“The strategy should also enhance the competitiveness of the UK industry for both import and export and champion the UK industry as a leader in product manufacture, design and innovation”.
