Report undesirable effects and damage to health with cosmetics
Description
If you use cosmetic products, so-called undesirable effects may occur in rare cases, for example allergic reactions, skin irritation or other intolerances:
- burning scalp
- itching
- redness
- skin rash
- Swelling of body parts
Every time an adverse reaction is reported, consumers can be better protected in future, for example through
- targeted controls
- product warnings
- product recalls
- Adjustment of the formulation
- Adaptation of labeling
Notification as a consumer:
If you as a consumer notice such a negative effect on your health after using cosmetic products, you can inform the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
Alternatively, you can also contact the following bodies directly:
- the manufacturing or importing company indicated on the packaging
- the retail store where you purchased the product
- the competent authorities, usually the food inspectorate in your district or city
The following persons can pass on information about the undesirable effects:
-
yourself or a person you authorize, for example relatives or a legal representative
- if you are under 16 years of age, you must be represented in any case
- healthcare professionals such as a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or nurse practitioner
- Employees of hairdressing salons, beauty and massage studios, for example
Notification as a company:
If you, as a company that manufactures, imports or trades cosmetics, become aware of adverse effects, you must
-
check whether it is a serious undesirable effect (SUE) according to the criteria of the EU Cosmetics Regulation.
-
As a rule, SUEs require a medical assessment and usually also treatment. This includes, for example
- a sick note because the hands are swollen
- hospitalization for further examination
- an anaphylactic, i.e. allergic shock
-
As a rule, SUEs require a medical assessment and usually also treatment. This includes, for example
- if it is an SUE, it is your duty to inform the competent authority.
For consumers:
-
When you submit a report, it should include the following information:
- Your initials (names)
- Your year of birth
- Your symptoms
- the time of onset
- the nature of the consequences
- the name of the cosmetic product concerned
For companies:
- Notification form A
There are no costs for you.
Retailers, manufacturers or importers must immediately report serious adverse effects of cosmetics to the competent monitoring authority, at the latest within 20 days of becoming aware of them.
Processing Time: 20 Working daysDas Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit leitet die Meldung innerhalb von 20 Werktagen weiter.
You cannot lodge an appeal.
As a consumer, you can report your notification in different ways:
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Inform the BVL directly online, by post or e-mail
-
Online procedure:
- The online form guides you step by step through the information required by the authority.
-
By e-mail or post:
- Download the checklist from the BVL website and complete it directly.
- You can remain anonymous when reporting, but one person should be identifiable for queries, for example: doctor, hairdresser, relative
- Send the completed checklist to the BVL by e-mail or print it out and send it by post.
- The notification can also be sent informally by e-mail or post, but should then contain various required information (see online form or checklist).
- Once you have informed the BVL, the information will be forwarded to the competent authority.
-
Online procedure:
-
informal notification in writing to the manufacturer or importer, which you will find on the packaging, the retailer or the competent authority.
- If the manufacturer, importer or retailer classifies the case as a serious undesirable effect, they must forward the report to the competent authority.
-
Information to the competent authority
- If the information is sent informally by e-mail or post, it should contain various necessary information (see online form or checklist).
- Companies and authorities consult with each other in order to classify the undesirable effects and coordinate measures.
As a manufacturer, importer or trading company based in Germany, you can send your notification of serious adverse effects to the competent authority by e-mail or post using notification form A:
- Download the notification form A from the BVL website.
- You can fill in the form directly or print it out.
- Send the completed form by e-mail or by post to the supervisory authority responsible for you.
As a manufacturer, importer or trading company based abroad, you can submit your notification of serious undesirable effects to the BVL using the online procedure, by e-mail or by post:
-
Online procedure:
- Only companies based abroad can use the online form.
- It guides you step by step through the necessary information and provides an upload for the notification form A, which is also available in English.
- You do not need a user account to use the online procedure or to report from abroad.
-
E-mail or post:
- Download the notification form A.
- You can complete the form directly or print it out.
- Send the completed form to the BVL by e-mail or post.
Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection
05.06.2025
Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL)
Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Start your request directly online:
- Report undesirable effects of cosmetic products online (Languages available: de)
10832 Berlin, Stadt
