Maintenance test

A conservation test (challenge test) is a stress test that aims to confirm the effectiveness of the preservative system of a cosmetic product. It helps in selecting the appropriate agent or the entire preservative system (in appropriate concentrations). The test is also used to check the stability of the preservative during the product’s shelf life and can help determine the shelf life after opening – PAO (Period After Opening). To confirm that a cosmetic product is properly protected against microbiological infection, it is recommended to carry out a preservation test at the stage of developing the cosmetic recipe and on finished products in commercial packaging. In our laboratory, the maintenance test is performed in accordance with the international standard PN-EN ISO 11930:2019-03.

Why perform a maintenance test

The preservation test is a mandatory laboratory test for most cosmetic products sold in the European Union. The obligation to conduct the test rests with the Manufacturer or Distributor (in the case of products imported from abroad). This necessity results directly from Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The result of the maintenance test is one of the basis for preparing the cosmetic safety assessment report.

Maintenance testing is not just a chore. Conducting a maintenance test is one of the basic elements of quality assurance and quality control in the production of cosmetics. The test result allows you to confirm in laboratory conditions that the formula of the cosmetic has been developed correctly and that it does not pose a potential threat to the Consumer.

Maintenance test flow

In a nutshell, the preservation test involves intentionally infecting the product mass with pathogenic bacteria and fungi, which are the most common human pathogens. These include, among others: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphyloccocus aureus, Aspergillus brasiliensis, Candida albicans. The infection level ranges from 10,000 to 100,000 cfu/g. Quantitative confirmatory testing is performed at appropriate intervals. In a properly preserved product, the number of live microorganisms capable of reproducing should decrease or at least not increase.

Products exempt from maintenance test

Not all cosmetic products need to be subjected to stress testing. According to the guide to microbiological risk assessment PN-EN ISO 2921:2011, products with low exposure to microbiological proliferation are considered safe without testing. This group includes, among others: products with high alcohol concentration, extreme pH, low water activity.

For the offer of maintenance tests, please contact the Customer Service Office by phone: 22 378 30 34 or cosmetics@ekolabos.pl