Today, the European Environmental Bureau, supported Zero Mercury Working Group, submitted input to the call for evidence on the evaluation of the Cosmetics Products Regulation (CPR), with a focus on the ban of mercury and its compounds in cosmetics, the digital transition, and mercury-related exemptions.
The CPR has played a crucial role in ensuring a high level of consumer safety, notably by keeping the most harmful substances out of cosmetics, becoming a reference at global level. However, there are still significant challenges to address, such as the ongoing sale of illegal mercury-added cosmetics, as revealed in our investigations since 2017 with the Zero Mercury Working Group. In the EU and UK, out of 65 suspect creams purchased and analysed, 31 had mercury levels higher than 1ppm.
Our main asks:
✔️ Using sectoral legislation to address the loopholes in online sales to prevent the spread of harmful cosmetics.
✔️ Reviewing the need for mercury-related exemptions in eye products
✔️ Further investigation and regulation of the trade and manufacture of mercury compounds used in cosmetics.
Read our full position here: https://www.zeromercury.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/EEB-Feedback-to-the-Call-for-Evidence-on-CPR-Evaluation-1.pdf
