The European Union has just transmitted to WTO a draft regulation aimed at restrict the maximum concentration of the preservative o-Phenylphenol in leave-on cosmetic products. This provision should be adopted in 2018, and enter into force from six to nine months later.
Notification date
22 November 2017
Products covered
Cosmetic Products
Title of the notified document
Draft Commission Regulation amending Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products (and its accompanying annex)
Content
This draft Commission Regulation aims to restrict the maximum concentration of o-Phenylphenol as a preservative in leave-on cosmetic products from the currently authorised concentration of 0.2% to 0.15%.
Objective
Protection of human health and safety
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) No 1223/2009.
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 for the consumer. Also, in …