BRUSSELS, April 2 (Reuter) - The European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) said on Tuesday the cosmetic industry had not called for a withdrawal of cosmetic products containing bovine tissue. It said in a statement there had been a misunderstanding over a statement concerning mad cow disease issued by Emma Bonino, the European Union's consumer affairs commissioner, on Saturday. "There has, in fact, not been a call by the European Commission or by the cosmetic industry for a withdrawal of cosmetic products which contain biological extracts of bovine tissue," COLIPA said. It said at a meeting with the Commission on March 29 it had "agreed to fully reassure consumers that its members do not use biological extracts of bovine tissue with the highest risk potential (brain, eye and central nervous system)". "The purpose of this confirmation was not to withdraw products from the market but to reinforce consumer confidence in products that are 100 percent safe and to formalise what has been the practice of the industry for a number of years." Bonino said in her statement COLIPA was asking its members to withdraw from the market products which could contain dangerous ingredients from cattle tissue. This was interpreted in some reports as a call for a withdrawal of products containing any bovine tissue. "COLIPA is in the process of telling its members not to use ingredients coming from bovine tissue that present the highest potential risk (brain, eyes, tissues from the central nervous system)," she said in a statement. She added that COLIPA was asking its members to "withdraw from the market all finished cosmetic products that could contain the said ingredients."
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