One of the many types of EU standards embrace the importance of consumers and workers protection. The standards are in place so they can provide companies with guidance on how to implement standardized methods to ensure that they comply with the EU regulations. Ethical sourcing is a framework which ensures that material and products distributed and used by consumers are obtained from a reliable source in a responsible and ethical way. This means that the workers involved in the whole process from manufacturing to distribution have been fairly paid, and have not been working in detrimental conditions.
All businesses have a duty of care to foster ethical business practices. This will assist in the protection of the workers which are being abused and exploited within their working environment. By being proactive in the tackling of modern slavery by ensuring that your products have been sourced ethically, it will not only protect the vulnerable workers, but it will also help to reduce the number of ethical violations being made within establishments.
‘’Larger organisations with a turnover of 36 million and above are required to produce a ‘slavery and human trafficking statement’ to evidence that they are conforming to the Modern Slavery Act 2015’’. Smaller organisations can choose to voluntary produce a statement. However, even if the legislation does not apply, it is recommended that all businesses still follow ethical business practises.
The Storage of Regulated Products
Within the beauty and aesthetics industry, a lot of people decide to sell products in their own brand. The main regulatory framework for finished cosmetic products sold in Europe is Regulation (EC) N° 1223/2009.
If you are planning on using and selling products in your own brand. For example, creams and lotions, dermal fillers and more. It is your responsibility to ensure that these products and any importers and manufacturers comply with Regulation (EC) N° 1223/2009. Products should have a detailed label with all of the active ingredients on the products as well as a best before or used by date, any cautions, a batch number as well as storage instructions. This will evidence to the consumer that the products are safe for human health. Before you purchase or formulate your own brand of product, you must do your research into the ingredients you will be using to check that they do not contain any banned substances. Furthermore, you must ensure that you have proof of where you purchased your products from and have in place an audit trail of who you distributed them to or sold them too. This information must be kept for a minimum of 3 years should they be required for insurance purposes or if you were subject to an inspection.
Prohibited substances - The EU Open Data Portal has a Cosmetic ingredient database listing all of the substances which are prohibited in cosmetic products.
Restricted substances – Certain restrictions may only allow a maximum amount of a substance or may require an additional warning. For example ‘Wear suitable gloves. Avoid contact with eyes. Rinse eyes immediately.
Material data sheets, what are these?
Some products used within a clinic or salon may contain small amounts of hazardous substances. A material data sheet is a document which contains all of a particular product data including, ingredients, hazards, safety precautions and first aid instructions. Having this information allows the user (practitioner) to make a risk assessment in order to conform to COSSH regulations. Within a clinic or salon environment there are lots of products used which are hazardous to health including isopropyl alcohol as an example. Without having this information of how to store these correctly or what to do should someone inhale it, drink it or get it in their eyes you could be in breach of these regulations. Furthermore, someone could be seriously injured or worse. This may result in you being liable to enforcement action, including prosecution under the COSHH Regulations.
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Written by Angela Blemmings
CEO EyeCandy Training Ltd