The European Union (EU) has published plans to add five more ingredients early next year to its list of prohibited CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction) substances for use in cosmetic products.
Following the latest Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) assessments, the proposal would prohibit the use of Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-2, Basic Brown 16, Basic Blue 99, and Prostaglandin Analogues in cosmetic products from 1 February.
In addition, the EU plans new restrictions or updates existing conditions of use for Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylparaben, Cannabidiol (CBD), and Hydroxyapatite (nano), for which the SCCS concluded that safe use can only be ensured under specified conditions.
BHA would be restricted to a maximum concentration of 0.07% in leave-on and rinse-off products and would be prohibited in oral care products or products that could lead to inhalation exposure.
CBD would be permitted in leave-on, rinse-off and oral care products at concentrations of up to 0.19%, provided that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is present only as an impurity at levels not exceeding 0.00025% (2.5 ppm).
Butylparaben would be prohibited for use in sprayable products that may lead to inhalation exposure, and also be subject to new concentration limits for products intended for children under ten years of age.
The existing restriction for hydroxyapatite (nano) would be updated by introducing revised concentration limits and detailed particle specifications for toothpaste and mouthwash.
The proposal would also remove the existing derogation that permits the use of mercury-containing preservatives under certain circumstances.
The proposal is currently at the WTO notification stage and has not yet been adopted.
