Organic Beauty News - July 2009

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ACCC vs. Natural Instinct

Action over organic mislabelling

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken action against cosmetics maker Natural Products of Australia over its natural and organic claims.

The ACCC said it took the action against Natural Products of Australia because it was concerned that inaccuracies on its product labels concerning the products’ composition might mislead consumers.

On its labels the company claims to use ‘100 per cent pure oils and certified organic herbs’, but the ACCC was concerned that the amounts of these herbs and oils was sometimes so small it was relatively insignificant to the overall formulation. In the same vein, the organisation also rapped Natural Products of Australia for not listing its ingredients on the labels from biggest to smallest quantities, as required by mandatory standards.

“Consumers should be able to rely on labels to provide accurate information about the chemicals and other ingredients in cosmetic products,“ said ACCC deputy chairman Peter Kell.

Read the full story: Australian authorities take action over organic mislabelling

Watchdog strips mask from cosmetic claims

A cosmetics con that covered up chemicals in hair and skincare products has been exposed by the consumer watchdog ACCC.

And the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission has put other companies on notice over mislabelling in a booming cosmetics market.

Natural Instinct is altering its labelling on several products after it left off ingredients that can cause skin irritations and hoodwinked consumers over the quantities of herbs and oils in several items.

Read the full story: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25340046-661,00.html

The ACCC’s claim against Natural Instinct:

It is alleged that Natural Instinct breached sections 52, 53, 55 by misleading consumers as to the presence and quantities of certain ingredients in Natural Instinct cosmetic products and the composition and characteristics of those products through failing to accurately describe the ingredients in Natural Instinct cosmetic products, in particular by:
(a) omitting ingredients;
(b) failing to list ingredients in descending order by volume and mass; and
(c) failing to refer to chemicals and other ingredients by a common English name or INCI name;

INCI name Incorrect names used by Natural Instinct
Sodium laureth sulphate (plant derived) Sodium Salt of Laureth 2
Sodium Salt of Sulphonated Laureth 2
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate Suttocide
Fragrance / Parfum Preservative T
Cetrimonium Chloride Quaternised derivative of palm oil

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Source: ONE Group News