Notification as a consumer
If you as a consumer notice an adverse effect on your health after using cosmetic products, you can inform the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) by filling out this form.
The form asks for the relevant information step by step in order to assess the case in the best possible way.
In addition to reporting via the federal portal, you can also contact the following directly:
- The manufacturing or importing company indicated on the packaging,
- the retail store where you purchased the product,
- the competent authorities, usually the food inspectorate in your county or city, or
- the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
So-called undesirable effects (AE) of cosmetics can be, for example:
- burning scalp
- itching
- redness
- skin rash
- swelling of body parts
Adverse effects may be caused by, among other things, allergic reactions, skin irritations or other intolerances.
Information about the adverse effects can be shared by the following people:
- Yourself or a representative of the affected person, for example, relatives or legal representatives,
- healthcare professionals such as a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or
- Service providers such as employees of hair salons, cosmetic and massage studios.
Notification as a company
If you, as a company that manufactures, imports or trades cosmetics, learn of adverse effects, you must:
- check whether it is a serious undesirable effect (SUE) according to the criteria of the EU Cosmetics Regulation.
- Serious adverse effects usually require medical evaluation and usually treatment. This includes, for example:
- a sick leave because the hands are swollen,
- a hospital stay for further examination or
- anaphylactic shock, i.e. allergic shock.
- if it is a serious adverse reaction, it is your duty to inform the competent authority.
Your notification makes it possible to inform the competent authorities and companies quickly so that, under certain circumstances, consumers can be protected by measures such as
- targeted controls,
- product warnings,
- product recalls,
- adaptation of the formulation or
- adjustment of the labeling
protection.