July 23, 2021 – Have you ever wondered how to keep up with new restrictions on cosmetic products ingredients in the EU?
Do you want to introduce your cosmetic products to the market, but you are not sure if certain ingredient will not be restricted soon?
See below the summary of the latest SCCS’s meetings and find out what you can expect in the future!
Who is SCCS?
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) is an independent committee that provides expert advice to the European Commission (EC) on safety of non-food products. Whenever there are doubts or concerns raised around an ingredient, the SCCS will receive a mandate to evaluate the situation and provide opinions and issue statements on its own initiative. For this reason, following up on their meetings provides important insights on whether any ingredient might soon become restricted.
Current mandates and expected opinions
| # | Substance | Mandate adopted | Deadline |
| 1 | Methyl salicylate | September 2020 | 9 months (June 2021) |
| 2 | UV-filter HAA299 (nano) | October 2020 | 9 months (July 2021) |
| 3 | Hair dye Acid Yellow 3 | March 2020 | October 2021 |
| 4 | Prostaglandins and their analogues | January 2021 | 9 months (October 2021) |
| 5 | Revision of vitamin A | March 2021 | 9 months (December 2021) |
| 6 | BHT | March 2021 | 9 months (December 2021) |
| 7 | Genistein and Daidzein | March 2021 | 9 months (December 2021) |
| 8 | Kojic acid | March 2021 | 9 months (December 2021) |
| 9 | 4-MBC as UV filter | March 2021 | 9 months (December 2021) |
| 10 | Triclocarban and Triclosan | June 2021 | 9 months (March 2022) |
| 11 | Aluminium | May 2021 | 9 months (February 2022) |
| 12 | Alpha-arbutin and beta-arbutin | June 2021 | 9 months (March 2022) |
| 13 | Fullerenes and hydroxylated fullerenes | June 2021 | 6 months from reception of data |
1. METHYL SALICYLATE
(methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate)
CAS: 119-36-8
Mandate from September 2020: Deadline 9 months (June 2021).
With the view of probable classification of Methyl salicylate as ‘Toxic for Reproduction Category 2’ and ‘Skin sensitizer Category 1B’, the EC requested scientific opinion on the safety of the substance in cosmetic products, indicating maximum concentration levels for various product categories (e.g. 2.520% for toothpastes). Source
2. UV-FILTER HAA299 (NANO)
INCI name: ‘Bis- (Diethylaminohydroxybenzoyl Benzoyl) Piperazine’
CAS 1419401-88-9
Mandate from October 2020: Deadline 9 months (July 2021).
The previous SCCS opinion on HAA299 did not cover its nano form, for which reason it is now requested to evaluate the safety of HAA299 (nano) up to maximum concentration of 10% when used as UV filter. Source
3. HAIR DYE ACID YELLOW 3
Mixture of the disodium salts of the mono- and disulfonic acids of 2-(2- quinolyl)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione
CAS No 8004-92-0
Deadline in October 2021.
Acid Yellow 3 is currently allowed for use as a colorant in cosmetic products. The SCCS was requested to assess the safety of this substance and evaluate whether it is safe for use in hair dyes with maximum on-head concentration of 0,5%. Source
4. PROSTAGLANDINS AND THEIR ANALOGUES
Ethyl Tafluprostamide (also known as Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide or DDDE)
CAS 1185851-52-8
CAS 157283-66-4
Mandate from January 2021: Deadline 9 months (October 2021).
Prostaglandins and their analogues are currently without restrictions when used in cosmetic products. However, some safety concerns have been detected when serious undesirable health effects were reported across the EU. The SCCS now needs to evaluate the safety of these substances. Source
5. REVISION OF VITAMIN A
Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate)
Mandate from March 2021: Deadline 9 months (December 2021).
Vitamin A as previously assessed by the SCCS as safe. However, the current concentration limits will be revised since the population obtains Vitamin A from various sources, mainly diet and food supplements. This revision is to ensure that the contribution of cosmetic products to overall intake of Vitamin A does not exceed safety limits. Source
6. POTENTIAL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING (ED) SUBSTANCES
The EC called for safety assessment of various substance that might be potentially ED. The SCCS is currently working on the below mandates regarding ED.
- BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene, CAS No 128-37-0, Source)
- Genistein(CAS No 446-72-0) and Daidzein (CAS No 486-66-8) Source
- Kojic acid Source
- 4-MBC as UV filter (4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, CAS No 36861-47-9/38102-62-4 Source)
- Triclocarban (CAS No. 101-20-2) and Triclosan (CAS No. 3380-34-5) Source
7. ALUMINIUM IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS
The SCCS will issue opinion on aluminium compounds when used in cosmetic products other than deodorants, antiperspirants, lipsticks and toothpastes. Source
8. ALPHA-ARBUTIN AND BETA-ARBUTIN
Alpha-arbutin (α-arbutin) (INCI name: Alpha-Arbutin, Chemical name: 4-Hydroxyphenylalpha-D-glucopyranoside
CAS No. 84380-01-8
Beta-arbutin (β-arbutin) (INCI Name: Arbutin, Chemical name: 4- Hydroxyphenyl-b-D-glucopyranoside
CAS No. 497-76-7
June: A deadline of 9 months was set (=March 2022).
The above substances were previously assessed by the SCCS due to release of hydroquinone (HQ). This new mandate focuses on potential combined use of HQ releasing substances in cosmetic products, to assess appropriate concentration limits. Source
9. FULLERENES AND HYDROXYLATED FULLERENES
CAS / EC No.: 99685-96-8/628-630-7, 11538-22-7/-, 182024-42-6/-
June 2021: Deadline 6 months from reception.
Fullerenes and Hydroxylated Fullerenes are not regulated under the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. However, there are concerns of potential absorption of nanoparticles of these substances. As such, the SCCS will assess the safety of (hydroxylated) Fullerenes as currently notified via CPNP. Source
References
- EC (2021). Inter-committee Coordination Group (ICCG) meeting. Retrieved on 14/07/2021 from https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/default/files/scientific_committees/inter_committee/docs/iccg2016_mi_006.pdf
- SCCS (2021). SCCS – Mandates. Retrieved on 10/07/2021 from https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/requests_en
- SCCS (2021). SCCS – Opinions 2016 – 2021. Retrieved on 10/07/2021 from https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/opinions_en
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