CTPA launches Agenda for Government at Parliamentary Reception

CTPA launches Agenda for Government Supported by New Research at Parliamentary Reception

As the voice of the UK cosmetics, personal care and beauty industry in the UK, CTPA today formally launched its ‘Agenda for Government’, supported by new research from Opinium, at a Parliamentary reception in the Palace of Westminster. The event was hosted by the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP and was attended by MPs, Government representatives, regulators, industry stakeholders and senior business representatives from the cosmetics and personal care sector.

CTPA’s Agenda for Government contains the set of proposals from the cosmetics, personal care and beauty sector to help the industry grow sustainably in the next five years and beyond. It covers five pillars: Essentiality, Regulation, Science, Sustainability and Business. The proposals published officially today are backed up by recent research¹ conducted by Opinium for the CTPA.

Download CTPA’s Agenda for Government here.

 

The main points in the Agenda for Government and the new research include the following:

1. Government should work with CTPA and the industry on a dedicated strategy for the sector, as an extension of the Government’s proposed Industrial Strategy.

CTPA would like to work with the new UK Government together, as a trusted partner, on the dedicated strategy to secure the continued sustainable growth of this indispensable industry for the next five years. While the industry is not an initial priority sector in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, our industry should be considered as a sub-sector of the Life Sciences sector. They are closely linked, both are highly scientific, highly regulated, innovative and dedicated to meeting essential requirements for health, hygiene and well-being.  We would propose that further sectors are given priority after the initial focus on the listed priority sectors, as the UK needs all sectors of the economy to be thriving to achieve the Government’s Growth Mission.

Please see our note below for key figures: Cosmetics and personal care products: an essential sector

2. The Government must protect the vitally important provisions in the UK Cosmetics Regulation (UKCR) in the Product Safety Review (PSR)

A fundamental ask of the industry is that the framework of the UK Cosmetics Regulation (UKCR), a key safety law, is preserved and continues to be sector-specific, risk-based and regulates the safe use of cosmetic ingredients and finished cosmetic products placed on the UK market.  CTPA is pleased to have received the views of DBT that it recognises the important role that sector-specific regulation, such as the Cosmetics Regulation, plays in both protecting consumers but also supporting businesses to trade on a global stage and have no plans to change this.

The British public agrees that cosmetics and personal care products are safe and supports the UK having strict safety laws in place. A clear majority opposes any relaxation in the UK’s safety rules for these products. The Opinium research for CTPA showed that overall, 77% of UK adults consider cosmetics and personal care products to be safe. Almost nine in ten (87%) think it is important that the UK has strict safety laws for cosmetics and personal care products placed on the UK market¹.

3. CTPA asks that decisions on the safe use of cosmetic ingredients and finished cosmetics and personal care products continue to follow a robust science-led and risk-based approach. We require a long-term commitment to transparent, risk-based and independent scientific advice to inform the regulation of cosmetics under the UK Cosmetics Regulation.
4. The new Government should move fast to strengthen relations, reduce barriers to trade and increase regulatory cooperation with the EU.

Almost three in four UK adults (73%) support the UK Government working closely with the EU in the next few years on cosmetics and chemical safety issues. There is also support among the public for the UK to work more closely with the EU in the future to increase business, investment and trade (70% UK adults support this)¹.

5. The new Government should ensure that UK REACH is delivered in a way that reduces costs and bureaucracy for all companies of all sizes as much as possible, ensures strong regulatory cooperation with the EU - including data sharing if possible - and continues to protect consumers and the environment.
6. CTPA asks that the new Government publishes a strategy that establishes a commitment to integrate the use of animal-free methods into the safety assessment of chemicals, as was committed to by the previous Government. This will promote the use and regulatory acceptance of these methods in the UK, building on the long-established UK and EU bans on animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients, helping the UK to become a world leader in animal-free scientific methods.

The Opinium survey for CTPA showed that almost three in four UK adults (73%) support a strategy to reduce the use of animal testing in areas such as chemicals legislation and promote the use of other types of scientific testing to ensure safety that does not involve the use of animals. The public would also like to see the UK at the forefront of this, with over three quarters (77%) supporting the UK taking a leading international role in finding new approaches to safety testing that do not involve animals¹.

