Following an opinion from the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommending that silver be classified as “Toxic for Reproduction Category 2”, the European Commission asked the SCCS to assess it safety. The Scientific Committee has just published its final Opinion.
Background
Silver (CAS No.7440-22-4; EC No.231-131-3; INCI: Silver) is an ingredient primarily used as a colorant (CI 77820) in cosmetics.
The European Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of ECHA issued in February 2023 an opinion recommending among others a “Toxic for Reproduction Category 2” classification for Silver. Following the RAC opinion, the European Commission may propose a classification for silver as a “Toxic for Reproduction Category 2” (CLP Regulation Annex VI entry), which could lead to a ban on its use in cosmetics, unless positively assessed by the SCCS.
In October 2023, the Commission services received a dossier to defend the safe use of micronsized particulate Silver (CAS/EC No. 7440-22-4/231-131-3) as a conditioning agent in cosmetic products. The Commission has therefore asked the SCCS to carry out a safety assessment of this ingredient.
The SCCS issued its preliminary Opinion in March 2024.
For an exhaustive background information, see the articles
• Silver: request for an Opinion to the SCCS, CosmeticOBS, 27 November 2023
• Silver: preliminary Opinion of the SCCS, CosmeticOBS, 9 April 2024.
This Opinion has been subject to a commenting period of a minimum of 4 weeks after its publication (from 4 April 2024 to 5 May …
