EU Cosmetics Committee Backs Fragrance Allergens Ban

Restrictions on MIT and zinc oxide also voted through

The European Commission's Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products has voted in favour of a longstanding proposal banning three fragrance allergens.

The substances affected are:

atranol;

chloroatranol; and

3 and 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl) cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde (HICC).

Marketing of products containing them will not be permitted two years after the Regulation enters into force. And two years after that such products must be completely withdrawn.

The Commission first proposed the ban in 2014, but progress was delayed when it reshuffled its internal cosmetics policy. The proposal is part of a Commission package to tackle fragrance allergens, which will also extend current labelling requirements under Annex III of the cosmetics Regulation.

MIT and zinc oxide
At its meeting on 14 March, the Standing Committee also backed a Commission Regulation restricting the use of zinc oxide as a colourant in applications that do not lead to exposure by inhalation. This covers the substance in its uncoated, non-nano form.

The Commission plans to amend the entry for zinc oxide under Annex IV of the cosmetic products Regulation, which lists all approved colourants.

Annex V will also be amended to lower the permitted concentration of the preservative methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in rinse-off cosmetics. The Committee voted in favour of a concentration limit of 15 parts per million (ppm), following a recommendation by the Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). This flagged up concerns around its sensitising potential. The substance has also been linked to an increasing number of allergy incidents.

MIT is currently authorised at a concentration up to 100ppm. Last year, it was banned for use in leave-on cosmetic products.

The restriction marks the latest blow to the cosmetic industry's available preservatives, often acknowledged as being one of the biggest challenges currently facing the sector. The cosmetics industry has said that, at a concentration of 15ppm, MIT will not be effective enough as a preservative.

But the Danish EPA, which has frequently flagged allergens in cosmetics as an area of concern, says it is pleased with the Standing Committee's decisions. Last year an EPA research paper said fragrances could constitute the biggest problem with regards to allergy.

The regulations will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. A nine-month transitional period for withdrawing non-compliant products from the market will start upon entry into force.