UK Bans 13 Additional CMR Chemicals in Cosmetics

On 3 October 2024, the United Kingdom notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft amendment to the GB Cosmetics Regulation, extending its list of banned substances. The regulation now includes 13 additional chemicals classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR).

The initial wave of CMR bans occurred on 10 April 2024, when 52 such chemicals were prohibited through the same legislative instrument. Nevertheless, 13 substances banned in the EU are still unrestricted in the UK.

Newly Prohibited Substances in the UK

The 13 substances newly banned in the UK – which were already listed in the EU Annex II – include:

  1. 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenolate
  2. Benzyltriphenylphosphonium, salt with 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis[phenol] (1:1) – CAS: 75768-65-9
  3. Reaction mass of 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and benzyl(diethylamino)diphenylphosphonium 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenolate (1:1)
  4. Reaction mass of 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and benzyltriphenylphosphonium, salt with 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis[phenol] (1:1)
  5. Reaction mass of 1-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-2,2-bis((2,3-epoxypropoxy)methyl)butane and 1-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-2-((2,3-epoxypropoxy)methyl)-2-hydroxymethylbutane
  6. 4,4′-[2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol; Bisphenol AF – CAS: 1478-61-1
  7. Transfluthrin (ISO); 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl trans-2-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate – CAS: 118712-89-3
  8. Salts of 2-ethylhexanoic acid
  9. Benfluralin (ISO); N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine – CAS: 1861-40-1
  10. N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine – CAS: 99-97-8
  11. 4-Nitrosomorpholine -CAS: 59-89-2
  12. 3,3′-Dimethylbiphenyl 4,4′-diyl diisocyanate – CAS: 91-97-4
  13. Foramsulfuron (ISO); 2-{[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)carbamoyl]sulfamoyl}-4-formamido-N,N dimethylbenzamide; 1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(2-dimethylcarbamoyl-5-formamidophenylsulfonyl)urea – CAS: 173159-57-4

EU bans under Omnibus Acts V, VI, and VII

There are still 13 CMR chemicals that were recently added to EU Annex II through Omnibus Acts V, VI, and VII, which have not yet been restricted in the UK. These are:

  1. Azamethiphos (ISO) – CAS: 35575-96-3
  2. Pentapotassium 2,2’,2’’,2’’’,2’’’’-(ethane-1,2-diylnitrilo)pentaacetate – CAS: 7216-95-7
  3. N-carboxymethyliminobis(ethylenenitrilo)tetra(acetic acid); Pentetic Acid – CAS: 67-43-6
  4. Pentasodium (carboxylatomethyl)iminobis(ethylenenitrilo)tetraacetate; Pentasodium Pentetate – CAS: 140-01-2
  5. Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide – CAS: 75980-60-8
  6. 2,2′,6,6′-tetrabromo-4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol – CAS: 79-94-7
  7. Clothianidin (ISO) – CAS: 210880-92-5
  8. Dimethyl propylphosphonate – CAS: 18755-43-6
  9. Dibutyltin maleate – CAS: 78-04-6
  10. Dibutyltin oxide – CAS: 818-08-6
  11. 1,4-Benzenediamine, N,N’-mixed Ph and tolyl derivs – CAS: 68953-84-4
  12. Difenoconazole (ISO) – CAS: 119446-68-3
  13. 4-methylimidazole – CAS: 822-36-6

Revised Transitional Periods

In addition to expanding the list of banned CMR chemicals, the amendment modifies the transitional periods for cosmetics containing these ingredients. The deadlines for compliance are now as follows:

  • 20 April 2025 – the final date for placing products containing the above mentioned banned substances on the market.
  • 20 October 2025 – the deadline for making such products available on the market.

Kojic Acid

Kojic Acid, a skin-lightening agent added this April to Annex III of the UK Cosmetics Regulation, has also seen its deadlines adjusted:

  • 20 June 2025– deadline for placing products containing Kojic Acid on the market.
  • 1 November 2025 – deadline for making these products available on the market.

While there are clear areas of overlap between UK and EU regulations, the active divergences in banned substances spotlight the UK’s independent regulatory approach post-Brexit. Beauty brand looking into marketing their products in these territories will need to ensure compliance with both the UK and EU regulatory frameworks.

References

European Parliament and Council. (2009) Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. Retrieved on 04/10/2024

WTO. (2024). The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2024. Retrieved on 04/10/2024

WTO. (2024). Draft Annex to the Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use in cosmetics products of certain substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction. Retrieved on 04/10/2024

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