On 6 October 2016, during its plenary meeting, the SCCS adopted the final versions of its Opinions on two preservatives – Phenoxyethanol and EcoG+ – as well as of its Opinion on Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl palmitate, Retinyl acetate). These three Opinions have been published on 14 October 2016.
Article published on 17 October 2016, anf updated on 13 January 2017 (Part Vitamin A).
Phenoxyethanol
Background
Phenoxyethanol (CAS: 122-99-6) as preservative is regulated in Annex V/29 of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. According to the Cosmetics Regulation, Phenoxyethanol is authorized as a preservative in cosmetic formulations at a maximum concentration of 1.0%.
In September 2012, the Commission received a risk assessment submitted by the French Agency ANSM (Agence nationale de sécurité des médicaments et des produits de santé) which rose concerns about the use of Phenoxyethanol as preservative in cosmetic products.
In December 2013, in response to
a call for data on Phenoxyethanol by the Commission
, Cosmetics Europe submitted a safety dossier in order to defend the current use of Phenoxyethanol as preservative in cosmetic formulations at a maximum concentration of 1.0%.
The SCCS had adopted its Opinion on Phenoxyethanol during its plenary meeting of 16 March 2016.
For exhaustive background information, see the articles
•
SCCS: 7 requests for scientific Opinions
(April 24, 2014)
•
Phenoxyethanol is safe, says SCCS
(April 11, 2016)
Opinion
This Opinion has been subject to a commenting period of minimum four weeks after its initial publication. Comments received during this time have been …
