Background:
On the 27thof April 2026, the European Commission published Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909. This amendment to the EU Cosmetics Regulation (Regulation (CE) No 1223/2009) addresses the use of Benzyl Salicylate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate, Aluminium, water-soluble Zinc Salts, Acetylated Vetiver Oil, Citral, HC Blue No 18, HC Red No 18, HC Yellow No 16, Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine and its dihydrochloride salt, and DHHB in cosmetic products.
These regulatory updates align with SCCS opinions issued concerning the safety assessments of those substances as cosmetic ingredients.
The amendment impacts Annexes II (substances prohibited in cosmetics), III (substances that may be used provided they comply with specified restrictions), V (preservatives allowed in cosmetics) and VI (UV filters allowed in cosmetics).
What’s new?
Amendments to Annex II:
- Entry 1597 will be replace by Silver zinc zeolite with the exception of silver zinc zeolite under the conditions set out in entry 61 in Annex V;
The following entry will be added:
- 1767 – Triphenyl Phosphate (From 1 January 2027 cosmetic products containing Triphenyl Phosphate and not complying with the restrictions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 1 July 2028 cosmetic products containing Triphenyl Phosphate and not complying with the restrictions shall not be made available on the Union market.)
Amendments to Annex III:
The following entries are replaced:
- Entry 24 Zinc Acetate, Zinc Chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Zinc Glutamate, Zinc Citrate, Zinc Sulphate:
(a) Toothpaste intended for users above 1 year of age – maximum 1% (as zinc);
(b) Toothpaste intended for children between 6 months and 1 year of age – maximum 0.72% (as zinc);
(c) Mouthwash intended for users above 6 years of age – maximum 0.1% (as zinc);
(d) Other products – maximum 1% (as zinc);
- Entry 70 Citral, Geranial, Neral:
(a) Lip make-up products, lipstick, lip salves – maximum 0.11%;
(b) Deodorants and antiperspirants – maximum 0.032%;
(c) Eye products, face make-up and make-up remover – maximum 0.65%;
(d) Fragrance products (hydroalcoholic and non-hydroalcoholic, spray and non-spray) – maximum 0.6%;
(e) Leave-on skin products (except lip products, deodorants and antiperspirants, fragrance products, eye products, face make-up and make-up remover) and nail products – maximum 0.15%;
(f) Oral products – maximum 0.35%;
(g) Hair leave-on products – maximum 1.2%;
(h) Skin and hair rinse-off products – maximum 1.2%;
(i) Leave-on products for the anogenital area (baby wipes and intimate wipes) – maximum 0.063%.
The presence of the substance or substances shall be indicated as ‘Citral’ in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1),point (g), when the concentration of the substance or substances exceeds: 0,001 % in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
- Entry 75 Benzyl Salicylate:
(a) Fragrance products (hydroalcoholic and non-hydroalcoholic, spray and non-spray) – maximum 4%;
(b) Rinse-off skin and hair products (except shower gel/bath products) – maximum 0.5%;
(c) Shower gel/bath products – maximum 1.3%;
(d) Leave-on skin products (non-spray/non-aerosol) except body lotion – maximum 0.5%;
(e) Leave-on hair products (spray/aerosol) – maximum 0.5%;
(f) Body lotion – maximum 0.7%;
(g) Face make-up and make-up remover products – maximum 0.2%;
(h) Oral products – maximum 0.004%;
(i) Deodorant products (spray/aerosol) – maximum 0.91%.
The presence of the substance or substances shall be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1),point (g), when the concentration of the substance or substances exceeds: 0,001 % in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
The following entries will be added:
- Entry 381 Aluminium containing ingredients with the exception of those listed in entries 34, 50, 189, 190 and 192 of Annex III, in entries 117, 118, 119, 121, 131, 150 of Annex IV, in entry 61 in Annex V, and entry 27a of Annex VI.
