The UK Government has considered the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group on the Chemical Safety of non-food and non-medicinal consumer products (SAG-CS) regarding the chemicals described below and used this to inform decisions regarding restrictions of these chemicals in products:

• Deoxyarbutin was included in Annex II, and thus prohibited for use in cosmetic products.

• Salicylic Acid was included in Annex III, and thus restricted for use in cosmetic products (not as a preservative) at the concentrations:
  • up to 3% in rinse-off cosmetics,
  • up to 2% in other products except for body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant,
  • up to 0.5% in body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, and roll-on deodorant.

Cosmetic products containing Deoxyarbutin and Salicylic Acid, not in accordance with the new changes will not be able to be placed on the market on or after 15 December 2022, however, a transitional provision will allow them to be made available until 15 March 2023, after which any supply will be unlawful.

• Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or Reprotoxic (CMR) ingredients found in the EU 3rd and 4th CMR Omnibus Regulations were included in Annex II, and thus prohibited for use in cosmetic products.

References:

Office for Product Safety and Standards – Planned changes to toys and cosmetics regulations