On July 8, 2021, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added eight substances to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) for Authorisation. Among them are two ingredients that can be used in cosmetic products, a fragrance agent, Butylphenyl methylpropional, and a preservative, Glutaral.
The inclusion of a substance in this Candidate List has several consequences:
• Companies that use it in their products must notify ECHA via the SCIP database, and this information is then published on the Agency’s website;
• ECHA regularly evaluates the substances on this list in order to establish which ones should be included in priority in the authorization list.
Two “cosmetic” substances have been added to the list.
Butylphenyl Methylpropional (CAS: 80-54-6; CE: 201-289-8)
This fragrance agent, also known as Lilial, has been included in the Candidate List for its potential to be “Toxic for reproduction”.
It is still currently regulated under Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 only for its allergenic properties. As such, its presence must be indicated in the list of ingredients when its concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products (Annex III/83).
But due to its classification as Repr. 1B by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1182 (15th adaptation to technical progress of CLP Regulation 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures), it has been included in the draft 4th CMR Regulation, which foresees its ban. This ban is expected to come into effect on the same date as its …
