UK’s stricter BHT limits now in effect

Ingredient: BHT

Date of publication: 24/02/2025

The February 24, 2025 implementation date for the UK's new restrictions on Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) has now passed, with cosmetic companies required to comply with stricter limits, particularly for oral care products.

What’s new?

The United Kingdom’s regulatory deadline for Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) concentration limits in cosmetic products is now in effect. As detailed in our previous coverage of the UK BHT regulation in September, these restrictions are particularly notable for oral care products, where UK limits are significantly stricter than EU standards:

0.1% maximum in toothpaste
0.001% maximum in mouthwash and leave-on oral care products (compared to 0.8% in the EU)
0.8% maximum in other leave-on and rinse-off products

What now?

The compliance timeline has reached its key dates:

From February 24, 2025: Non-compliant products cannot be placed on the UK market
Until June 24, 2025: Non-compliant products already in the distribution chain may continue to be made available

Companies marketing oral care products in both the UK and EU markets should be particularly attentive to these divergent requirements.

References:

The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2024

other REGULATORY UPDATES

Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Lilial) ban in cosmetics comes into force in Great Britain

Ingredients: BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL

Date of application: 15/12/2022

Due to its classification as toxic to reproduction, Butylphenyl Methylpropional is prohibited in cosmetic products placed in the Great Britain market as of December 15, 2022.

SCCS Final Opinion on the Safety of Triclocarban and Triclosan

Ingredients: TRICLOCARBAN and TRICLOSAN

Date of publication: 25/10/2022

During the plenary meeting on 24-25 October 2022, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) presented its final opinion on the safety of Triclocarban and Triclosan as substances with potential endocrine disrupting properties in cosmetic products.

Italy and France – Environmental Labelling of Cosmetic Products

PACKAGING WASTE MANAGEMENT

Date of application:01/01/2023

Although the European Cosmetics Regulation is applicable to every cosmetic product made available in the European Union market, some national legislations may also apply. Environmental regulations in Italy and France specify mandatory labelling requirements applicable to packaged products marketed in these countries.

SCCS consultation on opinion about Salicylic Acid

Ingredients: SALICYLIC ACID

Date of publication: 15/12/2022

On December 15, 2022, the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) released the preliminary opinion on Salicylic Acid (CAS No. 69-72-7). This opinion is open for comments until February 17, 2023.

Update on the classification and labelling of Titanium Dioxide in powder form

Ingredients: TITANIUM DIOXIDE

Date of publication: 23/11/2022

The EU General Court annuls the Commission Delegated Regulation of 2019 in so far as it concerns the harmonised classification and labelling of Titanium Dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation in certain powder forms.

SCCS Preliminary Opinion on Sodium Bromothymol Blue (C186) as hair dyeing

Ingredients: SODIUM BROMOTHYMOL BLUE (C186)

Date of publication: 28/10/2022

Following the request from the EU Commission for a scientific opinion on the hair dye Sodium Bromothymol Blue (C186), on October 2022 the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued a preliminary opinion. In light of the data provided, when used in non-oxidative hair colouring products up to a maximum on-head concentration of 0.5%, the SCCS is of the opinion that the complete safety of Sodium Bromothymol Blue could not be assessed.