This document specifies a procedure for the interpretation of data generated by the preservation efficacy test or by the microbiological risk assessment, or both, when evaluating the overall antimicrobial protection of a cosmetic product. It comprises: — a preservation efficacy test; — a procedure for evaluating the overall antimicrobial protection of a cosmetic product that is not considered low risk, based on a risk assessment described in ISO 29621. The preservation efficacy test is a reference method to evaluate the preservation of a cosmetic formulation. It is applicable to cosmetic products in the marketplace. This test does not apply to those cosmetic products for which the microbiological risk has been determined to be low according to Annex A and ISO 29621. This test is primarily designed for water-soluble or water-miscible cosmetic products and can be used with modification to test products in which water is the internal (discontinuous) phase. NOTE This test can be used as a guideline to establish a development method during the development cycle of cosmetic products. In this case, the test can be modified or extended, or both, for example, to make allowance for prior data and different variables (microbial strains, media, incubation conditions exposure time, etc.). Compliance criteria can be adapted to specific objectives. During the development stage of cosmetic products, other methods, where relevant, can be used to determine the preservation efficacy of formulations.