EU changes cosmetics regulations! Ban on nanomaterials such as styrene/acrylic copolymers

On March 15, 2024, the European Commission published an amendment to the cosmetics regulations in the Official Journal of the European Union, adding the following nanomaterials to Annex II (banned substances in cosmetics):

Styrene/Acrylates copolymer (nano)

Sodium Styrene/Acrylates copolymer (nano)

Copper (nano)

Colloidal Copper (nano)

Colloidal silver (nano)

Gold (nano)

Colloidal Gold (nano)

Gold Thioethylamino Hyaluronic Acid (nano)

Acetyl heptapeptide-9 Colloidal gold (nano)

Platinum (nano)

Colloidal Platinum (nano)

Acetyl tetrapeptide-17 Colloidal Platinum (nano)

From February 1, 2025, cosmetics containing these substances shall not be placed on the European Union (EU) market. From November 1, 2025, cosmetics containing these substances shall not be sold on the EU market.

In addition, the European Commission has listed the following substance in Annex III (List of Restricted Substances in Cosmetics):

Hydroxyapatite (nano): Use in toothpaste products at a concentration not exceeding 10%, in mouthwash products at a concentration not exceeding 0.456%, and in applications where it may cause aspiration into the lungs of the end user.

Only hydroxyapatite composed of rod-shaped particles is allowed, in which at least 95.8% of the particles have an aspect ratio less than 3, and the remaining 4.2% have an aspect ratio not exceeding 4.9; and the raw particles are not coated or surface modified.

Starting from February 1, 2025, cosmetics that contain the above substance and do not comply with the regulations shall not be placed on the European market. From November 1, 2025, cosmetics containing this substance shall not be sold in the European market.