Responsibility for cosmetics-labelling rules is split between different agencies. ERMA (the Environmental Risk Management Authority) sets the rules but the Ministry of Health enforces them where it’s necessary to protect public health. However, neither ERMA nor the Ministry is resourced to police the industry and may only become aware of a problem when someone complains.
We don’t think this is good enough. We’d like to see the Ministry of Health resourced to prosecute companies that don’t comply with the rules. Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, penalties for breaching labelling regulations can include a fine of up to $500,000.
Our view
- Unlabelled products should be removed from sale immediately. Manufacturers and retailers have had over a year to comply with the labelling laws: there’s no excuse for not doing so.
- Tougher enforcement of these rules is needed because, without clear labelling, consumers can’t make an informed decision about whether they want to use a product.
- If a cosmetic product is not clearly labelled, don’t buy it. Report it to ERMA or the public health unit of your District Health Board – and let us know too.
More information
- Environmental Risk Management Authority: www.ermanz.govt.nz
- Contact details for public health units: www.moh.govt.nz
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Report by Jessica Wilson.
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