DIN EN ISO 16212:2011-08

The standard DIN EN ISO 16212 gives general guidelines for enumeration of yeast and mould present in cosmetics by counting the colonies on selective agar medium after aerobic incubation. In order to ensure product quality and safety for consumers, it is advisable to perform an appropriate microbiological risk analysis so as to determine the types of cosmetic products to which this International Standard is applicable. Products considered to present a low microbiological risk include those with low water activity, hydro-alcoholic products, products with extreme pH values, etcetera. Because of the large variety of cosmetic products within this field of application, this method might not be suited to some products in every detail (for example, certain water-immiscible products). Other methods (for example, automated) can be used for the test presented here provided that their equivalence has been demonstrated or the method has been otherwise validated. Yeast enumerated can be identified using suitable identification tests, for example tests described in the standards listed in the Bibliography. Mould enumerated can be identified by other appropriate methods, if necessary. The International Standard ISO 16212:2008 has been prepared by ISO/TC 217 "Cosmetics" (secretariat: ISIRI, Iran). CEN/TC 392 "Cosmetics" (secretariat. NEN, Netherlands) is responsible for the European Standard. The collaboration of DIN for the field of responsibility of CEN/TC 392 is performed through the National Mirror Committee, Working Committee NA 057-07-01 AA "Kosmetische Mittel" ("Cosmetics") of NAL.