Monitoring report · published 27 July 2026 · reflects the rules at that date

SCCS published final Advice on Basic Brown 16 Hair Dye – Submission V ter.

Our monitoring reports record the changes to cosmetics rules in a given period, and we publish one each month. Each one is a dated publication: it reflects the rules on the date it was published and is not updated afterwards. For what applies today, read the latest briefings or ask us.

See what happens after launch

What’s new?

On the 2^nd of February 2026, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) adopted its final scientific advice on the safety of Basic Brown 16 (CAS No. 26381-41-9, EC No. 247-640-9), a direct hair dye ingredient used in non-oxidative hair colouring products. The preliminary opinion was open for comments until January 19, 2026, and considering the information received during the commenting period, the SCCS released its final opinion with no changes in the final text.

The Committee was requested to evaluate the ingredient’s potential for use at 2% concentration in non-oxidative hair dye formulations, and it was concluded that Basic Brown 16 is not safe when used as an ingredient in non-oxidative hair dye formulations, derived from its potential for mutagenicity.

What now?

The European Commission will likely amend Annex II of the Cosmetics Regulation to implement this prohibition, with typical transition periods of 18-24 months for compliance.