EU: Version 5.5 of the Borderline Manual

On August 20, 2025, the European Commission published version 5.5 of the EU Border Products Manual, now available for download.

Table of contents

1. What's new in this update?

2. Why is this manual important?

EU: Version 5.5 of the Borderline Manual

What's new in this update?

• High expectations for clarity: The EU Cosmetics Working Group's Subgroup on Border Products added two key new entries to the manual:

  • “Self-tanning concentrates” now included in section 1.10

  • “Oral drops, sprays or gels” added as section 2.4 CTPA

• Precise retitling and replacement:

  • The former section 2.4 “Nasal sprays” has been renumbered as 2.5.

  • Section 3.3.22 has been replaced with a new entry dedicated to tattoo removal or fading products.

Why is this manual important?

The Frontier Products Manual helps clearly delineate when an item is classified as a cosmetic —and therefore regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009—or whether it should be governed by rules from another sector single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu . This avoids legal and commercial confusion among companies, regulatory authorities, and consumers.