What’s new?
On September 11, 2024, the Netherlands announced its intention to submit a classification dossier of Hydroxycitronellal as:
- Skin sensitizer 1B, may cause an allergic skin reaction;
- Carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) 1B, may damage the unborn child.
Hydroxycitronellal, widely used in perfumery, is present in more than half of fine fragrance products and more than 5% of product on the market, either as a synthetic ingredient or coming from essential oils.
Hydroxycitronellal is currently restricted in Annex III (entry 72) of Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, with a maximum concentration in cosmetics of 1% (except oral products) and is mandatory to be included in the list of ingredients when its concentration exceeds 0,001 % in leave-on products and 0,01 % in rinse-off
products.
What now?
In case the classification would be confirmed by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), a defense dossier would have to be submitted to the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) for an independent assessment of its safety in cosmetics.
The CLH dossier is expected to be submitted in October 30 2024.
References:
European Chemicals Agency – Registry of CLH intentions until outcome – 7-hydroxycitronellal
