What is the legal situation about teeth whitening?

We have been following this discussion for a number of years and as always it has been confusing. It is not necessarily the teeth whitening procedure which is the problem but the material used. The issue is Hydrogen Peroxide. The EU Cosmetic Directive has for a long time allowed a maximum concentration of 0.1 % peroxide to be used inside the mouth (this is too weak, peroxide up to 35 % is used to achieve results in 1 hour). This applied to cosmetic procedures. Some countries in the EU had classified peroxide bleaching as a medical procedure thereby bypassing this restriction. Only dental professionals could however perform this in such countries. For example in the UK, this was tested back in 2001 when the question whether teeth whitening was a cosmetic procedure or not was tested all the way to the highest legal instance, the house of lords, which ruled that it is a cosmetic procedure. Hence all peroxide bleaching was illegal irrespective of whether a dentist performed it or not. Still, many dentists and others were offering this as authorities turned a blind eye. An amendment to the cosmetic directive in February 2010 defined all teeth whitening as a cosmetic procedure, which would mean that it no longer would be possible to treat it as a medical procedure and all peroxide whitening across the EU becomes impossible. Each member state has to implement a directive within 12 months, so from February 2011 at the latest it should be against the law in each EU country to use peroxide in teeth whitening. So why is peroxide being used by dentists in this country? I don't know. Somehow it seems the local legislation is in breach of the EU directive, the local legislation seem to currently allow peroxide usage by dental professionals. The latest news in this saga is that in September 2011, the cosmetic directive made a further amendment which allows up to 6% peroxide in teeth whitening if the first visit is at with a dentist. You will then be able to take home the peroxide and use it at home with trays. 6% peroxide is not really strong enough to allow for chair-side whitening so you will be able to use trays overnight for 14 days or so. This method is in itself not bad but a lot of people complain about discomfort and pain, and they have to stay on a white diet during the whole period. This directive should be implemented by each country latest September 2012. All the above applies to Peroxide whitening. Due to all this controversy, we will focus on non peroxide whitening, with no pain, no sensitivity, no risk to your teeth......