IFRA 49th Amendment and Diffusers

When we make scented products that require labelling under Guidance on labelling and packaging in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, we look at the IFRA certificates provided by our oil suppliers to assess the advised maximum use percentage of an oil in a particular product. In this instance, we're talking about diffusers.

Usually, this is relatively simple. However, at the moment we are in a transition period between the 48th and 49th amendment.

As per the IFRA 49th amendment, reed diffusers now fall into category 10a (previously, they were class 11).

What does this mean for you?

If you manufactured a product before May 10th 2021, you can still use class 11 of the IFRA certificate. This is not indefinite, however. This is a transition period to enable you to sell existing products before the final May 10th 2022 deadline.

If you're introducing a new product to the market, you must implement the changes under the IFRA 49th amendment immediately, as the deadline for new products was May 10th 2021.

How do I find the class percentage for my oil?

Visit your supplier’s website, locate the documents for the fragrance oil you intend to use, and look for the IFRA certificate. (Please note that some suppliers may only have an IFRA 48th available at the moment. If this is the case, they should update their documents before the May 2022 deadline. It’s important to check back for updates, because when the 49th amendment is uploaded, the percentages for each class will likely change.)

Find the IFRA class limit (either 10a or 11 depending on your product’s situation). This will tell you the maximum oil percentage that is recommended. This is the maximum amount of oil that you should be using in your diffuser.