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Expiry Dates and Certificates of Analysis
We are often asked about the problem of expiry dates on all of the many and varied products we have and there seems to be a great deal of confusion over this subject. This post explains the process of Expiry Dates and Certificates of Analysis in cosmetics and the difference from those used for food products.
Firstly and most importantly, there is no connection between an expiry date of an ingredient (used to make a finished product) and the final ‘expiry’, or ‘best before’ or ‘best after opening’ date that is used on a final product. For example if you use an oil to make a lotion and that lotion has 3 months left until expiry according to its COA, you do not apply that date to your finished products ‘best before’ etc.
Another feature that is very important to understand is that food products have different rules to cosmetic products. Where products used as cosmetic ingredients are also used for food there can be much confusion. As an example, we will regularly receive large consignments of oils and butters such as Olive Oil or Palm Oil, which are widely used in both food and cosmetics, the date on the outer packaging for food purposes might suggest they ‘expire’ in just 2-3 months, BUT, this is a food date and does not apply to cosmetics.
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
In the world of cosmetics there is no date applied to outer packaging, but rather we rely on a separate document called a Certificate of Analysis. This is the certificate that is sent to us after the most recent testing of that product by the manufacturer/refiner and that is likely to have quite different information on it. It’s common for a COA to have an expiry date many months further ahead and this is why...
A COA is exactly what it suggests it is, it’s providing the latest results of analysis of that product. In the text of that document it may also have wording to suggest that rather than the date being a fixed ‘expiry date’ it will refer to a re-test. This is because it’s not the expiry of the product it’s referring to, it’s the expiry of the period since the product was last tested and found to be in perfectly good condition. In many instances, where the manufacturer still has some of that batch reserved for re-testing, a new COA can be issued extending the so-called expiry date a further number of months, often 6 or even 12 months. As long as the sample is still in good condition.
Unnecessary Waste
These days there are huge amounts of controversial food waste, much of which is based around over-zealously applied expiry dates. We should actually be more pragmatic about how we deal with dates put on packaging. In recently highlighted instances there has been huge amounts of milk simply thrown away. This is because it passed the expiry date on the bottle. However a simple ‘sniff test’ will usually demonstrate that the milk would seem fine for drinking many days after that date. As such we should be applying different rules to milk, and many other food products to reduce unnecessary waste. It would seem sensible then, that in cosmetics, we are already practicing a far more reasonable method.
Now… aside of the original manufacturer or refiner, companies and consumers further down the line don’t have the ability to test and issue COA’s. It’s not uncommon for a product to be sold with a fairly short period remaining on the COA and this presents a problem.
As mentioned above; If you’re making a product, the ingredients expiry dates are no way linked to the final expiry date of the finished product. As a more understandable example of this; if you make a cake and the eggs you use are due to ‘expire’ the next day it does not mean that the cake is not safe to eat after just 1 day and this would make perfect sense to most people. In the same way, if you add an oil to a soap or a lotion it’s being further processed and at that time the new product becomes that which needs to have any required testing applied.
Safety Assessment
Most people who need to understand this information are those making products for re-sale. This is because they are compiling records for their product files as they’re required to. They will see the dates on the COA’s and often get unnecessarily alarmed. It’s important to realise that the Safety Assessment (CPSR) you will have for your formula will give guidance for best before or best-after-opening dates that should be applied to that product. You will also notice that there will be NO variations to this based around any expiry dates on the COA’s of ingredients. Just because your ingredient says it’s going to ‘expire’ soon doesn't mean you can't use it.
Touching The Surface
Now… there are many and varied rules for different types of product use. I’m only attempting to explain those for cosmetic ingredients, as it is more relevant for our customer base. We have many other uses for the products we stock and some customers will be buying them for different applications. To cover all other options would be impossible in this short article and out of our area of expertise.
Generally there is immense misunderstanding over expiry dates in general. It’s widely acknowledged that these types of dates are a direct cause of huge amounts of waste. So our advice in general would be to trust your judgement. If a product looks or smells ‘off’ then it is ‘off’ but otherwise please don’t simply throw it away. As it’s likely to still be in fine condition for much longer than you might think.
Is It Necessary?
Finally, if the regulations don’t call for any type of expiry date to be applied, don’t use one. As an example, bar soaps have an expected period where they’re safe to use over 30 months from production, this means they do not require any dating as the purpose of dates is safety. The high pH of natural soaps means they are self-preserving, as bacteria cannot propagate on them. It is true that the fragrance (if you add one) might diminish over time. Meaning that the soap maybe considered ‘better’ if used after maybe just 6 months. But it’s not unsafe until possibly years later and might never actually become unsafe to use. This is because of it’s self-preserving nature, so why put a date on it and encourage waste? Better not to if you don’t have to.
We hope this gives you a better insight into Expiry Dates and Certificates of Analysis for cosmetics and the difference!
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