ANVISA updates the INCI Translation Panel with the translation of 1148 cosmetic ingredients

On 24 May 2024, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) updated the INCI Translation Panel with the translation of 1,016 International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) into Portuguese. Including another update published on 10 May, a total of 1,148 entries were added in May.

Mandatory INCI Name Translations

According to ANVISA Regulation RDC No. 773, which came into force on 1 November 2023, all personal care products, cosmetics, and perfumes sold in Brazil must have their chemical composition in Portuguese on the label. This regulation amends the previous regulation (RDC No. 646) to ensure transparency and accessibility for Brazilian consumers. The translation can be provided directly on the label or in a digital format accessible through a code on the packaging.

Ingredients Excluded from the Update

As a result of the update, all requests for inclusion received before 23 May were thoroughly reviewed. However, some ingredients were excluded from the panel for the following reasons:

1) The INCI provided by the user was not found in the European Cosmetic Ingredients (CosIng) database

2) The ingredient is prohibited for cosmetic products under the regulatory framework for personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and fragrances (RDC No. 529/2021).

Future Updates and Availability

Products manufactured until 31 October 2023 may be sold until their respective expiry dates, according to Art. 4^th of RDC No. 646 of 2022, as amended by RDC No. 773 of 2023.

Starting in 2025, translation will be added every two months (in odd months), while translation changes/corrections will be made every six months (in July and December).

The chemical composition in Portuguese can be displayed in print or digital format, preferably on a mobile device, and is preceded by the phrases "Composition (Portuguese):" or "Ingredients (Portuguese)".

ANVISA has made the entire database of the panel public via a spreadsheet, allowing users to download changes on the specified date. The update is scheduled for July 2024 and will include new additions and adjustments to translated ingredients to ensure traceability and prevent ANVISA from being held liable for obsolete translations.