The European Union had transmitted to WTO a draft Regulation aimed at restrict the maximum concentration of the preservative o-Phenylphenol in leave-on cosmetic products. This provision is to be adopted during the 3rd quarter 2018. It has just been amended: Europe’s communication was published by the WTO on 24 April.
Notification – Addendum
The European Union would like to inform the WTO Members that the “draft Commission Regulation amending Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products” has been amended.
The amendments concern the following point:
The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed. The text of the draft regulation is thus modified as follows (in bold italics parts that have been amended).
The text of the future Regulation
Whereas
1. The substance Biphenyl-2-ol, and its salts, which have been assigned the names o-Phenylphenol, MEA o-Phenylphenate, Potassium o-Phenylphenate and Sodium o-Phenylphenate under the International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Ingredients (INCI), are currently allowed as preservatives in cosmetic products at a concentration up to 0.2% (as phenol) in ready for use preparation. The substance Biphenyl-2-ol, and its salts are currently listed in entry 7 of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No1223/2009.
2. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded in its Opinion of 25 June 2015, later revised on 15 December 2015, that o-Phenylphenol as a preservative with a maximum concentration of 0.2% in leave-on cosmetic products is not safe …
