What’s new?
On the 30th of October 2025, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) approved a new mandate to evaluate the safety of Acetophenone (CAS No. 98- 86-2, EC No. 202-708-7).
This assessment was formally requested by the European Commission following receipt of an industry dossier in September 2025 defending the safe use of Acetophenone as a constituent in Natural Complex Substances (NCS), when used at a maximum concentration of 100 ppm in cosmetic products.
The mandate was triggered by the European Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) opinion issued in March 2025 recommending the classification of Acetophenone as ‘Reprotoxic Category 1B (H360FD)’ under the CLP Regulation. This classification, if implemented, would normally result in a prohibition of use in cosmetic products under Article 15(2) of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, unless specific safety criteria can be demonstrated.
Acetophenone is currently not listed in any Annex of the EU Cosmetics Regulation and is commonly used as a perfuming agent, for its sweet and floral scent. It is also listed as a food additive in the EU, and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has already concluded that it does not present a safety concern when used as a flavouring agent.
What now?
The SCCS is specifically requested to address the following issues:
- If Acetophenone is safe when present as a constituent of NCS, when its concentration doesn’t exceed 100 ppm in the finished cosmetic product
- Alternatively, what maximum concentration would be considered safe for Acetophenone in a NCS
- Identification of any further scientific concerns regarding Acetophenone
Preliminary opinion expected within 9 months following standard SCCS evaluation procedures, with public consultation period.
