What’s new?

On the 27^th of November 2025, the United Kingdom (UK) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft regulation amending the UK Cosmetics Regulation. This draft is titled “The Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions (No. 2) Regulations 2026”. The regulation will apply to England, Wales, and Scotland.  

The proposed amendments include the addition of 13 prohibited ingredients, following its classification as CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Toxic for Reproduction) under the GB CLP (Great Britain, Classification, Labelling and Packaging) Regulation, and 1 restricted ingredient.  

The amendment follows the advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products (SAG-CS) on the safety of using Hexyl salicylate in cosmetics.  

Impact in Cosmetics Regulation

The following substances have received a CMR classification, and will be inserted into Annex 2, becoming prohibited in cosmetic products: 

• Sodium 3-(allyloxy)-2-hydroxypropanesulphonate (CAS No. 52556-42-0) 

• N,N’-methylenediacrylamide (CAS No. 110-26-9) 

• Reaction mass of 1,3-dioxan-5-ol and 1,3- dioxolan-4-ylmethanol  

• 1,4-dichloro-2-nitrobenzene (CAS No. 89-61-2) 

• Pyraclostrobin (CAS No. 175013-18-0) 

• Tert-butyl 2-ethylperoxyhexanoate (CAS No. 3006-82-4) 

• Fenpropidin (CAS No. 67306-00-7) 

• 2-ethylhexanoic acid, monoester with propane-1,2-diol (CAS No. 85114-00-7) 

• α,α’-propylenedinitrilodi-o-cresol (CAS No. 94-91-7) 

• Ozone (CAS No. 10028-15-6) 

• 2-phenylpropene; α-methylstyrene (CAS No. 98-83-9) 

• Silver (nano) [particle diameter > 1 nm ≤ 100 nm] Silver (massive) [particle diameter ≥ 1 mm] (CAS No. 7440-22-4) 

• Nitrous oxide (CAS No. 10024-97-2) 

Hexyl salicylate (CAS No. 6259-76-3) will be added to Annex 3, with restrictions for its maximum permitted concentration as follows: 

1. Fragrance products (spray and non-spray) – 0.1% in products intended for children 0-3 years and 2% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

2. Rinse-off skin and hair products – 0.1% in products intended for children 0-3 years and 0.5% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

3. Leave-on skin products (except fragrance products, face makeup products, lip products and deodorants (spray and non-spray)) – 0.1% in products intended for children 0-3 years and 0.3% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

4. Lip products – 0.1% in products intended for children 0-3 years and 0.3% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

5. Deodorant (spray and non-spray) – 0.3% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

6. Leave-on hair products (spray and non-spray) – 0.3% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

7. Face makeup products – 0.3% in products intended from children above 3 and adults 

8. Toothpaste and mouthwash – 0.001% 

What now?

The draft is open for comments until the 26^th of January 2026.  

The update on Annex 3 will come into force on the 15^th of August 2026, and the amendment to Annex 2, will come into force on the 23^rd of March 2027.  

The amendment is subject to transitional arrangements: 

• For cosmetic products containing Hexyl salicylate, when a cosmetic product is placed on the market prior to 15^thof August 2026 and complies with the past requirements of the Cosmetic Regulation, it may continue to be made available on the market until the end of the 14^thof February 2027.  

• For a cosmetic product containing any of the CMR substances, when a cosmetic product is placed on the market before the 23^rd of March 2027, it may continue to be made available on the market until the end of the 22^nd of September 2027. 

References:

World Trade Organization (WTO) – Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, G/TBT/N/GBR/108