What is the Product Information File (PIF)?

The European regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products requires industry professionals to provide a Product Information File (PIF) for each product commercialized.

According to regulation 1223/2009 article 2.11, the product information file shall be kept at the disposal of the competent authorities at least ten years after the last product batch has been placed on the market.

The health authorities can review the PIF at any time, and if they notice that a cosmetic product presents any non-conformity, they will require the immediate withdrawal of the product.

Creating and monitoring the progress of a Product Information File represent major challenges for cosmetics manufacturers and distributors. They need to have reliable and automated key stages: retrieve, organize, edit, secure and monitor the information and chapters of the PIF to be able to provide a complete file at any time.