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Tue 25.09.12 09:12

ISO 11930:2012: New Standard to Evaluate Antimicrobial Protection of Cosmetics

Since microbial contamination is one of the greatest concerns regarding the quality of cosmetic products, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the product is
free of harmful microorganisms as well as to control the growth of microorganisms introduced during the use of cosmetics.

Cosmetic products are in frequent contact with the non-sterile human skin, thereby
becoming easily contaminated by microorganisms. Preservatives are hence commonly
added to prevent the growth of pathogenic (disease causing) microorganisms.
Currently, the pharmacopeial method is utilized by the industry as reference in order to
determine the antimicrobial protection level of preservatives for the cosmetic products. In
July 2012, a new standard, ISO 11930:2012, which is primarily designed for the evaluation
of antimicrobial protection in cosmetics and for the determination of the overall
preservative protection of cosmetic product, was introduced by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Factors such as the addition of chemical preservatives, inherent characteristics of the
formula, package design and the manufacturing process generally contribute to the overall
antimicrobial effect of cosmetic products. The new standard ISO 11930:2012 outlines the procedure for the evaluation of antimicrobial
protection of a cosmetic product by preservation efficacy testing and microbiological risk assessment based on ISO 29621.
Furthermore, the development of the new ISO standard supports the industry in ensuring the quality of cosmetic products and safeguarding
consumers from the risk that may be caused by presence of pathogens during use.
The latest SGS news bulletin compares the various assessment methods ISO 11930:2012, US Pharmacopeia (USP) and the European
Pharmacopeia method for antimicrobial effectiveness testing.
It is of utmost importance that all cosmetic, personal care and household products are safe effective and stable. To ensure a high level of
product quality in every area, SGS provides testing, inspection, auditing and consulting services to manufacturers, distributors and importers.
SGS s state of the art laboratories offer custom-made solutions for chemical, biophysical, microbiological, stability and toxicological aspects.
Furthermore, SGS has extensive capabilities in performance testing, claim support studies and consumer panels. The testing is conducted
according to customer specific or recognized standard methods, some of which were developed by SGS. SGS cosmetic safety assessors
and other technical experts can support customers by making sure new products comply with regulatory requirements.
For further information on SGS s services, please contact the SGS experts.
Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Ivan Tsui
Key Account Manager
5/F-8/F &12/F, 28/F, Metropole Square, 2 On Yiu Street,
Siu Lek Yuen, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
t: +852 2204 8374 (ext 1374)
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail.aspx
SGS is the world s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality
and integrity. With 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.