7. On sustainability and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), industry would like to work with Government on the design and delivery of EPR to ensure it achieves its environmental objectives. CTPA supports the Government’s proposal that companies who communicate with take-back schemes that meet all of the Government’s requirements and urge consumers to use them should be able to benefit from lower EPR fees for packaging suitable for take-back. If and when in the future any new labelling rules may be introduced, these companies should be able to label these products with ‘Recycle at Collection Points’.

Dr Emma Meredith, Director-General of CTPA said: “The cosmetics, personal care and beauty sector shares the Government’s ambition with its Growth Mission. Our products are absolutely essential for everyday living, hygiene, self confidence and self-esteem. Cosmetic products such as sunscreen and toothpastes are also vital for public health, while soap and hand cleansers help reduce the spread of disease. The sector is based on science and innovation, contains both multinational corporations and a huge number of SMEs, and is a major exporter. It is focused on safety, sustainability and inclusivity and is present on every high street in the country through retail, salons, barbers and spas. It is a major UK success story and we want to partner with Government on a dedicated strategy to secure the continued sustainable growth of this indispensable industry”.

The Parliamentary reception in the Palace of Westminster on 3 December 2024 was hosted by the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Conservative), with other speakers including Thierry Cheval (Chair of CTPA), Dr Emma Meredith (Director-General of CTPA), The Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on business and economy) and Chi Onwurah MP (Labour). 

Download a photograph of the event : Dr. Emma Meredith, CTPA Director-General and Thierry Cheval, CTPA Chair  - CTPA Agenda for Government Parliamentary Event

 

 

Cosmetics and personal care products: an essential sector The UK cosmetics and personal care industry was valued at over £9.5 billion at retail sales value in 20232, growing 9.7% over 2022. In 2023, the personal care industry supported a total GDP contribution of £27.2 billion3. It is a highly innovative, creative, skilled and successful UK industry - entirely grounded in science. Companies are based across the nation, and the UK cosmetics and personal care industry has one of the largest number of SMEs in Europe, at 8804. Our sector employs people across manufacturing, design, R&D, marketing, sales, export/import, retail and services, including hair and beauty salons and spas. The UK workforce directly supported by the personal care industry increased by 10% to 418,000 in 2023, compared with 2022 figures3. Across all channels of economic impact in 2023, the industry supported employment of 603,000, a 9% increase from 20223. The Opinium research1 conducted for CTPA shows that cosmetics and personal care products are important for wellbeing, with almost three in four adults in the UK (72%) saying these products are important for their self-esteem and confidence, and over four in five (82%) saying they are important for self-care. 79% of UK adults class cosmetics and personal care products as important to their lives; the figure is even higher among women, at 86%. Nine in ten consider these products to be important for personal hygiene (90%) and oral health (90%). Nine in ten UK adults (91%) feel brushing their teeth twice a day is important for their and their family’s oral health. Similarly, when asked about sunscreens, over four fifths (88%) considered them to be important for the health of their and their family’s skin in providing protection from the sun.

 

¹ Survey conducted for CTPA by Opinium Research on a nationally and politically representative sample of 2000+ UK adults, May 2024.

² CTPA 2023 Annual Report. (2024).  Data provided by Kantar and Circana

³ Value of Beauty Report. (July 2024).  Oxford Economics for the British Beauty Council

⁴ Market Performance Report 2023. (2024).  Cosmetics Europe, the European personal care association

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About CTPA

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association Limited (CTPA) is the UK trade association representing all types of companies involved in making, supplying and selling cosmetics and personal care products. As the credible authority for a vibrant and innovative UK industry trusted to act responsibly for the benefit of the consumer, CTPA promotes best practices and advises companies about the strict legal framework for cosmetics and personal care products. Representing industry views to the UK Government and external stakeholders CTPA also provides information to the media on many topics relating to cosmetic products and the cosmetics industry in general.

Media enquiries: [email protected]

CTPA website: www.ctpa.org.uk

CTPA consumer website: www.thefactsabout.co.uk