Following the mandate given by the European Commission to the SCCS in May 2021 to extend the safety assessment of aluminium compounds to other product categories than deodorants, antiperspirants, toothpastes and lipsticks already considered in a previous Opinion, the SCCS has just published its final Opinion. It was adopted by written procedure on 1st february 2023.
Background
In March 2020, the SCCS adopted its Final Opinion (SCCS/1613/19) supplemented by an addendum in March 2021, and concluded that the use of aluminium compounds is safe at the following equivalent aluminium concentrations up to:
• 6.25% in non-spray deodorants or non-spray antiperspirants
• 10.60% in spray deodorants or spray antiperspirants
• 2.65% in toothpaste, and
• 14% in lipstick
The Commission then considered opportune to request from industry to submit additional information on the “other product categories” and on the aggregate exposure not only from cosmetics.
In May 2022, the SCCS published its preliminary Opinion in which it concluded that are safe when used :
a. in non-sprayable product categories at the specific maximum levels indicated in the Opinion;
b. in sprayable antiperspirant products, provided that the maximum percentage of particles 10 μm in diameter does not exceed 20% of the total aerosolised particles.
The Scientifi Committee also stated that cumulative exposure to aluminium from cosmetic and non-cosmetic sources may exceed the safety limits.
For an exhaustive background information, see the articles
• Aluminium in cosmetic products: Final Opinion of the SCCS, CosmeticOBS, 7 April 2020
• Addendum to the SCCS Opinion on Aluminium: final version, …
