UK OPSS calls for data on the safety of cosmetic ingredients

On 15 August 2023, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS – the UK regulator for cosmetic products) issued calls for data on the safety of cosmetic ingredients to investigate any suspected endocrine disrupting properties and safety whe used as nanomaterials.

On 15 August 2023, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) launched two calls for data on cosmetic ingredients with suspected endocrine disrupting properties and cosmetic ingredients used as nanomaterials.

Ingredients to be evaluated in cosmetic products due to their suspected endocrine disrupting properties:

Triclosan (CAS 3380-34-5)
Triclocarban (CAS 101-20-2)
4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) (CAS 36861-47-9 / 38102-62-4)
Salicylic Acid (CAS 69-72-7)
Butylparaben (CAS 94-26-8)
Methylparaben (CAS 99-76-3)

The deadline for submission of data is 15 December 2023.

Nanomaterials to be safety assessed in cosmetic products:

Platinum
Copper
Silver
Gold, colloidal gold, gold thioethylamino hyaluronic acid
Silica, hydrated silica, silica silylate, silica dimethyl silylate
Lithium magnesium sodium silicate
Hydroxyapatite

The deadline for submission of data for silica, hydrated silica, silica silylate, and silica dimethyl silylate is 27 June 2025. For all other substances, the deadline is 22 December 2023.

References:

Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) – Call for Data: Safety of Cosmetic Ingredients

other REGULATORY UPDATES

Regulation (EU) 2022/2195 – Updates to cosmetic ingredients use requirements

Ingredients: BHT, ACID YELLOW 3, HOMOSALATE, HAA299 and RESORCINOL

Date of publication: 11/11/2022

Date of application: 01/07/2023

Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2195 of November 2022 amends Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, restricting the use of BHT, Acid Yellow 3, Homosalate, HAA299 and Resorcinol, 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 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.

Regulation (EU) 2022/1531 – OMNIBUS ACT V – applicable as of 17 December 2022

Ingredients: METHYL SALICYLATE, SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE, DBMC, MIBK

Date of publication: 15/09/2022

Date of application: 17/12/2022

The European Commission has published the Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1531, which amends the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards the use in cosmetic products of certain substances classified as CMR, by adding new entries to Annex II and Annex III and revising an entry in Annex V.

Regulation (EU) 2022/692 – OMNIBUS ACT VI – New and Updated Classification of Cosmetic Ingredients

Ingredients: BENZOPHENONE, TEOPHYLLINE, MELAMINE, AZADIRACHTA EXTRACTS, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIACRYLATE, PENTETIC ACID, PENTASODIUM PENTETATE

Date of publication: 03/05/2022

Date of application: 01/12/2023

The Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/692 includes new or updated classification for 12 chemicals that may be used as cosmetic ingredients. Seven out of these 12 are now classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR) and are banned from cosmetic products marketed in the EU.

SCCS Revision of the Scientific Opinion on Vitamin A

Ingredients: RETINOL, RETINYL PALMITATE, RETINYL ACETATE, RETINYL LINOLEATE, RETINAL

Date of publication: 25/10/2022

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has issued a final version of the Scientific Opinion on Vitamin A, concluding that exposure to Vitamin A derived from cosmetics can be a concern for higher exposure consumers, and since cosmetics alone do not exceed the upper limit the SCCS cannot suggest maximum concentration limits that take into account contributions from other sources.