In 2013 the Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (implementing Directive 2011/84 EU) were revoked and replaced with the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 (and including amendments from Regulation 1223/2009, Regulation 344/2013 and Regulation 1197/2013) commonly known as the “EU Cosmetics Regulation”.
The law surrounding tooth whitening remains unchanged and it is illegal for tooth whitening products which contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide or for any associated products which release greater than 6% hydrogen peroxide to be supplied or administered for cosmetic purposes.
In addition, the new regulations continue to state that tooth whitening products containing or releasing between 0.1%-6% hydrogen peroxide should not be made directly available to the consumer, other than through treatment by a registered dentist (or dental hygienist or dental therapist or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription). Breach of these regulations is a criminal offence.
(General Dentist Council - https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/what-is-the-legal-position/tooth-whitening-position-statement.pdf)
Teeth whitening treatments are a form of dentistry and should only be carried out by a dentist or another regulated dental professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist.
Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there's no dental professional present, and it may put oral health at risk.
The CPD Group – Where do we fit into this?
The CPD Group offer CPD Accreditation to Training Providers, using our internationally recognised ACCREDITED Framework to ensure that the learning on offer in fit for purpose, correct, and up to date to fit industry requirements. Our CPD Course Accreditation is specific to learning materials and learning journey presented to us on any given subject. Only the highest calibre of Training Courses that meet or exceed our ACCREDITED Framework criteria are offered CPD Accreditation by The CPD Group.
As part of our 3-step accreditation process, we measure the Training Provider, the Courses on offer and the Trainer(s) themselves. Our expectations are that Trainers gaining accreditation are qualified in their field of delivery and they can evidence their competencies as and educator.
This process ensures that the Training Providers, CPD Courses and Trainers have been fully reviewed and scrutinised, and our accreditation offers assurances of relevance, quality and expertise.
We provide CPD Accreditation for Teeth Whitening CPD Courses, but only if certain criteria against our ACCREDITED Framework is met. CPD Courses are in no way meant to replace formal education and qualifications and are designed for continuing professional development purposes only.
Training Providers – What you need to know!
Having your Teeth Whitening Training Courses CPD Accredited is a way of demonstrating that the course materials themselves meet The CPD Group’s internationally recognised ACCREDITED Framework. This shows potential clients that the learning offered in the course is correct, relevant, fit for purpose and up to date with the relevant Laws and Guidelines.
However, it is your responsibility to ensure that when promoting courses, enrolling learners, or delivering training to clients, that you have informed them of their responsibilities under UK, and/or international Law.
As highlighted by the GDC above, people delivering teeth whitening treatments to the public, using products containing or releasing between 0.1%-6% hydrogen peroxide, must be a registered dentist (or dental hygienist or dental therapist or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription). As the Training Provider, you have a duty to inform your clients of this.
When becoming an Approved CPD Provider with The CPD Group we require Training Providers to acknowledge that they have their Responsible Marketing Procedure in place, offering us, and their client’s, assurances that the Provider will never mislead customers, always be fair and transparent when promoting their services to enable customers to make informed choices, and to market services in a legal, ethical, and truthful manor.
It is also commonplace for Training Providers offering teeth whitening courses to offer a range of products, or ‘Starter kits’, to learners upon successful completion of the training. As highlighted above, it is essential that that your clients understand that CPD Accreditation offered by The CPD Group is in relation to the learning materials delivered in the Training course and is in no way associated to these products. It is also the responsibility of the Training Provider to ensure these products are legal for distribution in the UK and are only supplied to individuals, only where it is lawful to do so.
CPD Consumers – What do you need to know?
If you are looking to take part in a teeth whitening course to support your professional development, be sure to do your research first.
Is the course you are looking to attend actually CPD Accredited?
You can check this by visiting The CPD Register and searching for the Training Provider on their extensive CPD directory – https://thecpdregister.com
If I intend to use the learning gained to start my own business, or add teeth whitening to my current business offering, is this course suitable for me?
If the learning delivered to you in the CPD Accredited course covers the use of products containing or releasing between 0.1%-6% hydrogen peroxide, with the intension of you delivering treatments using these products following the training, if you are not a registered dentist (or dental hygienist or dental therapist or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription),DO NOT ENROL as it is illegal for you to use these products in the delivery of these treatments.
If you are a registered dentist with the GDC (or dental hygienist or dental therapist or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription), these courses are an ideal opportunity for you to develop your knowledge range and expand upon your service range, while offering you CPD Credits to use as evidence of your ongoing professional development.
I am not registered as a dentist with the GDC but have completed a CPD Training course and I have been given a starter pack of products to use so I can start my own business. Is that ok?
This is very much dependant on what the products are that you have been supplied with. If any of the products contain or release between 0.1%-6% hydrogen peroxide DO NOT use these products and most definitely DO NOT offer these treatments to the public as it is illegal as you must be a registered dentist.
**As this article identifies, if you are looking to deliver teeth whitening treatment to members of the public and the products used in that delivery contain or release between 0.1%-6% hydrogen peroxide YOU MUST BE A REGISTRED DENTIST (or dental hygienist or dental therapist or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription), otherwise you will be breaking current UK Law.**
