The UK is planning to make changes to regulations on the use of deoxyarbutin and salicylic acid in cosmetics.
Following advice by the Scientific Advisory Group on the Chemical Safety of non-food and non-medicinal consumer products (SAG-CS), the Office for Product Safety and Standards will prohibit the use of deoxyarbutin in cosmetics.
The UK will permit the use of salicylic acid for uses other than as a preservative at 0.5% in body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, and roll-on deodorant applications.
“Our intention is that products containing the chemicals SAG-CS has assessed will not be able to be placed on the market on or after 15 December 2022,” the Office for Product Safety and Standards said in a statement.
“However a transitional provision will allow them to be made available until 15 March 2023, after which any supply will be unlawful,” it added.
In both cases, the UK government is intending to update the technical annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on Cosmetic Products, as amended by the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
