UL extends its global reach in cosmetics with acquisition

ICQ Global carries out various chemical and microbiological performance tests on a wide variety of products like cosmetics, to assure product conformance and is recognized by numerous national and international bodies.

The joint venture is said to strengthen UL's European and Asian footprints, and global quality and performance assurance services across the consumer product supply chain, particularly in cosmetics.

"As we advance our commitment to delivering trust and assurance throughout the consumer product supply chain, ICQ Global is both a great strategic and cultural fit​,” says Sajeev Jesudas, president of UL Verification Services.

ICQ Global will continue to operate from its facilities in Italy and Hong Kong.

This is the fourth quality assurance testing acquisition for UL in the past year. The Quality Assurance (QA) business of STR Holdings joined UL in August 2011, followed by Bangladesh-based Magnus Textile Services and Germany-based eco-INSTITUT earlier this year.

ICQ's pres​ence in the cosmetics industry​

ICQ's extensive experience in the field of product certification provides a wide range of analysis particularly in cosmetics by determining the presence of preservatives, dyes, phthalates, content of fluorides, dioxane and diethylene glycol, benzoyl peroxide, sunscreens and thermal stability.  

It further offers the industry services like; microbiological analysis, chemical analysis of packaging (eg heavy metals in packaging, product compatibility with the packaging), package resistance during transport (eg ISTA test, simulation temperatures), and can also assist in the preparation of a cosmetic dossier or safety report to comply with the new Regulation 1223/2009 (mandatory in July 2013).

Speaking of safety...​

Cosmetics Europe recently created technical ingredient consortia on four cosmetic ingredients with the aim of submitting safety dossiers related to the use of these ingredients in cosmetic products in order to ensure their continued use under the EU cosmetics legislation.

The ingredients include formaldehyde (CAS No 50-00-0), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) (CAS number: 541-02-6), polyaminopropylbiguanide (PHMB) (CAS numbers: 32289-58-0 / 27083-27-8) and aluminium salts.