Personal care and consumer products testing now sits at the intersection of chemical safety, performance, and sustainability—often for the same SKU. A single product might need heavy metals and PFAS screening, mechanical abuse testing, and evidence supporting claims like recycled content or biodegradability. Globalized supply chains and direct-to-consumer channels amplify the stakes: Documentation must travel with the product, withstand import checks, and satisfy retailer diligence programs. For contract labs, the capability breadth matters, and so does the ability to present evidence that is organized, traceable, and easy for clients to reuse.
In practice, laboratories are investing in ultra-trace chemical analytics, robust microplastics workflows, and automated durability/performance testing. Just as important, they are upgrading LIMS templates and report structures so that method versions, measurement uncertainty, and chain-of-custody detail can be retrieved on demand.
Core Trends Reshaping Test Menus
1. Implementation of MoCRA in the United States
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) has introduced new obligations for cosmetics manufacturers and testing labs. Requirements for facility registration, product listing, and adverse event reporting demand traceable, structured data behind claims. Labs must also be prepared for FDA inspections that emphasize documented safety substantiation.
A lot is changing in consumer products, pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, environmental testing, metals and mining, food and beverage, medical devices, and cross-industry innovations.
If you are a third-party or contract testing lab, you need to know why the sector is shifting, the core trends reshaping test menus and methods, and the recent developments affecting operations, so you can take practical steps now to stay competitive.
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2. Restrictions on Intentionally Added Microplastics in the EU
Since October 2023, the European Union’s restriction on intentionally added microplastics has expanded the scope of required testing. Labs now need particle identification, size distribution analysis, and contamination-controlled workflows to verify product compliance across categories ranging from cosmetics to detergents.
3. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) and the ESPR
With the European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) in effect since July 2024, the DPP is becoming a driver of testing demand. Labs are expected to generate machine-readable evidence of material composition, durability, and recyclability. This changes the role of testing from producing PDF reports to delivering structured outputs that integrate with regulatory and supply chain systems.
4. Consumer-Driven Transparency
Beyond regulation, market expectations are shifting. Shoppers increasingly look for evidence of “clean label” formulations, microbiome-friendly claims, and sustainable sourcing. These claims require defensible testing protocols and verifiable data structures to avoid reputational risk.
Recent Developments Affecting Lab Operations
- Increased reliance on in vitro and in silico alternatives to animal testing, especially in the EU, where animal testing bans for cosmetics are longstanding and being reinforced by regulatory updates.
- Expansion of analytical particle characterization technologies, such as Raman and FTIR microspectroscopy, to support microplastics and nanomaterials testing.
- A stronger emphasis on chain of custody and version-controlled methods, ensuring results can withstand both regulatory audits and consumer scrutiny.
Practical Steps for Laboratories
To remain competitive and compliant in this sector, labs can take the following actions:
- Build structured data outputs: Ensure CoAs, safety reports, and claim substantiations are machine-readable and version-controlled.
- Invest in particle analysis capabilities: Expand microplastic and nanomaterial testing infrastructure to address EU regulations and emerging consumer safety concerns.
- Strengthen digital infrastructure: Integrate LIMS/ELN systems to maintain traceability from sample intake to final report.
- Prepare for inspections: Train teams and validate workflows to align with MoCRA’s safety substantiation and facility registration requirements.
- Align with sustainability goals: Position testing services to support client compliance with ESPR and DPP, where evidence of recyclability and durability will be in demand.
Become a Trusted Consumer Products Testing Lab Partner
In personal care and consumer products, testing is no longer limited to confirming safety and efficacy: It is a source of structured, auditable evidence that regulators, retailers, and consumers now expect. Laboratories that adapt to MoCRA, EU microplastics rules, and the DPP framework will not only ensure compliance but also strengthen their role as trusted partners in a more transparent and sustainability-driven marketplace.
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This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.