On June 25, 2015, the SCCS has adopted an Opinion on the cosmetic ingredients o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate, and Potassium o-phenylphenate. This Opinion has just been revised, during the plenary meeting of December 15, 2015.
Background
b-Phenyl-2-ol and its salts, covering o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate, Potassium o-phenylphenate, (CAS: 90-43-7, 132-27-4, 13707-65-8) as preservatives are regulated in Annex V, entry 7 of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 at a maximum concentration of 0.2% (as phenol).
In February 2013, the Commission received a risk assessment submitted by the French Agency ANSM which rose concerns about the use of o-Phenylphenol in cosmetic products. In the ANSM report, o-Phenylphenol was identified as a potential endocrine disruptor.
For exhaustive background information, see the articles
•
SCCS: 7 requests for scientific Opinions
(April 24, 2014).
•
o-Phenylphenol and its salts: Opinion of the SCCS
(July 1, 2015)
Opinion
Note: the conclusion remained unchanged
1. Does SCCS consider o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate, Potassium o-phenylphenate safe for use as preservatives with a maximum concentration of 0.2% (as o-phenylphenol) taking into account the information provided?
o-Phenylphenol as preservative with a maximum concentration of 0.2% in leave-on cosmetic products is not safe. Also, in view of further exposures including non-cosmetic uses (see Anses, 2014), the maximum concentration of o-Phenylphenol in leave-on cosmetic products should be lowered. However, the proposed maximum use concentration of up to 0.15% by the applicant can be considered safe.
The use of o-Phenylphenol as …
