On May 8, 2023, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) published the updated scientific advice on the use of HC Blue 18 (B122) in cosmetics.
Background
The hair dye ‘HC Blue 18’ with the chemical name ‘3-[(E)-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl]-2,1-benzisothiazole-5-sulfonamide’ (CAS No. 1166834-57- 6/852356-91-3, EC No. -/-) is used as an ingredient in oxidative and non-oxidative hair dye formulations.
In 2014, the European Commission received a dossier from the industry to support the safe use of ‘HC Blue 18’ in cosmetic products. In its 2015 opinion (SCCS/1560/15), the SCCS concluded that ‘the use of HC Blue 18 (B122) as an ingredient in non-oxidative as well as in oxidative hair dye formulations at a maximum concentration of 0.35% on the head is safe. The purity of HC Blue 18 and impurities in it are not adequately quantified’.
What’s new?
With submission II received by the SCCS in October 2022 and in view of the newly provided information on purity, the SCCS concluded that:
- The use of HC Blue 18 as an ingredient in non-oxidative as well as in oxidative hair dye formulations up to a maximum on-head concentration of 0.35% is safe
- HC Blue 18 is a moderate sensitiser
- Only impurity 3B was detected at 575 nm in the test substance, and the assessment results indicated no genotoxic concern.
References:
Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) – Scientific Advice on HC Blue 18 (Colipa No. B122) Submission II, SCCS/1653/23