322 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS because of the importance of good preservation consideration is now being given to the introduction of QC tests to determine the components of the preservative system into the final product specifications. Packaging components have been found to play an important role in the microbiological integrity of a product and in the past insufficient attention was shown to the microbiological aspect when packaging was chosen. It is necessary to stress that not only could the components of the packaging introduce undesirable organisms into formulations but also they can interact chemically and physically with formulation ingredients (including pre- servatives) and thus change the susceptibility of the final formulation to bacterial insult. The package is part of the product and must be present for proper formulation evaluations. Finally, without doubt, the provision of pure wholesome plant water is the number one priority of a microbiological control programme. The majority of incidents can be traced to water as the culprit. (Received: 30th May 1974) REFERENCES (1) Breach, G. D. Microbiological quality control. Paper 9 Symposium Evaluation of Product Performance (Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Nottingham, November 1973). (2) The Pharmocopeia of the United States of America, 18th Revised (1970) (Mack, Easton PA 18042).