EU Commission Notifies WTO of Proposed Cosmetics Regulation Changes

The European Commission has notified the WTO of a draft Regulation amending Annex II of the cosmetics products Regulation to ban three fragrance allergens.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) found the following unsafe for use in cosmetic products:

> atranol;

> chloroatranol; and

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

Starting two years after its entry into force, the Regulation bans the placing on the EU market of cosmetic products containing one or more of these substances. Two years after that such products must be completely withdrawn.

The formal vote on the draft Regulation is now expected to happen in the Cosmetics Committee in mid-March. Adoption by the European Parliament and Council is expected shortly after.

Progress on the proposal has been delayed since 2014 "due to the reshuffling of the internal cosmetics policy".

A consultation to extend the labelling requirements for 56 additional substances ended in early 2014. Cosmetics Europe told Chemical Watch that according to its knowledge, the Commission is still discussing the responses from the public consultation.