Cosmetics market has been increasing tremendously in the world and colourants are one of the most popular ingredients in cosmetic products providing a way in which a person can change his or her appearance and make the product instantly noticeable and attractable for purchase. Labelling, nomenclature and safety of colourants vary in different countries. Robust legislation exists in the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) to regulate their use for cosmetic products. Variations in regulations affect safety assessments of cosmetic products. Indian regulation requires improvement and harmonization with international regulations. In the present article, we examine and establish the need for harmonisation of regulations for colourants.
