DIN EN ISO 18415:2011-08

The standard DIN EN ISO 18415 gives general guidelines for the detection and identification of specified microorganisms in cosmetic products as well as for the detection and identification of other kinds of aerobic mesophilic non-specified microorganisms in cosmetic products. Microorganisms considered as specified in this International Standard might differ from country to country according to national practices or regulations. Most of them considered as specified microorganisms include one or more of the following species: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. In order to ensure product quality and safety for consumers, it is advisable to perform an appropriate microbiological risk analysis in order to determine the types of cosmetic product to which this International Standard is applicable. Products considered to present a low microbiological risk include those with low water activity, hydro-alcoholic products, extreme pH values, etcetera. The method described in this International Standard is based on the detection of microbial growth in a nonselective liquid medium (enrichment broth) suitable to detect microbial contamination, followed by isolation of microorganisms on non-selective agar media. Other methods can be appropriate depending on the level of detection required. Because of the large variety of cosmetic products within this field of application, this method might not be suited in every detail, to some products (for example, certain water-immiscible products). Other methods (for example, automated) can be substituted for the test presented here provided that their equivalence has been demonstrated or the method has been otherwise validated. The International Standard ISO 18415:2007 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.