Cosmetic companies win backing of EU

THE EU has decided that multi-billion dollar cosmetic companies need not tell consumers if their beauty products have caused problems or contain dangerous ingredients because it would be too expensive.

Faced with a choice between forcing companies to give the information on leaflets issued with the goods, or leaving it to the public to find out for themselves, the industry won out.

The European Commissioner responsible for industry, Gunter Verheugen, decided to put the onus on the consumer to request the information.