A cosmetic product is any substance or preparation intended to be placed in contact with the various external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips and external genital organs) or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance and/or correcting body odours and /or protecting them or keeping them in good condition.

Products intended to be ingested, inhaled, injected or implanted in the human body, are not considered cosmetics.

The term 'borderline products' refers to those products that at first sight might be difficult to classify into one or another product category. Further information is available in the Classification of Medicines section of our website.