Natural care and soaps: the obligation to comply with the INCI nomenclature

INCI, or International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, was introduced to standardize how cosmetic ingredients are listed on labels . Before INCI, each country had its own rules and terminology for cosmetic ingredients, making it difficult for consumers and professionals to understand the components of products.

• Origin of INCI: INCI was developed in the 1970s by the International Committee for Cosmetic Nomenclature (INCC), a group formed by experts from the international cosmetic industry. Its goal was to create a common language for the global cosmetic industry, thereby facilitating international trade and ensuring greater transparency for consumers.
• Evolution and adoption: Since its inception, INCI has been widely adopted by many countries and regulators around the world. In 1997, the European Union mandated the use of the INCI nomenclature for cosmetic products sold in its member states, in order to standardize information provided to consumers and facilitate cross-border trade. The United States has also adopted INCI through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic products sold in its territory.
• Why was INCI established? INCI was established for several key reasons: transparency, safety, allowing healthcare professionals and regulators to better assess the potential risks of ingredients used in cosmetics. Finally, the INCI nomenclature allows International Trade to facilitate the trade of cosmetic products between different countries by using a common nomenclature.
  
  

The INCI nomenclature has been mandatory in Canada since 2006 for cosmetic manufacturers and retailers, whether artisanal or industrial, in order to avoid any confusion over ingredient names. Health Canada requires cosmetic manufacturers, even artisanal ones, to strictly comply with the Cosmetic Regulations.

The INCI nomenclature may seem strange and give the impression that the ingredients contain spelling mistakes. Well no! Although it appears intimidating, the INCI nomenclature is designed to ensure universal recognition of ingredients, thus avoiding any confusion with varied or inappropriate trade names. Botanical substances come directly from plants and are not chemically modified before being used in natural cosmetics, care and soaps. In the INCI dictionary, they are designated by their genus, species, common name, the part of the plant from which they come and the extraction method. In Canada , botanical substances must be designated using at least the genus and species mentioned in the INCI name. Although INCI has been adopted worldwide, there are still differences in national regulations:

• European Union : The use of INCI is mandatory for all cosmetic products. Ingredients must be listed in descending order of concentration.
• United States : FDA requires all cosmetic products to use the INCI nomenclature on their labels.
• Japan : Although Japan has its own nomenclature system, it also uses INCI for products exported to Western markets.