May 2, 2022 – The first quarter of 2022 is over. Hence, the COSlaw Team prepared below a summary of what happened in the EU cosmetics regulatory framework between January and March. In the end, you will also find a section on what is likely to occur in the following months. Check it to make sure you are updated!
If you have missed what happened last year, you can check our previous articles:
- What happened in Q4 2021 and what can we expect next?
- What happened in Q2-Q3 2021 and what can we expect next?
Q1 2022 – What happened
- The biggest news for the industry: starting March 1, 2022, Omnibus Act IV is applicable. 23 new ingredients, including Lilial and Zinc Pyrithione, are now prohibited for use in cosmetics. Thus, these substances can no longer be found in cosmetics sold in the EU: beauty brands must have recalled and reformulated their products.
- On February 1, 2022, the European Commission published the Regulation (EU) 2022/135 that foresees new restrictions for the fragrance ingredient M-N-MA. The limits concern both the formulation content and storing conditions. To find out further details and the application deadlines, read our article: Restrictions on the use of M-N-MA in cosmetics.
- On February 3, 2022, the European Commission notified the draft Omnibus Act V to the WTO. It provides the ban of 14 new cosmetic ingredients and several restrictions for Methyl Salicylate. Find further details here.
- The public consultation on the targeted revision of the EU Cosmetics Regulation is open. It will last from March 28, 2022, until June 20, 2022. The European Commission asks all interested parties to provide their feedback on the proposed changes to the Regulation, which we have already discussed here.
- The COSlaw Team closely monitors the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) It is a great way to find out which ingredients the European Commission will ban or restrict in the future. Moreover, Safety Assessors closely follow the SCCS Opinions when assessing (your) cosmetic products.
In light of the above, between January and March 2022, the SCCS issued the final opinions on Kojic acid, and prostaglandins and prostaglandin-analogues, and the preliminary opinions on Alfa-arbutin and Beta-arbutin, Triclocarban and Triclosan, Genistein and Daidzein.
Moreover, the European Commission mandated the SCCS to assess the safety of the following substances: Hydropatite (nano), Sodium Bromothymol Blue, Citral, and Benzyl Salicylate.
All the SCCS opinions, mandates, and scientific advice are stored in our Library of documents dedicated section. Have a look here!
Q2-Q4 2022 – What can we expect next
What can we expect to happen in the second half of 2022? Find out below.
- Firstly, according to the draft Regulation notified to the WTO, the European Commission will further restrict the UV filters Benzophenone-3 and Octocrylene. We have written about it here; check it out!
- Moreover, the European Commission will likely publish the Implementing Decision updating the glossary of common ingredient names, which will apply 12 months after publication.
- Lastly, a Regulation imposing stricter labelling requirements for Formaldehyde releasers will be adopted. In fact, Formaldehyde is a CMR substance of category 1B (carcinogenic) and a skin sensitizer. Therefore, it is prohibited for use in cosmetics. However, some of the preservatives allowed for use in cosmetics (Annex V to the EU Cosmetics Regulation) release Formaldehyde to perform their function (the so-called Formaldehyde releasers).
To inform consumers about the presence of Formaldehyde that may trigger an allergic reaction, the European Commission will require cosmetics to be labelled with the warning “release Formaldehyde” if the total concentration of Formaldehyde released in the finished product exceeds 0.001%, irrespective of whether the finished product contains one or more Formaldehyde releasers.
If you liked this summary, subscribe to COSlaw.eu for free, and you will receive our monthly newsletter with all the updates from the cosmetics regulatory world!
Leave a Reply