Recently, Brussels has sounded the alarm over a dramatic rise in unsafe cosmetics imported from China, with the European Commission warning that beauty products now account for one-third of all dangerous goods alerts across the EU.
The findings, detailed in the EU’s annual Safety Gate report—its rapid alert system for hazardous non-food products—point to a growing health risk for consumers. Cosmetics topped the list of reported product categories, with officials highlighting the widespread presence of banned substances, most notably BMHCA, a synthetic fragrance banned in the EU since March 2022.
A staggering 97 percent of flagged cosmetics were found to contain BMHCA, which the European Chemicals Agency classifies as harmful to fertility, a potential endocrine disruptor, and a known skin allergen.
Beyond cosmetics, the report identified other hazardous materials across product categories: cadmium, nickel, and lead in jewellery; allergenic fragrances in body oils; and phthalates—synthetic chemicals used to soften plastics—in some clothing items. The breadth of safety concerns underscores mounting pressure on regulators and businesses alike.
In response, the Commission is tightening enforcement. It announced the launch of the first-ever EU-wide product safety sweep of online marketplaces, targeting goods sold by third-party sellers and cross-border e-commerce operators. The coordinated investigation will focus on compliance with the EU’s new General Product Safety Regulation, set to take effect later this year.
For the fashion and beauty industries, particularly those sourcing from or manufacturing in China, the message is unequivocal: regulatory scrutiny is ramping up.
