Cosmetic products
Criteria
Prices
The product group includes lotions, sunscreens, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and makeup – and all other products covered by the EU Cosmetics Regulation. It is also possible to certify wet wipes, animal care products, sex lubricants and medical lubricants. Products that are covered by the EU Biocidal Regulation cannot be certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. .
The substances included in a Nordic Swan Ecolabel cosmetic product must meet strict environmental and health requirements. This means banning several substances. In addition, there are requirements for design of the packaging to limit both quantity of material and waste of the products.
The requirements include:
- Environmental properties such as degradability, bioaccumulability and toxicity to aquatic organisms of the chemical substances used.
- Health properties of chemical substances used. There is a ban on substances classified to cause cancer, as toxic to reproduction or to potentially damage genetic material. Also, identified or potential endocrine disruptors on up-to-date lists from EU and national authorities are banned, and it is not allowed to add PFAS.
- No fragrances in skin and hair care products for babies and children.
- No use of microplastics – and no plastic fibres in wet wipes.
- Only use of RSPO certified palm oil or palm kernel oil.
- Design of packaging – and both quantity and type of material for the packaging.
- CDV Calculation Foam Soap_GENERATION 3 (English)
- CDV Calculation Foam Soap_GENERATION 4 (English)
- CDV Calculation Leave on_GENERATION 3 (English)
- CDV Calculation Leave on_GENERATION 4 (English)
- CDV Calculation Rinse off_GENERATION 3 (English)
- CDV Calculation Rinse off_GENERATION 4 (English)
- DID list 2023 Part A & B (English)
- Writable declarations_GENERATION 3 (English)
- Writable declarations_GENERATION 4 (English)
- WUR Emptying level_GENERATION 3 (English)
- WUR Emptying level_GENERATION 4 (English)
The criteria document for cosmetic products is an overall document for the product groups:
- Shampoo, conditioner, soap and toothpaste
- Sun protection
- Wet wipes
- Other cosmetics
- Non cosmetics care products*
A special fee is charged for each product group.
Nordic fee
Valid from 01-01-2025 til 31-12-2025
Publish date: 12-09-2024
| Application fee (incl. inspection visit within the Nordic region***)** | 3,348 € |
| Minimum fee per formulation/recipe | 836 € |
| Annual licence fee based on turnover in the Nordic region: | |
| Turnover 0-51,5 million € | 0.30 % |
| Turnover > 51,5 million € | 0.05 % |
| Minimum fee | 2,232 € |
| Extra fee for sales outside the Nordic region (only if revenue > 300.000 €/year) | 2,232 € |
| Renewal fee - by new generation of requirements**> | 1,673 € |
| Minimum fee per unchanged formulation/recipe | 418 € |
| Minimum fee per new/changed formulation/recipe | 836 € |
| Inspection visits (per visit):*** | |
| More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region | 557 € |
| Inspection visit within Europe | 1,673 € |
| Inspection visit outside Europe | 2,790 € |
| Extension/change of existing licence:**** | |
| Case handling < 4 hours | 418 € |
| Case handling < 8 hours | 836 € |
| Case handling ≥ 8 hours | 1,673 € |
| Minimum fee per formula/recipe, if the extension includes new or changed recipes | 836 € |
* Certain non cosmetic care products, which is not covered by the cosmetics regulation, may be licensed with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in order to the criteria of the product group definition. These non cosmetic care products are collected in a separate commodity with a separate fee.
** When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. The definition of company size is based on EU recommendation 2003/361.
*** Where audits require more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1,115 € per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.
**** Administrative tasks that takes less than 1 hour will not be invoiced.
All fees are exclusive of VAT. All information related to fees is subject to a disclaimer for errors and omissions.
The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC
The criteria document for cosmetic products is an overall document for the product groups:
- Shampoo, conditioner, soap and toothpaste
- Sun protection
- Wet wipes
- Other cosmetics
- Non cosmetics care products*
A special fee is charged for each product group.
Nordic fee
Valid from 01-01-2024 til 31-12-2024
Publish date: 29-09-2022
| Application fee (incl. inspection visit within the Nordic region***)** | 3,251 € |
| Minimum fee per formulation/recipe | 812 € |
| Annual licence fee based on turnover in the Nordic region: | |
| Turnover 0-50 million € | 0.30 % |
| Turnover > 50 million € | 0.05 % |
| Minimum fee | 2,167 € |
| Extra fee for sales outside the Nordic region (only if revenue > 300.000 €/year) | 2,167 € |
| Renewal fee - by new generation of requirements**> | 1,625 € |
| Minimum fee per unchanged formulation/recipe | 406 € |
| Minimum fee per new/changed formulation/recipe | 812 € |
| Inspection visits (per visit):*** | |
| More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region | 541 € |
| Inspection visit within Europe | 1,625 € |
| Inspection visit outside Europe | 2,709 € |
| Extension/change of existing licence:**** | |
| Case handling < 4 hours | 406 € |
| Case handling < 8 hours | 812 € |
| Case handling ≥ 8 hours | 1,625 € |
| Minimum fee per formula/recipe, if the extension includes new or changed recipes | 812 € |
* Certain non cosmetic care products, which is not covered by the cosmetics regulation, may be licensed with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in order to the criteria of the product group definition. These non cosmetic care products are collected in a separate commodity with a separate fee.
** When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. The definition of company size is based on EU recommendation 2003/361.
*** Where audits require more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1,083 € per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.
**** Administrative tasks that takes less than 1 hour will not be invoiced.
All fees are exclusive of VAT. All information related to fees is subject to a disclaimer for errors and omissions.
The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC
How to apply for a certification
This product group is not digitized.
You will find the application form and tools to get started with your application under the CRITERIA tab on this page.The application form must be completed, signed and submitted together with the documentation to application@ecolabel.dk.
You can read more about the application process here:
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