(a) Non-aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants – maximum 7.73% (as Al);
(b) Aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants – maximum 3.24% (as Al);
(c) Toothpaste – maximum 3.18% (as Al);
(d) Lip products – maximum 14.62% (as Al);
(e) Body and face rinse-off products – maximum 0.89% (as Al);
(f) Bar soap – maximum 4% (as Al);
(g) Hair rinse-off products – maximum 7.14% (as Al);
(h) Hair leave-on products that may lead to the exposure of the end user’s lung by inhalation – maximum 0.15% (as Al);
(i) All other hair leave-on products – maximum 6.7% (as Al);
(j) Make-up products (except lip products, eye liner products, eye shadow, nail varnish and mascara – maximum 23% (as Al);
(k) Eye liner products – maximum 15.76% (as Al);
(l) Eye shadow – maximum 43.31% (as Al);
(m) Nail varnish – maximum 3.61% (as Al);
(n) Mascara – maximum 3.13% (as Al);
(o) Face leave-on products (except make-up products, eye liner products, eye shadow and mascara) – maximum 10.59% (as Al);
(p) Hand leave-on products – maximum 0.86% (as Al);
(q) Other leave-on skin products (except non-aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants, aerosol antiperspirants or deodorants, face leave-on products, hand leave-on products and talcum powder) – maximum 3.81% (as Al);
(r) Talcum powder – maximum 2.0% (as Al).
For (q): Not to be used in sunscreen products that may lead to exposure of the end user’s lungs by inhalation.
For (r): Keep powder away from children’s nose and mouth. (Wording of conditions of use and warnings).
- Entry 382 Acetylated Vetiveria Zizanioides Root Extract; Acetylated Vetiveria Zizanioides Root Oil:
(a) Fragrance products (hydroalcoholic and non-hydroalcoholic, spray and non-spray) – maximum 0.9%;
(b) Deodorant – maximum 0.05%;
(c) Make-up products – maximum 0.05%;
(d) Leave-on products (except (a), (b) and (c)) – maximum 0.1%;
(e) Rinse-off products – maximum 0.2%.
For (a) – (e): stabilised with 1 % alpha-tocopherol (applies to raw materials).
- Entry 383 HC Blue No 18:
(a) Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products
(b) Hair dye substance in non-oxidative hair dye products – maximum 0.35%
For (a): After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 0,35%.
For (a): To be printed on the label: The mixing ratio. “Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and
follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: — you have a rash on your face or sensitive,
irritated and damaged scalp, — you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, — you have
experienced a reaction to a temporary ‘black henna’ tattoo in the past”.
- Entry 384 Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine and Hydroxypropyl-p-phenylenediamine 2HCl
Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products – After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 2%.
To be printed on the label: The mixing ratio. “Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and
follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: — you have a rash on your face or sensitive,
irritated and damaged scalp, — you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, — you have
experienced a reaction to a temporary ‘black henna’ tattoo in the past”.
- Entry 385 HC Yellow No 16:
(a) Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products
(b) Hair dye substance in non-oxidative hair dye products – maximum 1.5%
For (a): After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 1%.
For (a): To be printed on the label: The mixing ratio. “Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and
follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: — you have a rash on your face or sensitive,
irritated and damaged scalp, — you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, — you have
experienced a reaction to a temporary ‘black henna’ tattoo in the past”.
- Entry 386 HC Red No 18:
(a) Hair dye substance in oxidative hair dye products
(b) Hair dye substance in non-oxidative hair dye products – maximum 0.5%
For (a): After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 1.5%.
For (a): To be printed on the label: The mixing ratio. “Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and
follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: — you have a rash on your face or sensitive,
irritated and damaged scalp, — you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, — you have
experienced a reaction to a temporary ‘black henna’ tattoo in the past”.
Amendments to Annex V:
The following entry will be added:
- 61 – Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate
(a) Deodorant spray – maximum 1%
(b) Powder foundation – maximum 1%
For (a) and (b) the silver content in Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminium Silicate must not exceed 2,5 %.
Amendments to Annex VI:
The following entry will be replaced:
- 28 – Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) – maximum 10%.
Di-n-hexylphthalate (DnHexP) as an unavoidable trace impurity in DHHB must not exceed 10 ppm.
What now?
Starting 1 January 2027, cosmetic products that contain the substances subject to this regulation and that do not comply with the relevant restrictions or conditions may no longer be placed on the EU market.
From 1 August 2028 non-compliant products containing Geranial and Neral may no longer be made available on the EU market (sell-off period).
From 1 July 2028, non-compliant products containing the remaining substances regulated by this amendment cannot be made available on the Union market (sell-off period).
