The European Detergents Regulation, in force since October 2005, has introduced changes to the labelling of detergents. In addition, further information about products will be provided by each manufacturer on the Internet, on websites such as this one. These changes are intended to help all consumers use their detergents safely and effectively.
To understand better the similarities between the various chemical names, go to the website:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/
To obtain the list of product ingredients, enter the EAN code, the numerical code on the product packaging under the barcode, and click the “Search” button.
Further information about ingredients
From now on, detergent labels and websites like this one will provide a more complete list of ingredients. This is so that people prone to allergic reactions will be well-informed when choosing a product. For most people, however, this is not cause for concern, since allergic reactions to detergent ingredients are relatively rare.
If you think you may have an allergy:
Do not continue using a product that you think may have caused your allergy. See your doctor and/or a dermatologist.
Take a list of all the products you used during the weeks before the allergy appeared to your doctor, together with the packaging if possible. Tell your doctor if there have been any changes in your lifestyle and diet.
A total of 26 fragrances have been identified by the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) as those most likely to cause allergic reactions. These substances are therefore specified on the label if they are present in the product at a concentration above 0.01% by weight.
The full list of these ingredients is given below.
List of “allergenic” fragrances (using label terminology)
BENZYL ALCOHOL
AMYL CINNAMAL
CINNAMYL ALCOHOL
CITRAL
EUGENOL
HYDROXYCITRONELLAL
ISOEUGENOL
AMYLCINNAMYL ALCOHOL
BENZYL SALICYLATE
CINNAMAL
COUMARIN
GERANIOL
HYDROXYISOHEXYL 3-CYCLOHEXENE CARBOXALDEHYDE
ANISE ALCOHOL
BENZYL CINNAMATE
FARNESOL
BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL
LINALOOL
BENZYL BENZOATE
CITRONELLOL
HEXYL CINNAMAL
LIMONENE
METHYL 2-OCTYNOATE
ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE
EVERNIA PRUNASTRI EXTRACT
EVERNIA FURFURACEA EXTRACT
Any preservative agent added to the product will also be specified on the label. Very small amounts of preservatives are present in many detergents to ensure that the product is long-lasting and its quality is maintained.
Each ingredient, whether a fragrance or a preservative, is listed by its internationally recognised name - the INCI name (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients). By giving each ingredient a unique name, it becomes easy for consumers in all countries to recognise the ingredients present, without problems related to language differences.
