The spotlight is shining once again on the validity of product claims and labelling, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) redoubling its attention on the thoroughness of product labelling.
Surveys by the ACCC revealed over 20 per cent of ingredients lists did not meet standard criteria, while surveillance found 16 of 202 select retailers sold products between July and September that did not comply with the national legal standard.
According to Addison senior legal associate Cate Sendell: “Any claim or representation about the product must have evidence to support the claim. As with a failure to comply with the Standard, a breach of these provisions may result in a significant penalty of up to $1.1 million.”
With cosmetics making up approximately 30 per cent of total injury reports received by the ACCC in the past year, it’s clear there is great importance placed on correct labelling.
Audits by the ACCC found face and body washes and deodorants to be the most common products resulting in consumer injury. Water-based products also presented a risk due to a higher incidence of opportunistic pathogens.
“It is a timely reminder [that] the trend to produce all natural and all organic products may increase pressure on manufacturers to produce cosmetics with less preservatives or less effective natural preservatives. Companies should not claim products are of a particular quality or standard when they are not,” says ACCC deputy chair Delia Richardson.
Image credit: Always read the label by ML87.
