EU: Updates to the EU Cosmetics Regulation

 

The European Commission has published a draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. The proposed amendments concern the use of certain substances in cosmetic products, including substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR).

The draft Regulation is intended to implement the prohibition on the use of substances classified as CMR under Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1222 (OJ L, 2025/1222, 20.6.2025), which was adopted pursuant to the CLP Regulation and will apply from 1 February 2027.

Accordingly, the Cosmetics Regulation must be amended to incorporate the new CMR classifications introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1222. In addition, the draft Regulation introduces further restrictions and prohibitions on several cosmetic substances in light of the latest scientific opinions issued by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). In particular, the draft Regulation:

• prohibits Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-2, Basic Brown 16, Basic Blue 99 and prostaglandin analogues following SCCS conclusions that they are not safe for use in cosmetic products;
• introduces or updates existing restrictions for Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylparaben, Cannabidiol (CBD) and Hydroxyapatite (nano) for which safe use could only be demonstrated by the SCCS under specific conditions; and
• removes existing ban derogations for mercury-containing preservatives.

To find out more about the compliance for cosmetics, please do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.