What’s new?
On the 26thof January 2026, Belgium submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) its intention of harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) of N-Phenyl-P-Phenylenediamine (or N-(4-aminophenyl)aniline, CAS No. 101-54-2), to be classified for skin sensitization, reproduction toxicity and specific target organ toxicity.
N-Phenyl-P-Phenylenediamine is a hair dyeing agent used in cosmetic products, currently listed in entry 8 of Annex III of the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009.
What now?
After Belgium submits a dossier containing comprehensive information about N-Phenyl-P-Phenylenediamine, its properties, and any available data on its hazards, it will undergo an acceptance check by ECHA. In case the dossier is accepted, data provided to support the Reprotoxic classification will undergo an assessment by the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC). The outcome of this assessment might lead to an official classification of N-Phenyl-P-Phenylenediamine.
Depending on the outcome of RAC opinion, the use of N-Phenyl-P-Phenylenediamine in cosmetics might be threatened in the future, considering that cosmetic ingredients, classified as CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic) substances, of category 1 under Part 3 of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, shall be typically directly prohibited in cosmetics, and of category 2 shall be either directly prohibited or may be allowed where the substance has been evaluated by the SCCS (in the context of the new classification) and found safe for use in cosmetic products.
References:
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – Registry of CLH intentions until outcome